Nicaraguan Revolution

Part of Federal Republic of Central America

Cornelius Vanderbilt Negotiates deal with Nicaraguan gov’t in 1849 Vanderbilt’s company, Accessory Transit Company (ATC), would have 12 years to complete canal Grenada-Leon Civil War from 1854 to 1856 halts progress Liberal Léonian presidential candidate, Francisco Castellón, invites William Walker to help steal election from Grenadan, Fruto Chamorro, the rightful winner

William Walker Walker is assisted by Vanderbilt in hopes that he will end civil war and stabilize country so canal construction can continue Two of Vanderbilt’s associates prompt Walker to seize ATC holdings Walker seizes power for himself and is elected president of Nicaragua in a farcical election US initially recognizes legitimacy of Walker ( ) regime only to pull support under pressure from Vanderbilt Vanderbilt backs Cent. American coalition against Walker, who surrenders under pressure and is ultimately executed in Honduras in 1860

Clayton-Bulwer Treaty 1850 British possessions in W. Caribbean prompts opposition to US controlled canal Treaty signed, but never adhered to due to disagreements on wording 4 Agreements of Treaty – No exclusivity to canal – Neutralization of canal – Protection of other means of communication across isthmus – No occupation, fortification, colonization or dominion to be exercised over any other part of C.A.

Proposed Canal circa 1899

Transition US Nicaraguan Canal Commission 1897 and the Isthmian Canal Commission 1899 suggest an offer of $40 million to the French to take over Panamanian canal efforts Hay-Pauncefote Treaty 1901 effectively nullifes Clayton-Bulwer Hay-Bunau Varilla Treaty 1903 officially extends Panamanian canal rights to the US

French Canal Syndicate chief, Phillipe Bunau Varilla, misleads U.S. into thinking that Mt. Momotombo, an active volcano and source of seismic activity, was a threat to a Nicaraguan based canal. Actually, located 100 miles away, it was not an issue.

Theodore Roosevelt

Liberal Nicaraguan President, José Santos Zelaya, courts other foreign powers to assist in the construction of a Nicaraguan canal. Zelaya specifically invites Japan and Germany Roosevelt views these as international threats to US sphere of influence and violation of Monroe Doctrine Roosevelt begins his “Big Stick” diplomacy with the Roosevelt Corollary to the M.D. in 1904

Roosevelt Corollary “Any country whose people conduct themselves well can count upon our hearty friendship… Chronic wrong-doing, or an impotence which results in a general loosening of the ties of society, may in America, as elsewhere, ultimately require intervention by some civilized nation, and…in adherence…to the Monroe Doctrine may force the United States…to the exercise of an international police power.”

José Santos Zelaya Liberal dictator who opposed US control of canal Ordered the execution of two North Americans, as well as many Nicaraguans, in 1909 U.S. Secretary of State under Taft, Philander Knox, condemned the executions and pushed for a revolt to overthrow Zelaya Zelaya resigns under public pressure

Adolfo Diaz (center, flanked by US diplomat Lawrence Dennis and former president Emiliano Chamorro)

Adolfo Díaz Conservative president who assumes control of country Calls on US for military intervention in order to protect N.A. economic interest His real purpose was to protect his own regime and save his country from a second civil war Taft sends US marines and backs Diaz, making Nicaragua a US protectorate from 1912 to 1933

Emiliano Chamorro Head of a powerful conservative family of Grenada which directed gov’t from 1912 to 1926 Signed the Bryan-Chamorro Treaty of 1914 which gave the US exclusive rights in perpetuity to the prospective canal After WWI, US gov’t faces growing anti- imperialistic public and pulls out of Nicaragua in Liberals, led by Augusto César Sandino, begin a rebellion. Marines return within 9 months and remain until 1933

Augusto César Sandino Sandino maintains guerrilla resistance to US intervention in N. mountains until ’33 In 1932, liberal Juan Batista Sacasa wins the presidential election and demands immediate US withdrawal FDR, as part of his newly developed Good Neighbor Policy, agrees to leave, but trains a local National Guard that is loyal to the US and run by friend of the US, Anastasio Somoza Garcia. Sandino views Guardia Nacional as continued US interference and continues fight. He is ultimately arrested and executed by Somoza loyalists and becomes a martyr.

Anastasio Somoza García Anastasio Somoza Garcia (center) flanked by his sons Luiz Somoza Debayle (left) and Anastasio Somoza Debayle (right)

Somoza wrests control from Sacasa and initiates tyrannical Somoza Dynasty ( ) Somoza helps country (and himself) but offends public and is assassinated in 1956 (Eisenhower sends personal doctor) Luiz Somoza Debayle “wins” presidency in 1957 René Schick, trusted family friend, assumes presidency in 1963 When Luiz dies of heart attack in 1967, Anastasio Somoza Debayle comes to power – West Point graduate – Tyrannical and corrupt like his father – Offended even other conservatives with his excesses

Sandinista National Liberation Front Without legitimate opposition in the political arena, new guerrilla movement emerges from coalition of three separate liberal fronts – Prolonged Popular War (GPP) – comprised of rural peasants of the mountainous north – Proletarios – an offshoot of the GPP that took the movement to the workers and intellectuals in the cities – Terceristas – comprised of moderate non-Marxists, led by Edén Pastora Calling themselves the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) they begin small in 1961, but develop into a serious opposition force when Somoza horribly mishandles the aftermath of the 1972 earthquake that devastates Managua

1972 Nicaraguan Earthquake

Mounting Revolution Somoza uses the international relief funds to pay for luxury homes for his National Guard, while many people remain homeless MLB All-star Roberto Clemente dies in plane crash in route to Managua to help support those suffering, raising international awareness Sandinistas numbers swell with devastated Nicaraguans and economic elite Somoza moves to brutally suppress rebellion in villages prompting Los Doce, the Church and even the US to remove its support Somoza regime collapses in 1979

Ernesto Cardenal Accomplished poet / priest who criticized the excesses of the Somoza regime World-renowned liberation theologian, he believed sin to be the root cause of poverty and advocated justice through political activism Became Minister of Culture in the Sandinista gov’t from 1979 to 1988 Publically berated by Pope John Paul II for putting politics before God. Distanced himself from Ortega later, but not Marxist/Sandinista beliefs

Sandinista Regime Officially, the Junta of National Construction comprised of 5 members across party lines ran the country from 1979 – 1985 Unofficially, country run by the Sandinistas – Danial Ortega (FSLN) – Sergio Ramirez (leftist) – Moisés Hassan (leftist) – Alfonso Robelo (right wing) – Violeta Barrios de Chamorro (right wing) Goals of the Sandinistas are twofold: – “independent and non-aligned” foreign policy – “mixed economy” for socio-economic justice

Sandinista Regime Carter offers emergency relief & aid package of $82M Robelo and Chamorro step down in realization that they have little real power Sandinistas nationalize Somoza family fortune and land holdings (approx. 20% of arable land) Attempt to deal with problems of illiteracy, inadequate medical care & lack of higher education Cuba sends thousands of personnel to help Sandinistas resist counter-revolutionary activity US President Ronald Reagan begins 1980 term in office with vigorous stance against Marxist Sandinistas

Daniel Ortega Ortega and Ramirez gain in popularity and power with departure of right wingers US “secretly” funds Contra rebels (disenfranchised Somocistas), which, along with embargo, causes inflation to increase by 33,000% Contras engage in guerilla warfare and economic sabotage Ortega, with Ramirez as his running mate, runs for presidency in 1984 and wins. US claims it was unfair, but international watch groups uncover nothing illegitimate

Iran-Contra Affair Boland Amendment, passed by US Congress, states that funding of Contras is to cease, though administration is allowed to seek alternative funding from private enterprise or foreign governments Sale of arms indirectly through Israel to Iranian moderates, then subsequently directly to Iran, is to open ties with Iran and help in the release of hostages taken by Hezbollah. Affair becomes public and is seen as negotiating with terrorists and an exchange of “arms for hostages” This becomes public knowledge and Lt. Col. Oliver North of the NSC, who had negotiated modifications to the deal to fund the Contras becomes the fall guy. This is due in part to memo implicating him, and the fact that his secretary had been caught shredding documents, when the Tower Commission had requested all information.

Violeta Barrios de Chamorro Ortega’s presidency wanes due to continued inflation and a struggling economy Public support continues to decline as a result of military over expenditure A shocked Ortega loses the 1990 election to Violeta Chamorro, who becomes the first female elected president in all of the Americas.