The Dominican Republic is a country located on the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the country of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two islands in the world that are shared by two sovereign nations. The Dominican Republic is the second-largest country in the Caribbean by area, with a total land area of 18,700 square miles (48,445 square kilometers). The Dominican Republic is also the second-most populous country in the Caribbean, with a population of 10,6 million people (2016 estimate). The Dominican Republic has a long history of interactions with the United States, dating back to the early 19th century. In 1804, the Dominican Republic gained its independence from Haiti, and in 1844, the country became a republic. In 1865, the Dominican Republic was occupied by the United States Marines, who were sent in to quell a rebellion against the government. The United States would maintain a military presence in the Dominican Republic for the next two years. In 1869, the Dominican Republic signed a treaty of friendship and commerce with the United States, which granted the US the right to establish a naval base at the port of Santo […]