Rafael Trujillo Biography

Quick Facts

NAME: Rafael Trujillo
OCCUPATION: War Criminal, Dictator, World Leader
BIRTH DATE: October 24, 1891
DEATH DATE: May 30, 1961
PLACE OF BIRTH: San Cristóbal, Dominican Republic
PLACE OF DEATH: Cuidad Trujillo, Dominican Republic
AKA: Rafael Trujillo
Nickname: Generalissimo
Full Name: Rafael Leónidas Trujillo Molina

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Rafael Trujillo was a dictator of the Dominican Republic for decades. He was assassinated in 1961.

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Rafael Leónidas Trujillo Molina

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The country saw some improvements to its economy, but those were mainly limited to the capital city. Meanwhile, in more rural areas, entire peasant communities were uprooted to clear the way for Trujillo’s new sugar plantation.

Trujillo himself candidly defended his reign with the assertion that,

"He who does not know how to deceive does not know how to rule."

Trujillo was known to treat the Dominican Republic's Haitian migrants with particularly severity and a deliberate disregard for their civil liberties. In 1937, he went so far as to orchestrate the massacre of thousands of Haitian immigrants.

Trujillo officially held the office of president until 1938, when he chose a puppet predecessor. He resumed his official position from 1942 until 1952 but subsequently continued to rule by force until his death. Toward the end of his life, he faced growing opposition from Dominican citizens as well as foreign pressure to relax his rule. He also started losing military support from the army, with the CIA maneuvering to have him removed from power.