<Tr> <Th> Dominican Republic </Th> <Th> Haiti </Th> </Tr> <P> Dominican Republic--Haiti relations have long been complex due to the substantial cultural differences between the two nations and their sharing the small island of Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region . The living standards in the Dominican Republic are considerably higher than those in Haiti . The deep - set cultural differences have contributed to a long - standing conflict . </P> <P> Though having vast demographic and cultural differences since colonial times, the inhabitants of modern - day Dominican Republic and Haiti have at times been allies and foes, constantly vying for dominance of Hispaniola . The conflicts began during the colonial era which developed into military and political conflicts between the two governments . The political division of the island of Hispaniola is due in part to the European struggle for control of the New World during the 17th century, when France and Spain began fighting for control of the island . They resolved their dispute in 1697 by splitting the island into two countries . It was not until the 19th century that Haiti became independent from France on January 1, 1804 . Spanish Haiti, the predecessor of the Dominican Republic, became independent from Spain on December 1, 1821, after more than 300 years of Spanish rule . </P> <P> By the end of the eighteenth century, the French colony was populated primarily by black African slaves who spoke Kreyòl, a language derived from West African languages, and practiced voodoo, a religion influenced by West African spirituality . The people living in the Spanish colony, however, who represented less than one - fifth of the French colony's population, were primarily white and mulatto Spanish - speaking Roman Catholics . In the midst of the Haitian Revolution, Spain ceded the Spanish part of Hispaniola to France in return for lands that had been conquered in Europe . This drew Santo Domingo deeply into the battles of the Haitian Revolution, as France sought to use its new acquisition as a base from which to quash the revolt . In 1801 Haitian leader Toussaint Louverture sought to frustrate the French strategy by occupying Santo Domingo . Before the arrival of the French troops his army marched east and expeditiously took over the former Spanish colony . When French forces landed the following year with the aim of seizing the entire island, they were unable to capture Saint - Domingue . They did succeed, however, in occupying Santo Domingo . French forces in Santo Domingo threatened Haitian sovereignty, and the French governor of Santo Domingo further provoked Haiti by authorizing colonists to capture and enslave Haitians . In 1805 Haitian president Jean - Jacques Dessalines responded with an unsuccessful invasion of Santo Domingo . Dominicans ejected the French in 1809 and reincorporated themselves into the Spanish Empire . </P>

Who was there first haiti or dominican republic