The Mirabal Sisters. • By Shamaya N. Miller. 

Scene 1

Introduction: who are the Mirabal sisters?. • The Mirabal sisters was a group of four. 

Scene 2

Introduction: who are 
the Mirabal sisters?

• The Mirabal sisters was a group of four

sisters named Patria, Minerva, Belgica 
Adela, and Maria Teresa Mirabal who lived 
in the Dominican Republic. They opposed 
the dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo and his 
treatment of the Dominicans. They were 
involved in protests and clandestine 
activities against his regime. Today the 
people of the Dominican Republic honor 
them for their courage and bravery during 
that difficult time.

This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC.

Background. information: early life. • The sisters were born in the. 

Scene 3

Cibao region of the Dominican 
Republic to a middle-class 
family. Their parents, Enrique 
Mirabal Fernandez and Mercedes 
Reyes Camilo, were landowners 
in that area and owned a farm in 
the village of Ojo de Agua. All four 
of the children attended primary 
school in their village and 
attended a Catholic boarding 
school.

Their cultural heritage and dreams for the. Dominican Republic. 

Scene 4

Their cultural 
heritage and 
dreams for the

of their Dominican heritage. The 
sisters, in particular Minerva, 
longed to see the Dominican 
Republic as a free nation. She 
believed that Rafael Trujillo's 
dictatorship was ruining the 
country and prevent the 
Dominicans from advancing in 
society. Minerva, along with 
Patria and Maria Teresa, began 
to participate in organization 
made against Rafael and spoke 
out against his regime at any 
chance they got.

This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-SA.

Education and Careers. • When Patricia, the oldest of the sisters, was 14 she was sent by her parents to study at Colegio Inmaculada Concepcion in La Vega and left when she was 17. Belgica Adela, who was commonly called Dede, helped with the family business instead of going to college. Minerva finished high school and enrolled at the University of Santo Domingo to study law. Maria Teresa, who was the youngest, attended the University of Santo Domingo along with her older sister to study Mathematics. 

Scene 5

• When Patricia, the oldest of the sisters, was 14 she was 
sent by her parents to study at Colegio 
Inmaculada Concepcion in La Vega and left when she was 
17.  Belgica Adela, who was commonly called Dede, helped 
with the family business instead of going to college. 
Minerva finished high school and enrolled at the 
University of Santo Domingo to study law. Maria Teresa, 
who was the youngest, attended the University of Santo 
Domingo along with her older sister to study Mathematics

Significant contributions to their fields. Thiq phntn by Unknown author is licensed under CC-ÅLX:.NQ. 

Scene 6

Significant contributions to 
their fields

Thiq phntn by Unknown author is licensed under CC-ÅLX:.NQ

• After enrolling in the University of Santo

Domingo Minerva discovered her friend 
Deisi Arza's father was killed by Trujillo for 
opposing him. This event along with many 
others was the catalyst that planted the 
seeds in Minerva and her sisters to fight 
against Trujillo. A couple of years later 
Mirabal completed her degree and became 
the first women ever in the Dominican 
Republic to earn summa cum laude. 
Unfortunately, herdegree and license was 
stripped due to her opposition of Rafael 
Trujillo, however this only fueled Mirabal 
and her sisters to carry on forward.

This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND.

Political activities. • The Mirabal sisters and their. 

Scene 7

husbands were one of the 
main leaders of  the 14 June 
Movement. The movement 
was created in support of the 
Dominican rebels  who were 
killed in attempt to overthrow 
Rafael Trujillo. In 1960 
Minerva and Maria Teresa 
were incarcerated due to 
their protests. In the same 
year, the Organization of 
American States condemned 
their arrests and had Trujillo 
release them.

Repüblica Dominicana
correos
25ANOS M.
MUERTE HERMANAS MIRABAL
Thie Photo by Unknown author is licensed

l.h.iiE.hQtQ by Unknown author is licensed under Cay Patria, M Inerva, and Maria Teresa and Cruz, were visiting Maria Teresa and nusbands who were jailed because of may home they were stopped by one of ter, the sisters and their driver were Igled, and clubbed to death. The bodies p to be ran off the road to make their lent. Patria was 36, Minerva was 34,. 

Scene 8

l.h.iiE.hQtQ by Unknown author is licensed under Cay
Patria, M Inerva, and Maria Teresa and
Cruz, were visiting Maria Teresa and
nusbands who were jailed because of
may home they were stopped by one of
ter, the sisters and their driver were
Igled, and clubbed to death. The bodies
p to be ran off the road to make their
lent. Patria was 36, Minerva was 34,

This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under
The death

This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC-BY:SA.

This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under Cay

The deaths of 
Patria, Minerva, 
and Maria Teresa

• On November 25, 1960. Patria, MInerva, and Maria Teresa and

their driver, Rufino de la Cruz, were visiting Maria Teresa and 
Minerva's incarcerated husbands who were jailed because of 
their protests. On their way home they were stopped by one of 
Trujillo's men. Shortly after,  the sisters and their driver were 
forcibly separated,strangled, and clubbed to death. The bodies 
were then put into a jeep to be ran off the road to make their 
deaths look like an accident. Patria was 36, Minerva was 34, 
and Maria Teresa was 25.

This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-SA.
This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY.
This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC.

The end of Rafael Trujillo's power • Despite the tragedy of Patria, Minerva, and Maria Teresa their deaths were not in vain. Their murders had a profound effect on the Dominicans and caused them to revolt against Trujillo. Their deaths were so powerful that it paved the way for Rafael Trujillo's own assassination sixth months later. 1 by unknown author is licensed under. 

Scene 9

The end of Rafael
Trujillo's power
• Despite the tragedy of Patria,
Minerva, and Maria Teresa
their deaths were not in vain. Their
murders had a profound effect on
the Dominicans and caused them to
revolt against Trujillo. Their deaths
were so powerful that it paved the
way for Rafael Trujillo's own
assassination sixth months later.
1
by unknown author is licensed under

I.his-E.hQlQ by Unknown author is licensed under rc

Minerva, and Maria Teresa 
their deaths were not in vain. Their 
murders had a profound effect on 
the Dominicans and caused them to 
revolt against Trujillo. Their deaths 
were so powerful that it paved the 
way for Rafael Trujillo's own 
assassination sixth months later.

Legacy carried on. • As the sole surviving sister of Trujillo's regime. 

Scene 10

• As the sole surviving sister of Trujillo's regime

Dede Mirabal was left feeling guilty and tried to 
find meaning in her life again. She did so by 
carrying on the legacy that her sisters left behind. 
Dede wrote of her sisters' revolutionary acts in 
her 2009, memoir, "Vivas en Su Jardin" ("Alive in 
Their Garden") preserved in a museum in their 
hometown. There she would tell visitor of how 
her sisters' death sparked the revolution that 
eventually led to Trujillo's own 
assassination. When asked, "why did you 
survive?" She would reply "I stayed alive to tell 
their stories." Dede Mirabal spent the rest of her 
life telling the stories of her sisters' heroic 
bravery before finally resting in peace on 
February 1, 2014.

•
Remembering Patria, Minerva, Dede, and Maria Teresa Mirabal. 

Scene 11

•
Remembering 
Patria, Minerva, 
Dede, and Maria 
Teresa Mirabal

• Patria will be remembered as a courageous woman who stood by her

people til the end. Minerva will be remembered as someone who never 
gave up and carried on despite the circumstances. Maria Teresa will be 
remembered by her youthul smile that shown in the face of darkness. Dede 
Mirabal will be remembered as the light who kept their stories alive.

Spanish 2 Project Shamaya Miller

Scene 1 (0s)

Scene 2 (8s)

Scene 3 (32s)

Scene 4 (52s)

Scene 5 (1m 18s)

Scene 6 (1m 43s)

Scene 7 (2m 14s)

Scene 8 (2m 38s)

Scene 9 (3m 55s)

Scene 10 (4m 29s)

Scene 11 (5m 4s)