1. Nicaraguan Revolution 1976-79

2. Background to the Revolution • US Marine Influence 1909-1933 • Augusto Calderon Sandino • The Guardia and Collapse of Democratic rule

3. Background Con’t • FSLN (Frente Sandinista de LiberacionNacional • The revolution embraced Christian principles • Satisfaction of basic needs through a new economic development model • Broad popular participation

4. Managua Earthquake of 1972 • Excessive Corruption in Somoza Gov’t leads to radicalization of the FSLN. • FSLN divides into 3 parts following Somoza Assassination of FSLN Leaders • Prolonged Peoples War • Proletarian Tendency • Terceristas

5. Radicalization Phase • Political Opposition to Samoza was centered on Pedro Joaquin Chamorro. Newspaper editor of La Prensa • Assassination in January 1978 • Massive Resistance Begins • Somoza Crackdown

6. Radicalization phase Con’t • The harsher the crackdown on the FSLN the more people oppose Somoza • Sandinistas will take hostages in the national palace in 1979 • May 1979 national wide rebellion overwhelms the National Guard • July 19th Managua taken.. Somoza flees.

7. Results • Daniel Ortega becomes defacto head of Nicaragua • Sandinistas allow most pro-Somoza citizens to leave • Illiteracy drops from 53%- 12% • Death Rate drops • Non-aligned foreign policy aggravates United States.

8. Consequences • US begins training Counter-revolutionaries (Contras) to invade Nicaragua from Costa Rica and Honduras as early as Fall, 1979 • Reagan adopts new policy of arming and supporting Contras (300 million) • Civil War ensues (60,000 killed) • Boland Amendment • Iran-Contra Scandal • Election of 1990