being referred to as such. This event would spark Duarte's revolutionary spirit, who believed in the liberation and freedom of the Dominican people. Duarte would return to his home country in 1831. With his return, Duarte decided that the time has come to put his revolutionary motives to the test. Having spent his time visioning a state free from any foreign rule, he would be inspired to formulate a movement that would bring about the end of Haitian rule and begin a new era for the Dominicans. During this time, the Dominican people were living in a time of absolute oppression and tyranny under that rule of the Haitians. Mandatory use of the French Language, suppression of Dominican cultures, forceful redistribution of wealth, and the strict policies enacted by Boyer's Code Rural act led Duarte to begin formulating a plan to for independence. Another reason of Duarte's decision, similar to that of José Núñez de Cáceres, may perhaps stem out of an admiration of the Haitian Revolution. Duarte was quoted, for his reasoning of independence: Struggle for independence Founding of La Trinitaria On July 16, 1838, Duarte and others established a secret patriotic society called La Trinitaria, which helped undermine Haitian occupation. Some of its first members included Juan Isidro Pérez, Pedro Alejandro Pina, Jacinto de la Concha, Félix María Ruiz, José María Serra, Benito González, Felipe Alfau, and Juan Nepomuceno Ravelo. Duarte told his men firmly: But before he could continue, the men suddenly erupted, declaring the fight for independence as a necessity and that there are no compromises. Duarte, satisfied with the men's response, took this as proof their commitment to the cause. After this, he took out a document from his pocket, to which Duarte had his men sign with blood. But before the men recited an oath, pledging allegiance to the cause: After reciting the oath, each of the men proceeded to sign the document, in addition to placing a cross before each other's name. Duarte then said to his men: Later, Duarte and others founded a society called La Filantrópica, which had a more public presence, seeking to spread veiled ideas of liberation through theatrical stages. Alliance with the Haitians In 1842, Duarte became a high-ranking officer in the Haitian National Guard. During this time however, the regime of Boyer had gone from being a liberal and progressive government to becoming an absolutist one in