CAUSES OF NICARAGUAN REVOLUTION 1970: ruling family (Somozas) faced guerilla campaign + political revolt from groups unhappy

ppy about the ruling of the country Most Nicaraguans live in poverty + political system dominated by one family for decades Economic and political development remained little despite international involvement due to Nicaraguas esteemed location in region

Long Term Causes Independent in 1838 except few brief periods of stability until 1890s when revolts + civil wars plagued country USA interested constructing canal across country to connect Atlantic + Pacific Oceans prior to deciding to build one through Panama instead; deployed troops stabilize countrys political systems (1909) Consistent revolts let to reaction of National Guard by USA in 1927 Functioned as police + army for N, led by Anastasio Somoza Garcia aka Somoza Senior; overthrew government 1936 (little opposition)-> 1937

Somoza Dictatorship Placed relatives in leading govt. positions + used National Guard to manage elections aka stay in power Good ties with us helped him consolidate his authority Ex. one of the first powers to declare war on axis powers during WW2 after Japan attacks on USA Assisted US with Cold War + in invasion of Gautemala ( Nicaragua staging area for Bay of Pigs attack)

Dynasty Formed Served as president ( Jan 1937- May 1947) + returned in 1950 2 sons that helped him rule after his death (Luis [pres] + Anastasio Somoza[national guard= power behind Somoza dynasty]) Ran again in 55 after changing constitution, provoking Perez into assassinating him; replaced by Luis Luis pres (1956-1963) came by with some reforms Transitioned fam from direct to indirect rule = Rene Schick elected as pres 1967 luis dies = somoza pres= jose (half -brother tops national guard)

Minor Opposition Little effective opposition as those who rebelled usually jailed, house arrest, pardoned, exiled Many human rights violations but govt. rarely bothered majority rural population They were poor but religious + dependant on work on agricultural estates owned by Somozas & other wealthy people Not part of political system + no time to oppose govt. + illiterate + lacked ability to organize + easy to intimidate by NG Other parties like Conservative Party of Nicaragua tolerated only if they cooperated

Somozan Wealth Controlled political + military institutions + Nicaraguan economy (used govt. institutions to best farmlands in country) Seized land not registered + granted it to former rebels as part of peace agreements + bought cheap Italian and German property Built infrastructure (roads, electricity stations) vastly cultivated by poor peasants for min. wage Owned Nicaraguas main exports = coffee, cotton & beef cattle plantations Owned everything from sugar mills, alcohol distilleries, shipping company, airline, container port + dictator of railroad company + controlled health services, radio, prisons, postal system, liquor, weapons + controlled borders which helped manage imports and exports

Rural Nicaraguan economy Majority of Nicaraguans lived in poverty, no access to electricity + literacy + sewage treatment systems + leau potable + clean floors Huge gap between wealthy led by somozas + poor rural population = national support for opposition in 1974

Opposition and revolt before 1972 Many had to work outside of governmental system to create change against Somoza

Chamorro Managua La Prensa (most circulated newspaper) allowed even though operated by his Somozas biggest political opponent = Pedro Chamorro Attempted minor rebellion against state = prison = house arrest + prison again after Somoza Senior assassinated Fled to Costa Rica Cuba after rise of Castro + returned to Nicaragua to attempt another rebellion w/100 youths who eventually had to surrender Chamorro just returned to La Prensa

Frente Sandanista de Liberacion Nacionak (FSLN): 1961 Sandanista in remembrance of Sandino (pop rebellion leader in 1920s & 30s) Inspired by Marx and Lenin + Castros success against dictatorial regime of Cuba: socialism + communism Believed only way to remove Somoza regime was through mobilization of rural impoverished peasants 60 crossed from Honduras to Nicaragua in 1962 but quickly killed by National Guard + presumed extinct by govt. due to low activity

FSLN Goals 1966 Sandanistas crossed again but by 1967, most dead or fled to Cuba Major problem were peasants who feared NG retaliation + considered Sandanistas outsiders + didnt know their goals Sandanistas aimed to + status of women, redistribute major estates to peasants, overall wealth, + health care, education, human rights all through revolutionary govt.

FSLN Expansion Received mil training in Cuba 1972 + tried restarting rebellion in north but many peasants distrusted them and helped NG locate them Many died but got the attention of youth group in Managua =left commune to join movement Not peasantry where opposition to Somoza found, but urban youth disturbed by corruption and lack of democracy + earthquake of 1972 pushed them to join rebels

Short-term causes of revolution Corruption after earthquake expanded opposition; business leaders + catholic church + guerilla rebels began to oppose regime separately + gradually Rural poor remained uninvolved until late 1970s when opposition in cities expanded as reaction to awareness of corruption + murder of major opposition leader

Managua Earthquake: December 23, 1972 Major earthquake levelled 80% of Managua (capital), killing 10,000 people + leaving majority homeless Billions of $ of emergency aid flew in from US o rebuild city Majority received by Somozas buildings + businesses High import taxes placed on construction materials of rival companies Urban middle classes ( libs and conserves) both seeing presidents greed = threat to economic existence Opposing business owners part of Superior Council of Private Initiative (COSIP) + march 1974, organized large gathering + public statement accusing Somoza of corruption in use of relief funds Chamorro uses this to organize Democratic Union of Liberation (UDEL), coalition of 7 parties + labour unions against Somoza

Christmas Party Raid: December 27, 1974 Sandanistas almost forgotten and assumed wrongly that they came to an end in 1972 Xmas party for US ambassador , small group of Sanadanistas (10m, 3f) took foreign minister + Somozas brother in law hostage Archbishop Obando negotiated with rebels : govt. agrees with Sandanista demands: 14 prisoners released + $1million + FSLN publication statement on Somoza+ fight to Cuba Once rebels flown to Cuba, National guard starts aggressive campaign to root out Sandanista rebels (almost destroyed them) Sandanista Fragmentation remaining members saw it either as mistake or success and competed for followers + support from Cuba Proletarian Faction believed that Sandanistas should be educating peeps about Marxist principles instead of counter-revolutionary raids = lead to change refused to work with other parties and Church as contributed to Nicaraguas poverty and corruption Prolonged Popular War strongly Marxist + believed guerilla war against NG + major estate owners would lead to govt. change Tercertistas

largest faction + believed best way to remove govt. system was to build alliances with all groups (bus owners + Catholic Church)

National Guard actions 1975-6 Somoza ordered NG to crush Sandanistas in 1975 Christmas party raid raised their profile + COSIP statement + UDEL = crackdown Press censored + opposition threatneded NG conduected anti-guerilla operations against Prolonged Popular War in n mountains Peasant farms + villages destroyed, driving peasants away + no local support/ access to food for Sandanistas Many killed to get info on Sandanista movements Catholic Church protests against govt. about human rights violations killing peasants unaffiliated with rebel groups NG simply said they worked rebel guerillas = criticism by Church Sandanista factions wiped by NG + Terceristas saved by being in Cuba + other memebrs hiding in Nicaragua/ Costa Rica