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Conflict Begins/ Persists Between Leons and Granadans: Wealthy Leons and Granadans disagreed on certain economic questions, and superficial divisions soon transformed into deeper ones.
Open warfare between the two factions was not uncommon, and this marked the start of the liberal versus conservative division. This becomes relevant later in history when intervention persists and powers shift. These wounds were so deep that a miniature civil war between the two powers persisted through the 1840s and 1850s (https://noparticularplacetogo.net/tag/civil-war-between-granada-and-leon/)- The source (published in 2014) originates as a blog of a group of retired US expats in Portugal. -
Audiencia of Guatemala Declares Independence from Spain; Now Part of the Mexican Empire: Other Latin American countries follow suit. The Audiencia of Guatemala: a subdivision/entity of the Spanish Empire which encompassed several countries (source below)
In the colonial period, they moved as a group (http://www.encyclopedia.com/humanities/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/guatemala-audiencia). This gave way to more separatist sentiments/a desire to be fully independent. Without this event, perhaps Nicaraguan independence would not have come along when it did, and power would continue shifting very differently than it did now. Source-Originates as an Encyclopedia of Latin American History and Culture entry (Stephen Webre, 2008). -
Nicaraguan Independence is Formally Declared (and Gained Completely): Nicaraguan independence meant that the nation would have to function individually, and could no longer rely on another government. Nicaragua focuses on nationalism and nationalization.
The US and Britain now fixate on bringing it under their spheres of influence. Part of the struggle for independence stemmed from oppression by Spanish creoles, and though Nicaragua was initially hesitant to join the fight, it did, suggesting that class structures were part of the many problems facing Nicaragua (https://sites.google.com/site/nicaraguacasestudy/struggle-for-independence). Source is a case study on google sites by Heesu (student) on Nicaragua (in the 1900s) published in 2010. -
The Walker Affair: A Soldier From the US Takes over Nicaragua After it Gains its Independence. Many hands became involved in this event/ conflict, and it paved the way for further US involvement and intervention, but major skepticism of the U.S.
The conservative Granadas actually involved the US military, which brought military stability and allowed for Walker to rise into prominence. Eventually, both factions and many other entities unite to try to rid of him, and much is lost and the cost is high to finally clean up the whole affair (https://vianica.com/go/specials/5-independence_Nicaragua.html). Source- An informative (and travel) website published and frequently updated by Viamerica S.A. -
Zelaya
*see timespan -
Period: to
Jose Zelaya Becomes President and Dictator of Nicaragua. When Zelaya's influence grew, nationalism increased and the army's (National Guard) strength grows. This becomes very important later when Garcia enters the political scene
Zelaya was a member of the Liberal Party who worked to further strengthen the military and use it to advance his agenda. Eventually a U.S. agent intervened in an attempt to oust a liberal regime and support a conservative cause (https://web.stanford.edu/group/arts/nicaragua/discovery_eng/timeline/). This follows a trend that can be seen in LA countries; foreign intervention arises when leftist regimes become a threat. Source- A timeline of Nicaraguan history provided by Stanford University. -
United States Attempts to Force a Truce: Fearing a leftist revolution, the United States sends forces back to Nicaragua. Fighting among liberal and conservative factions increased, and the US, fearing the growing strength...
...of this polarization, forced combatants to sign a truce. This makes way for the rise of Sandino. President Coolidge sent the future secretary of state to present this settlement, and the US deeply concerned itself with the tensions between liberals and conservatives (http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/document.php?id=cqresrre1986022800). Source-A CQ Press archived document published in 1986. It is a primary source originating in the U.S. and written by Schroeder. -
Sandino's Opposition of the Truce Led to Violence
Sandino rose as a charismatic leader who vehemently opposed the truce proposed by the U.S. He ends up leading troops in geurilla warfare against the military. Sandino believed in non-intervention, and was a skilled orator who opposed the truce more in defiance of US intervention/more in opposition of the U.S.'s attempts (http://www.nicaraguasc.org.uk/about-nicaragua/sandino/). Source-
Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign site in London (published recently, but exact year is unknown). -
The US Marines Leave Nicaragua for Good: The Great Depression in the United States prompts President Hoover to withdraw troops from Nicaragua after back and forth missions.Foreign intervention began to diminish, but when US troops left, instability grew
Anastasio Somoza Garcia is left as the commander of the National Guard. He president in 1936, and assumes different personas depending on who he addresses (for instance, he maintains an anticommunist stance in international forums). Garcia took actions to rid of opposition: he forced the President and Vice to resign and had Sandino killed (http://www.encyclopedia.com/people/history/nicaragua-history-biographies/anastasio-somoza). Source- Originates from Encyclopedia of World Biography (2016). -
Somoza Garcia States his Intention to Remain in Power Beyond his Term: Garcia orders a Constituent Assembly which gives him extensive power, and he earns eight more years in the presidency. This event is the first significant event in the Somoza reign.
It becomes evident to the public now that this dictator had a certain agenda. This is also significant because it is analogous to all of the Somoza regimes in which a succession of Somoza family rulers find ways to extend their powers seemingly legally, although in many ways they have defied the constitutions of Nicaragua. This extension of power makes it possible for the Somozas to rule Nicaragua for over four decades (the 1986 CQ Press Source; http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/doc...). -
Leonardo Arguello Barreto is Overthrown Less than a Month After he is Sworn in as President: Somoza pushes him to run for election rather than running for reelection himself, hoping to control him and turn him into a pawn. Somoza begins to realize that...
...Arguello has independent motives; he begins opposing the wishes of Somoza, stating that he "will not be, by the way, a simple figurehead" (https://books.google.com/books?id=F4-dAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA540&lpg=PA540&dq). Garcia then leads a coup to overthrow the new president.This demonstrates an inability of the dictator to leave, and his presiding presence over Nicaragua.
Source-"Famous Assassinations in World History: An Encyclopedia" segment in a book by Michael Newton published in 2014. -
Garcia's Uncle Román y Reyes Becomes President: He attempts to placate many of the issues with a new constitution, and attempts to win the US over, but fails.
Reyes, just like Arguello, is just another puppet in Somoza's regime
(https://www.britannica.com/biography/Roman-y-Reyes-Victor-Manuel). When he dies, Garcia comes back. Exterminating those who strayed from his vision and always still looming over the country. To this point, it is although his regime has persisted through two changes of power. This shows the persistence of Garcia. Source- An encyclopedia article written by the Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica and last updated in 2007. -
Garcia is Assassinated, Leaving His Son, Luis Somoza Debayle to Tale Office: Garcia ensures presidential succession is always the director of the National Guard. Conveniently, his son is in that position and takes office
Luis is a lesser of the three evils, putting up fronts and meanwhile maintaining internal corruption. It is said that even Luis knew what was to come with his younger brother and tried to amend the Constitution so that he could not rule, but he failed (http://www.worldliteraturetoday.org/deaths-somoza-george-evans). Source-The source is an analysis and excerpt from an essay by George Evans in May 2007. The author leans away from the Samoza family. -
Luis Somoza's Successes in World War II: Luis takes an anticommunist stance and wins over the United States.Somoza calls Cuba out on communism, plays a crucial role in the Bay of Pigs invasion, and proves to be the first Somoza regime...
...to win the legitimacy of the U.S. This is significant, as it shows the most internationally successful side of the Somoza rule. It shows that Debayle had some successes internationally, and exhibits the more civil and moderate rule of this Somoza; he even "reinstated a ban on consecutive presidential terms and succession by relatives" (https://www.britannica.com/biography/Luis-Somoza-Debayle). Source- Encyclopedia entry written by The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica and updated in 2011. -
Anastasio Somoza Debayle Becomes President
As his brother held office, Anastasio Debayle took over as the director of the National Guard. The power of president is transferred to him. Abuses were similar to those in Chile under Pinochet, and there was even major fraud involved in this regime . While his father Garcia focused on dealing with foreign intervention, Anastasio worked to advance his regime (http://www.worldliteraturetoday.org/deaths-somoza-george-evans) Source-same as previous. -
Earthquake Devastates the Economy of Nicaragua: Fellow liberals are alienated after this earthquake; damages were too abundant, people wanted a change, and they doubted the abilities of the government. Anastasio, or Samoza III...
...rather than helping the people recover, beckons for foreign funds (http://www.worldliteraturetoday.org/deaths-somoza-george-evans). He flees. A junta takes his place and pledges pluralism.Though it seems secular of politics, the earthquake pushed people off of the edge. To this point, foreign intervention and deep divisions have led to the tenure of the Somoza family, and have demonstrated the instability and suspicion within the government of Nicaragua. Source-same as prior. -
Period: to
The Earthquake: Source- Encyclopedia of World Biography entry, date published is unknown and precise author is unknown.
The earthquake during Anastasio Debayle's regime was significant because it demonstrated the greed and corruption of the regime; the international community is disturbed by the immense mismanagement of aid, and it caused more unrest in Nicaragua. The middle and upper classes stood against him, as did the Catholic Church, and yet in a rigged election Debayle won another 6-year term (http://www.encyclopedia.com/people/history/nicaragua-history-biographies/anastasio-somoza-debayle). -
The Climax of Opposition: After Debayle launches violent, censoring, torturous campaign against FSLN geurillas, the party splits into three factions that eventually work together (pluralism in common) to oppose Debayle. This demonstrates that things could
...organize within Nicaragua without U.S. aid and, more importantly, serves as the beginning to the end of a dynasty; this opposition is what begins it all, and becomes the major fighting force to eventually, with other factors, bring him down. It also takes power after he dies, and is one of the most important entities of the time. The brought together students, workers, and peasants (https://www.britannica.com/topic/Sandinista). Source- 2016, origin is the same as the other encyclopedias.
