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History of Nicaragua

By JoshHamilton

  • Nicaragua gains independence from Spain

  • Period: to

    History

  • William Walker becomes President of Nicaragua

    William Walker becomes President of Nicaragua

  • José Santos Zelaya becomes President of Nicaragua, US agents intervene in support of the Conservative Party.

  • The Conservative Party, led by Juan José Estrada, tries to overthrow the Zelaya government.

    Zelaya government executes two Americans for joining the rebellion. US responds with Knox Note in which it legitimizes American intervention.

  • Zelaya flees Nicaragua, José Madriz assumes Presidency

  • Continuing US support for Conservative opposition cause Madriz to go into exile in Mexico

    US establishes puppet government with Adolfo Diaz as President

  • US establishes puppet government with Adolfo Diaz as President

  • Nationalist sentiments, led by Minister of War General Luis Mena, revolt against US backed Diaz government.

  • Diaz asks for help from the US, the US sends Marines and ships to control the situation.

  • US intervention is successful at defeating the nationalist forces and withdraws Marines.

    US leaves 100 marines permanently for 15 years to continue asserting influence over economy and politics.

  • General Emiliano Chamorro signs Bryan-Chamorro Treaty with United States

    The US pays $3 million to Nicaragua in exchange for the rights to build a canal across Nicaragua, lease the Great and Little Corn Islands, and establish a military base in the Gulf of Fonseca.

  • Adolfo Diaz is reelected and a second liberal uprising ensues in what came to be know as the Constitutionalist War

    José María Moncada Tapia, Juan Bautista Sacasa, and Augusto César Sandino lead the revolution

  • US forces Moncada to sign Pact of Espino Negro with threats of military intervention

    As part of the agreement both sides would disarm, Diaz would serve the remaining time of his presidential term, the US would stay in Nicaragua to supervise the 1928 elections, and the US would establish a new national army known as the Guarda Nacional. Anastasio Somoza García is appointed Chief Director of the Guarda Nacional.

  • Augusto César Sandino rejects the Espino Negro Pact and declares war on the US

  • Juan Bautista Sacasa is elected President

  • US removes last Marine forces in Nicaragua

    Sandino ends his guerrilla war with the US

  • Behind tutelage of US Minister to Nicaragua Arthur Bliss Lane, Somoza assassinates Sandino

  • Anastasio Somoza forces Sacasa to resign in 1936, and is elected President by the end of the year

    Somoza creates a brutal dictatorship for more than 43 years in Nicaragua

  • Anastasio Somoza is assassinated and his two sons Luis Somoza and Anastasio Somoza Debayle rule Nicaragua for the next 23 years.

  • A very strong earthquake occurs near Managua

    5,000 killed, 20,000 injured, and more than 250,000 left homeless. Somoza Debayle uses international relief funds to enrich himself along with supporters.

  • FSLN guerrilas take Nicaraguan officials hostage

    Somoza Debayle pays $1 million in ransom, has an FSLN declaration read over the radio and published in the newspaper La Prensa, releases 14 Sandinista prisoners and flown to Cuba along with the kidnappers.

  • Pedro Joaquin Chamorro, editor of La Prensa, was assassinated by the Guarda Nacional

  • A Sandinista faction takes 1,000 hostages at the Nicaraguan Congress, triggers revolt in six cities

    Matagalpa, Managua, Masaya, Leon, Chinandega, Esteli

  • National Directive is formed, leads FSLN revolution

  • Two days after Somoza's resignation, the Sandinistas take over Managua

    50,000 dead, 600,000 homeless, 150,000 in exile

  • US begins funding armed opponents of the Sandinistas

  • Ronald Reagan signs National Security Decision Directive 17 in which he authorizes the CIA to recruit and support the Contras with $19 million in military aid.