gain the necessary momentum. On the heels of La Trinitaria's work, and after many battles and much bloodshed, the Dominican Republic was born on February 27, 1844, claiming independence from Haiti with a declaration at the Puerta del Conde. The involvement of La Trinitaria is also seen in the early formation of the new republic. Yet for the most part the society's ideology, which was in sync with Duarte's, was not implemented, as Pedro Santana forcibly took the reins of the newly formed nation and exiled Duarte. As a result, Santana enacted re-colonization of the country by Spain, making it the only former colony of the Americas to do so. Members of Secret Society La Trinitaria Juan Pablo Duarte - (1813–1876) was a Spanish-Dominican military leader, writer, activist, and nationalist politician who was the foremost of the founding fathers of the Dominican Republic. Matías Ramón Mella - (1816–1864) was a Spanish-Dominican revolutionary, politician, and military general. Francisco del Rosario Sánchez - (1817–1861) was a politician and revolutionary Tomás Bobadilla - (1785–1871) was a Spanish-Dominican writer, intellectual and politician. The first ruler of the Dominican Republic. Juan Isidro Pérez -​ (1817-1868) was a Spanish-Dominican revolutionary, politician. Pedro Alejandro Pina - (1820-1870) was a Spanish-Dominican military leader and politician. Antonio Duvergé - (1807–1855) was a French-Dominican general who is one of the most legendary military figures in the history of the Dominican Republic. Other usage Today, La Trinitaria may also refer to the three founding fathers of the Dominican Republic. The usage is a play on words whereby the concept of the Trinity is overlapped with the establishment of one nation by the three founding fathers: Duarte, Sánchez, and Mella. References History of the Dominican Republic Dominican War of Independence Dominican Republic nationalists Dominican Republic political people Secret societies Organizations established in 1838 1838 establishments in Haiti