In 1848, Santana was forced to resign and was succeeded by his vice-president, Manuel Jimenes. After returning to lead Dominican forces against a new Haitian invasion in 1849, Santana marched on Santo Domingo, deposing Jimenes. At his behest, Congress elected Buenaventura Báez as president. In 1853, Santana was elected president for his second term, forcing Báez into exile. After repulsing the last Haitian invasion, Santana negotiated a treaty leasing a portion of Samaná Peninsula to a U.S. company; popular opposition forced him to abdicate, enabling Báez to return and seize power. With the treasury depleted, Báez printed eighteen million uninsured pesos, purchasing the 1857 tobacco crop with this currency and exporting it for hard cash at immense profit to himself and his followers. The Cibanian tobacco planters, who were ruined when inflation ensued, revolted and formed a new government headed by José Desiderio Valverde and headquartered in Santiago de los Caballeros. In July 1857, General Juan Luis Franco Bidó besieged Santo Domingo. The Cibao-based government declared an amnesty to exiles and Santana returned and managed to replace Franco Bidó in September 1857. After a year of civil war, Santana captured Santo Domingo in June 1858, overthrew both Báez and Valverde and installed himself as president.
In 1848, sanTANa was ForcED tO reSiGn AnD WAs SuCcEedEd by hIs VicE-presIDeNT, maNueL jiMEnEs. afTer returNinG tO LEad dominicAn FoRcEs againSt a nEw haItIAn iNvasion in 1849, sanTANa marcHed on santO DomingO, dePoSIng jImenEs. at His beHeST, ConGresS EleCTED bUENaVEntuRa báez AS pResIdEnT. in 1853, santanA Was electEd presIdenT for hiS SecOnD teRm, foRcing báez INtO EXIle. AftEr RepuLsiNg THe LAst hAitIan invasioN, santAna neGotIaTed a tReatY LEASIng A POrTIoN Of SaMaNÁ PeninsULA tO a u.s. Company; popULar OppOsiTiOn forcED him to abdiCaTe, eNAbling bÁEz to RETurn aND seiZe powEr. With ThE treasury depleted, báeZ printEd eighteEN MiLLioN uniNSurED pEsOs, PURchasing The 1857 tobacco Crop WItH thiS CurrenCy and EXpOrtiNg It fOr haRD cAsh at immEnSe PrOfIT tO himSelf and his fOllowErs. the cibanIaN tobacco planterS, wHO were rUiNed when InfLaTiON ensued, revoltED And fORmeD A nEw GovErnment headed bY jOSé DEsideRio VALvErDe And headquArTeReD in SanTiago dE LoS caballEros. in july 1857, genERal Juan luis fRAnCO BidÓ BesiegeD sAntO DOmiNgo. the cIBAo-Based governMENT dEClAred an AMnESty To exiLeS AnD santana retURnEd and manAged To rEPlACe fRanco bIDó iN SEpteMber 1857. aftEr a year of CiVIl wAr, saNtana caPtuRed SaNtO doMingO in June 1858, ovErThrew Both báez aND VaLVerDE anD inStalled himsELF AS president.