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Jan 22, 1502
Columbus claims Nicaragua for Spain (http://www.countriesquest.com/central_america/nicaragua/history/pre-columbian_and_colonial_periods.htm)
Christopher Columbus sailed along with Caribbean coast on his 4th voyage and claimed Nicaragua as a territory of Spain. However, Spanish settlers who arrived at Nicaragua were few in numbers and Spanish populations were wiped out by diseases. The European settlers exposed measles and other diseases to the natives. Most natives died and survivors were enslaved. Origin: published on countiresquest.com -
Pirates capture Granada
In the 17th century, Nicaragua was invaded by English, French, and Dutch pirates. These pirates captured the city of Granada, which provided Nicaragua with agricultural wealth. This was detrimental to the economy as it was already devastated by earthquakes, trade restrictions, and lack of agricultural production. To defend the country from pirate attacks, a Castle was built. It was not successful as the Granada was set on fire in 1685. Origin: published on granadanicaragua.net -
Rivalry to control canal (http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/panama-canal-nicaragua-1.htm)
During the 1850's, rivalry between the U.S and Britain to bring Nicaragua under their sphere of influence began. U.S and Britain fought to build and gain control of a Carribean-Pacific Canal. Nicaragua was afraid of Britains' colonial intentions and after holding discussions with the U.S, Nicaragua granted te U.S rights to create a transit canal across Nicaragua. Origin: Written by John Pike and published on globalsecurity.org -
Liberal Jose Santos Zelaya rules Nicaragua (https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jose-Santos-Zelaya)
Zelaya was a ruthless, controversial dictator of Nicaragua who ruled for 16 years. Zelaya created an army, increased nationalist feelings, and expanded production and exports. During his tenure, Zelaya encouraged progress and modernization by expanding transportation and constructing schools. Zelaya recognized that the U.S supported the Conservative effort to remove him from office and as a result, he executed U.S soldiers of fortune. Origin: published by the Encylopedia Britannica in 1998 -
U.S sends marines to Managua (http://www.fsmitha.com/h2/ch14us-5.htm)
The U.S feared that a civil war would lead to a leftist victory, so marines are sent to Managua. The intervention of the U.S only increased the fighting that didn't end until a truce was signed. To settle the peace between the liberals and conservatives, U.S would manage Nicaragua's elections. U.S backed the conservatives.Two influential Nicaraguans- Sandino and Garcia- emerged as a result of the conflict. Origin: published by Frank E. Smitha on 2014 -
President Hoover withdraws marines (http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=22990)
In order to reduce marine casualties and improve relations with Latin America, Herbert Hoover removes marines from Nicaragua. Hoover wrote a message to the Senate regarding relations with Nicaragua that stated that U.S has no interests in the landing or maintenance of U.S marines in Nicaragua. Garcia took immediate action to seize power as director of the National Guard. Origin: published by Gerhard Peters on "The American Presidency Project" -
Garcia forces his uncle to resign (http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/anastasio-somoza-garca-5875.php)
Garcia was head of the National Guard under Sacasa. Years after Somoza Garcia joined an effort that sought to install his uncle as president, he forces his uncle, Juan Sacasa, to resign and replaces him as president. Garcia and a series of weak rulers ruled the country until his official election in January of 1937.Garcia would be the dictator for the following 20 years. He was always in control of and strengthening the National Guard. Origin: published on "The Famous People" in 2013 -
Period: to
Nicaraguan economy booms (https://books.google.com.ni/books/about/Nicaragua_Business_Law_Handbook.html?id=2R0izDIjUjQC)
The economy between 1940 and 1950 boomed as coffee prices soared. Cotton gained importance as the second export earner. The third export earner was banana. Nicaragua was hesitant to give concessions to large U.S banana companies. The majority of the country's profit was kept by Garcia and his companions. Garcia became the country's largest landowner. Garcia's policies and behavior contributed to his assassination in 1956. Origin: Published by International Business Publicans in 2006 -
Somoza Garcia's assassination (https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1980/09/18/somoza-is-assassinated-in-ambush-in-paraguay/61c8684c-207a-4328-b957-14e5e944a8a3/?utm_term=.1d1923991123)
Garcia was assassinated by 3 gunmen near his home in Asuncion, Paraguay. Garcia was struck while riding in his white Mercedes- Benz driven by his chauffeur. The impact was so severe that Garcia Garcia was killed immediately. He was assassinated by citizens who were tired of his selfish policies. The presidency was assumed by the director of the National Guard, Garcia's older son, Luis Debayle. Origin: published on "The Washington Post" by Cynthia Gorney on 1980. -
Transfer of power from Luis to Anastasio (https://www.britannica.com/biography/Anastasio-Somoza-Debayle)
Before Luis Debayle suffered a fatal heart attack, the formal transfer of power from Luis to Anastasio Debayle took place. It was prevented by law for Anastasio to become president directly after his brother, Luis. Anastasio promoted health and education programs and modernization. Anastasio lacked the political skills that his father had and reacted to criticism by political repression. Origin: published on "Encyclopaedia Britannica" on 2009 -
Managua earthquake (http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/earthquake-rocks-managua)
An earthquake hit Managua during the middle of the night and destroyed 75% of the city. Electricity, gas, water, sewage, and telephone lines were disrupted. Anastasio evacuated the city. However instead of providing victims aid, the Somoza family kept the money for themselves. As a result, opposition to Anastasio's regime grew, losing support from members of all classes. The earthquake left the country in economic ruins. Origin: Published on History.com by A&E Television Networks -
Rise of the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) (https://www.brown.edu/Research/Understanding_the_Iran_Contra_Affair/n-sandinistas.php)
The FSLN began as a group of Marxist, antigovernment students activists. FSLN's supporters included peasants and student groups. In 1974, a group of FSLN took leading Nicaraguan officials as hostages. The Somoza government attempted to repress the opposition of the FSLN through censorship, intimidation, and murder. The FSLN wanted to stray away from imperialism and lead Nicaragua towards socialism. Origin: published on Brown.edu -
Abuses of human rights and attacks on Nicaraguan civilians by the National Guard (https://www.historiansagainstwar.org/resources/torture/grossman.html)
The image and reputation of the Somoza regime was further damaged when news of random attacks on civilians and abuses of human rights of the National Guard emerged. The U.S ended military and economic assistance to the Somoza government, causing economic decline and inflation. It was reported that 7/10 prisoners of the government were tortured and peasants were tortured and raped. Origin: written by Richard Grossman and published by Historians Against the War
