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Nicaragua claims independence
Nicaragua declares independence from Spain and joins the Mexican Empire. In 1823, it becomes part of the United Provinces of Central America. -
New leader
General Jose Santos Zelaya takes control. In 1909, U.S. troops help overthrow him. -
Augusto César Sandino
Augusto César Sandino, (Spanish pronunciation: [auˈgusto ˈsesar sanˈdino]), was a Nicaraguan revolutionary and leader of a rebellion between 1927 and 1933 against the U.S. military occupation of Nicaragua. -
Revolutionaries
U.S. warships were sent to the area after 500 revolutionaries (including two Americans) were executed by order of Zelaya. Zelaya resigned later that year. -
Bryan-Chamorro
The Bryan–Chamorro Treaty was signed between Nicaragua and The United States on August 5, 1914. The Wilson administration changed the treaty by adding a provision similar in language to that of the Platt Amendment, which would have authorized United States military intervention in Nicaragua. The United States Senate opposed the new provision; in response, it was dropped and the treaty was formally ratified on June 19, 1916. -
U.S. withraws
When the Americans left in 1933, they set up the Guardia Nacional (national guard),[30] a combined military and police force trained and equipped by the Americans and designed to be loyal to U.S. interests. -
Dictatorship
Somoza slowly eliminated officers in the national guard who might have stood in his way, and then deposed Sacasa and became president on January 1, 1937, in a rigged election -
War
Nicaragua declared war on Germany on December 8, 1941, during World War II.[37] No soldiers were sent to the war, but Somoza did seize the occasion to confiscate properties held by German Nicaraguan residents.[38] In 1945, Nicaragua was among the first countries to ratify the United Nations Charter.[ -
Earthquake
The earthquake caused widespread casualties among Managua's residents: 6,000 were killed, 20,000 were injured and over 250,000 were left homeless. -
Execution
Sandino was assassinated that same night, on February 21, 1934, by soldiers of the National Guard. Hundreds of men, women, and children from Sandino's agricultural colony were executed later.[34]
