NICARAGUAN REVOLUTION

 U.S. backed dictatorship, The Somozas  Somoza family ruled for 43 years until revolution  Anastasio Somoza  Head of the U.S. trained national guard  Position assumed by nephew, Anastasio Somoza Debayle  Economic depression  ”the country suffered under the biggest foreign debt per capita in Latin America. By 1975, just 1.5 percent of the biggest landowners owned 41.5 percent of the agricultural land  Oppresssion/Corruption  Anastasio Somoza Debayle used the Nicaraguan National Guard to eliminate any political opposition UNDERLYING CAUSES

 In 1974, successful hostage operation by the Sandinistas (supporters of former ruler, Augusto Sandino)…humiliated the government.  Consequently, the Somozas initiated complete press censorship and increased National Guard reign of terror throughout country  In 1978, newspaper editor, Pedro Joaquín Chamorro, was assassinated by the Somozan government.  “The murder of Chamorro triggered widespread popular protests-- 120,000 marched at his funeral and highlighted the widespread hatred of Somoza” IMMEDIATE CAUSES

 Somoza:  U.S. and Israeli supplied weapons  Aerial bombardment of capital city, Managua  Casualties: estimated 50,000 people died in a year  FSLN (Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional):  Weapons from Panama, Cuba, and Venezuela WEAPONS/OPPOSING SIDES

 Major Nicaraguan cities:  Managua  León  Masaya  Rural areas MAJOR THEATERS OF WAR

 Hostage Crisis #2 (August, 1978)  The FSLN raided the national palace during a congressional meeting  Led to 3,000 deaths  Consequently, the U.S. withdrew support (militarily and from the embassy)  Left Somoza weak while FSLN took over major cities and eventually won Nicaragua DECISIVE BATTLES

 Somoza:  National Guard, reign of terror among civilians  Aerial bombings  FSLN:  Guerilla warfare  Small scale attacks KEY STRATEGIES/EVENTS

 No legal agreement, Coup  Result:  Once the FSLN seized power from Somoza, they instated a provisional government PEACE AGREEMENTS/TREATY

 Proxy war (US supported the Somoza regime and communist supported the FSLN)  Led to the Contra War  Eventual elections in 1984, where FSLN leader Daniel Ortega was elected president  Successive Contra War was fought (counterrevolutionaries against the FSLN), the Contras had some US support LONG TERM IMPACT

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