THE EARLY 1960's

As the 1960's began, the Trujillo regime was facing increasing criticism, as people both inside and outside the Dominican Republic denounced the despotic government. One of the more vocal Trujillo critics was Rómulo Betancourt, then the president of Venezuela. Trujillo ordered two failed attempts to assasinate Betancourt. This only served to increase international criticism. As the world entered this new decade, the Dominican youth had been overtaken by a desire for political change.

As a result of his attempts to assassinate left-wing Venezuelan president Rómulo Betancourt (above), Trujillo lost the support of many allied nations, including the U.S.

Photo © Encyclopedia Britannica.