Added to these two problems were the economic difficulties caused by excessive military expenditures aimed at repelling a Haitian invasion, the poor management of finances and the prolonged drought that ruined the tobacco harvest, depriving the government of important tax revenues, which led to a 250 percent devaluation of the currency.

Sick and depressed due to the poor economic situation, Pedro Santana resigned on August 4, 1848 and in his place was the Minister of War and Navy, Manuel Jimenes, a former Trinitario with a liberal tendency.

He dissolved the Army's infantry corps so that his men could go on to cultivate the fields, in addition to earning the antipathy of his supporters for putting obstacles to the return of some Trinitarios, despite the fact that he himself granted them a general amnesty.

[8] According to José Antonio Jimenes Hernández, “Manuel was a university student, and according to the notes of Monsignor Fernando Arturo de Meriño, “he was a clergyman and was about to be ordained, at the age of 18.” [8] His parents were owners of agricultural, livestock and still businesses in Santo Domingo.

In preparations for the final phase of the independence, the Trinitarios won support from the 31st and 32nd regiments of the army, of which among the ranks was José Joaquín Puello and his brothers Eusebio and Gabino.

All of this gave edge for the Trinitarios to officially declare independence on February 27, 1844, where Jiménes witnessed another leader, Matías Ramón Mella, fire the legendary blunderbuss shot that proclaimed the birth of the Dominican Republic.

Santiago Basora, a free black man, led a revolt in the Monte Grande region in response to circulated rumors about alleged intentions by the government to re-establish slavery in the independent nation.

The economic crisis and the parliamentary opposition caused a depression in Santana and therefore in February 1848 he retired to his estate in El Seibo and left the Executive Branch in the hands of a Council of Secretaries of State.

This finally led to Pedro Santana to officially resign from his position on August 4, 1848, before a Council of Secretaries, which assumed the Government until September 8, 1848, when Jimenes, who was the minister of War and Navy.

Historian Rufino Martínez, from Puerto Plata, says the following: “He persecuted the members of Congress, and placed Santana under accusation so that he would be judged as a conspirator and traitor to the country.” Jimenes, still a representative of the Trinitarios, did not agree with crime or with any action that disturbed public order.

One of the first things Jiménez did after assuming the presidency was to issue a decree of pardon (on September 26, 1848) of all the exiled revolutionaries who had been previously declared traitors to the homeland, including Duarte.

The political situation began to deteriorate with the culmination of the efforts of a Dominican diplomatic mission in Europe for France to admit the new republic into the international community.

On March 9, 1849, the invasion of the Haitian emperor Faustin Soulouque took place, who crossed the border with an army of 15,000 men, accompanied by the most important military leaders of that country.

Jiménes left power in the hands of the council of secretaries of state, and personally headed to the southern region to lead the military campaign against the Haitian invaders.

The order was also given for the Dominican warships commanded by General Juan Bautista Cambiaso to reach the waters of the neighboring country with the aim of causing damage to the enemy.

The consuls of France, England and the United States mediated the conflict and Jiménes capitulated on the 29th to General Pedro Santana in the Güibia camp, resigning as President of the Dominican Republic.