1. Nicaraguan Revolution

2. Background to the Revolution
US Marine Influence
Augusto Calderon Sandino
The Guardia and Collapse of Democratic rule

3. Background Con’t FSLN (Frente Sandinista de Liberacion Nacional
The revolution embraced Christian principles
Satisfaction of basic needs through a new economic development model
Broad popular participation

4. Managua Earthquake of 1972
Excessive Corruption in Somoza Gov’t leads to radicalization of the FSLN.
FSLN divides into 3 parts following Somoza Assassination of FSLN Leaders
Prolonged Peoples War
Proletarian Tendency
Terceristas

5. Radicalization Phase
Political Opposition to Samoza was centered on Pedro Joaquin Chamorro. Newspaper editor of La Prensa
Assassination in January 1978
Massive Resistance Begins
Somoza Crackdown

6. Radicalization phase Con’t
The harsher the crackdown on the FSLN the more people oppose Somoza
Sandinistas will take hostages in the national palace in 1979
May 1979 national wide rebellion overwhelms the National Guard
July 19th Managua taken Somoza flees.

7. Results Daniel Ortega becomes defacto head of Nicaragua
Sandinistas allow most pro-Somoza citizens to leave
Illiteracy drops from 53%- 12%
Death Rate drops
Non-aligned foreign policy aggravates United States.

8. Consequences
US begins training Counter-revolutionaries (Contras) to invade Nicaragua from Costa Rica and Honduras as early as Fall, 1979
Reagan adopts new policy of arming and supporting Contras (300 million)
Civil War ensues (60,000 killed)
Boland Amendment
Iran-Contra Scandal
Election of 1990