The Dominican Republic

The National Flag of the Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic shares the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean with Haiti. The Dominican Republic managed to gain independence from Spain on December 1, 1821. Though, by February 22, 1822, Haiti had marched in and claimed the capital city of the newly independent nation. Now, there followed 22 years of curtailed freedoms for the Dominicans.

Finally, in 1844, the Dominican War of Independence finally broke out, with Juan Pablo Duarte leading a group called La Trinitaria to head the fight for freedom. A year later, the Haitians had been driven out from the Dominican Republic, and in November 1844, a new constitution was agreed. Setting up the new nation.

The flag was designed by Juan Pablo Duarte. He took the Haitian bi-colour flag of blue and red, and placed a white cross over it to symbolise faith. To create distinct civil and state flags, the new coat of arms for the nation was placed in the centre of the cross for the state flag.

The flag was altered 5 years later to make it more distinct from the Haitian flag. before, the flag had been the Haitian bi-colour, divided by a white cross. Now, the flag was changed so the blue and red altered by the quarter.

The state emblem consists of a quartered shield resembling the flag, supported by a palm frond and a luarel wreath.Above the shield is a blue ribbon with the text, Dios, Patria, Libertad (God, Fatherland, Liberty). Under the shield is a red ribbon with the country's name in Spanish. In the centre of the shield are 6 spears, 2 of which have Dominican flags. In the centre is a small bible. The bible is opened, according to popular belief, to John, 8:32. Above the bible is a small golden cross.

On the flag, the blue stands for liberty, the red stands for the blood of the nations heroes, and the white stands for salvation.