| Introduction | 9 |
| 1 | Geography and the aboriginal population | 13 |
| 2 | The early Spanish rule (1492-1606) | 29 |
| 3 | The island divided (1607-1697) | 51 |
| 4 | The frontier (1697-1789) | 73 |
| 5 | The French revolution in Santo Domingo (1789-1809) | 91 |
| 6 | The Haitian domination (1809-1843) | 117 |
| 7 | Separation from Haiti and Independence (1843-1844) | 143 |
| 8 | The first caudillos: Santana and Baez (1844-1856) | 165 |
| 9 | The Revolution of 1857 (1857-1858) | 185 |
| 10 | Annexation to Spain and republican restoration (1859-1865) | 197 |
| 11 | Caudillo politics and political instability (1865-1879) | 219 |
| 12 | The liberals in power (1879-1886) | 245 |
| 13 | Ulises Heureaux (1886-1899) | 265 |
| 14 | Toward a U.S. protectorate (1899-1911) | 279 |
| 15 | The collapse of sovereignty (1911-1916) | 305 |
| 16 | The U.S. military occupation (1916-1924) | 321 |
| 17 | Horacio Vasquez and the rise of Trujillo (1924-1930) | 341 |
| 18 | The Era of Trujillo (1930-1961) | 357 |
| 19 | Democracy vs. Neo-Trujilloism (1961-1978) | 381 |
| 20 | Social-Democrats in power (1978-1986) | 405 |
| 21 | Balaguer's return (1986-1990) | 423 |
| Maps | 445 |
| Bibliography | 457 |
| Index | 505 |