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Juan Bautista Sacasa elected President
On January 1st, 1933, Juan Bautista Sacasa was elected president of Nicaragua. He is imperative to the rise of the regime of Somoza Garcia because Sacasa was Garcia’s uncle. At http://www.thefamouspeople.com, it says that Garcia nominated his nephew as director of the National Guard. During his time as director, he violated peace talks, ordered the deaths of his opposition. He continually took actions that President Sacasa disagreed with. -
Somoza becomes a Dictator
In June of 1936, Somoza Garcia forced his uncle to resign as president. At http://www.thefamouspeople.com/, it says that “a series of weak rulers who were controlled by Somoza ruled the country for the rest of the year.” This source has general information on Nicaragua but an extensive timeline of Somoza’s political career. This event is important because it displays Somoza seizing power through brute force. The next year, 1937, he was elected president (through voter fraud). -
Nicaragua and WWII
Nicaragua joined WWII on December 9, 1941 when Pearl Harbor was attacked. Nicaragua gave their outright support to the Allies, although no Nicaraguan troops were ever sent to fight. For his support, the US rewarded him with large amounts of military aid. (the image is of Pearl Harbor). -
December 1972 Earthquake
In December 1972, an earthquake that destroyed Managua. All the aid sent after the earthquake was taken by the Somoza family. The National Guard was no longer loyal to their government. As the country rapidly declined post-earthquake, Somoza lost the support of the middle and upper classes, the press, and the church. At this same time, political figures decided to join the opposition. From BBC, a news website, it also said that Somoza’s oppressive actions and corruption was brought to light. -
Somoza Regime is Over
After two years of violence between the National Guard and the FLSN, Anastasio Somoza Debayle fled Nicaragua. The FLSN had been the opposition to Debayle during the years prior. On Encyclopedia Britannica, it says that the FLSN was founded in 1962, and gained support from among students, workers, and the lower class. It says that the Nicaraguan Revolution, 1978–79, was headed by the FLSN. When the FLSN won the revolution against the Somozas, a junta was put into power
