Several circumstances begin to favor a Spanish…

Several circumstances begin to favor a Spanish withdrawal.

One is the conclusion of the Civil War in the United States, which promises new efforts by Washington to enforce the Monroe Doctrine.

Another is that the Spanish military forces, unable to contain the spread of the insurrection, are losing even greater numbers of troops to disease.

The O'Donnell government has fallen, taking with it any dreams of a renewed Spanish empire

On March 3, 1865, the queen of Spain approves a decree repealing the annexation of Santo Domingo, and by July all Spanish soldiers have left the island.