Dominican Act of Independence (1863)

The Dominican Act of Independence (1863), was a formal declaration of independence issued during the Dominican Restoration War (1863–1865), a conflict aimed at reestablishing the independence of the Dominican Republic following its annexation by Spain in 1861. The annexation, orchestrated by General Pedro Santana, now Marquess of Las Carreras, was met with initially with indifference and casual resistance at best, but with widespread resistance by 1863, as many Dominicans increasingly viewed it as a betrayal of the sovereignty gained in 1844 and that the Spanish rule did not provide the so promised benefits.

Proclaimed in Santiago de los Caballeros right after the bloody and destructive siege/battle to capture it, the act denounced Spanish rule, citing political oppression, economic exploitation, and violations of Dominican rights under colonial administration. It justified the armed uprising against Spanish authorities and reaffirmed the Dominican people's resolve to restore their nation’s independence. The war ultimately resulted in Spain’s withdrawal in 1865, marking the successful restoration of the Dominican Republic as a sovereign state.