Rafael Leónidas Trujillo Molina, born in 1891 and died in 1961, was a Dominican politician and dictator who ruled the Dominican Republic through fear and repression. His regime was marked by brutal crackdowns, including arrests, torture, and the mass killing of Haitians, which served to enforce control through terror. Trujillo cultivated a "theatrical state," filled with grand military parades and staged acts of generosity toward the poor. By monopolizing the economy, he amassed wealth and established a patronage system that rendered citizens dependent on his favors, creating a culture of forced loyalty. This network of favors extended throughout society, binding people to him in relationships of obligation and "pragmatic" loyalty essential for their survival. Presenting himself as the "Father of the Nation," he fostered symbolic closeness with the population, further solidifying his control. Trujillo also displayed his power through renaming streets, places, and even holidays after himself, embedding his presence in everyday life.