Nicaragua Assignment

Leon and Granada

Jan 1, 1750

Landowners in Leon concentrated on exporting animal products, whereas Grenada was the center of agricultural trade. Local elites from these cities agreed on promoting Nicaragua as site for a transmission canal to promote trade to the region.
http://ezinearticles.com/?Introduction-to-the-Rivalry-Between-Leon-and-Granada,-Nicaragua&id=2507911
This source originates from EzineArticles.
These cities were founded in 1524 by Francisco Hernández de Córdoba.

Audiencia of Guatemala declared its independence

Sep 15, 1821

Nicaragua's independence was promoted by several stages. First of which was the independence declared by the Audiencia of Guatemala. They wanted their dependence from Spain to become a part of the Mexican Empire.
http://www.countriesquest.com/central_america/guatemala/history/independence.htm
This source comes from countriesquest.
On this day, they also formed a government assumed authority over the entire kingdom.

Nicaragua’s independence declared formally

Apr 30, 1838

Following efforts to centralize power between each province and the federation dissolving, Nicaragua declares its independence.
Source: http://countrystudies.us/nicaragua/7.htm
This source comes from the U.S. Library of Congress.
The Constituent Assembly formally declared Nicaragua's independence from the United Provinces of Central America on April 30, 1838. The United Provinces of Central America consisted of Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua.

William Walker attempts to assume power in Nicaragua

Nov 8, 1855

With Nicaragua in domestic turmoil, William Walker took on the opportunity to take over Nicaragua. Expelling Walker from power required was a long and costly process.
https://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-by-era/jackson-lincoln/essays/filibuster-king-strange-career-william-walker-most-dangerous-i
This source comes from HistoryNow.
William Walker appeared to many as a spokesperson for Manifest Destiny, but to others he appeared as an international criminal.

Jose Santos Zelaya comes to power

Jul 25, 1893

Thirty-five years of relative calm was broken in Nicaragua by Jose Santos Zelaya. He was a liberal whose rule proved to be very controversial. He was a ruthless dictator who managed to stay in power for sixteen years.
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jose-Santos-Zelaya
This source comes from Britannica.
Zelaya is noted for his hostility towards the U.S. and his attempts to bring Central America together.

Zelaya falls from power

Dec 21, 1909

Conservatives strongly opposed Zelaya's messages, and this caused a revolt that was supported by U.S. marines to drive Zelaya out of power. Zelaya's fall came with an era of political instability and foreign intervention.
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jose-Santos-Zelaya
This source comes from Britannica.
Zelaya was forced to flee Mexico following his decision to execute U.S. soldiers leading to the U.S. breaking off diplomatic relations.

Augusto Cesar Sandino's Assassination

Feb 21, 1934

Sandino was assassinated by National Guard members who killed him without approval from the president.
Source: http://revolutions.truman.edu/nicaragua/bios.htm
This is an educational source; its information is derived from Columbian Electronic Encyclopedia, ucis.pitt.edu, and rose-hulman.edu.
Sandino was assassinated following his arrival to have dinner with Anastasio Somoza. Carlos Fonseca and other rebel activists tried to keep Sandino's legacy alive in Nicaragua.

Somoza Garcia comes to power

Jun 1, 1936

Forcing his uncle to resign as president and instructing the Nicaraguan Congress to name him as president, Somoza Garcia assumed his uncle's role.
Source: http://www.historytoday.com/richard-cavendish/general-somoza-takes-over-nicaragua
This source comes from HistoryToday. It is an article written by Richard Cavendish on June 6, 2011.
Throughout Garcia's rule, he appointed many family members to key positions and modernized the economy which had been very dependent on the export of bananas.