Nicaraguan Civil War

Nicaragua: Background U.S. intervention in Latin America dates back to the 19th century (Monroe Doctrine) The Somozas: family dictatorship that ruled Nicaragua from 1936 - 1979.

Nicaraguan Revolution In 1979, the Sandinistas overthrew the Somoza regime in the Nicaraguan Revolution.

Nicaraguan Civil War Nicaraguan Civil War between the Sandinistas and the Contras (la contrarrevolucion) rages from 1979 - 1990. Ten-year war fought at the cost of estimated 60,000 lives, $178 billion, and the Nicaraguan infrastructure and economy.

What were the consequences of civil war for Nicaragua? Civil War in Nicaragua - Summary Luis Somoza (left) was the older brother of Antonio Somoza (right) who both succeeded their dictator father Antonio Somoza who had been assassinated in 1956. The father and his two sons ruled with harsh suppression of opposition in their country of Nicaragua. The younger Antonio’s excesses of power turned the population against him and civil war erupted in 1978. 1979 – Communist Sandinista rebels overthrow dictatorship in Nicaragua. What were the consequences of civil war for Nicaragua? A weakened economy, political unrest, many died. Ortega eventually became President. Daniel Ortega was leader of the FSLN (or, Sandinista National Liberation army) and acquired most of his skill as a guerilla fighter as well as arms from Castro in neighboring Cuba. The U.S.-supported “Contras” failed after years of bloody civil war and Ortega became President in 1984. Despite the fact that most international observers declared the heavily-monitored election to be “fair”; the U.S. President Reagan condemned the election and ordered mines placed in Nicaragua's harbors (a violation of international law that was condemned by the United Nations). After being defeated in multiple elections after the Civil War ended, Ortega is once again president of Nicaragua.

How and why did the U.S. intervene in the Nicaraguan Civil War? Essential Question How and why did the U.S. intervene in the Nicaraguan Civil War?