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William Walker
William Walker got involved in the civil war on Nicaragua's side and held their power. After he had so much power, he declared himself Nicaragua's president. As the president, William Walker legalized slavery. But in 1857, he got driven out of Central America, the civil war ended, and Nicaragua made a new government. -
General Jose Santos Zelaya
General Jose Santos Zelaya took control of Nicaragua in 1893. He set up dictatorship and kept a close relationship with the United States. -
Anastasio Somoza Garcia
He gained power as a military leader. He went on to control Nicaragua's government from 1936 until his assassination in 1956. He made improvements in economy, but unfortunately, he restricted rights of the citizens. -
Rubén Darío
Rubén Darío learned French simply by reading it. His works brought him to meet the president when he was only 14 years old. From then on, he became a symbol of movement to Nicaragua. -
César Augusto Sandino
César Augusto Sandino is known as a national hero in Nicaragua. In 1920, he formed a rebel army. The army fought United States troops so there would be no more conflict between the two countries. After his death, a group of Nicaraguan soldiers called themselves by his name. -
Ernesto Cardenal
He was a Catholic Priest before he became a poet. He was also a priest before he influenced Nicaragua's culture. He was a theologian against the Somoza revolution. He also published many works of politically charged poetry. -
Violeta Barrios de Chamorro
She was the wife of newspaper publisher who was killed for his opposition to Somoza. After his death, she joined the opposition lead by Sandino. In 1990 she became the first woman president of a Central America country. -
Gioconda Belli
She was born in Managua, Nicaragua. She was only 22 years old when she wrote and published her first poem. She went on to write poems during the Somoza times. Her poems inspired the people of Nicaragua. -
Pedro Joaquin Charmorro
Pedro was the leader in the fight against the Somozas. Sadly, he was killed while leading. Then, his murder sparked a strike that united the Nicaraguan people with the FSLN. -
Denis Martinez
Denis Martinez was born in Granada, Nicaragua and became the first Nicarguan to play in Major League Baseball. He began his career with the Baltimore Oriels and then was traded to the Montreal Expos. Then he went on to play for the Cleveland Indians, Seattle Mariners, and Atlanta Braves. He retired in 1998.