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Jan 19, 1520
Nicaragua discovered
1520: land expeditions for Nicaragua begin. The Spanish were more interested in Mexico and Peru than Central America. The population of Nicaragua area dropped throughout the sixteenth century because of the exposure to new diseases that the Europeans brought over. The rest were forcibly sent to Peru to work in the silver mines. In 1522, Nicaragua is named after a local Indian chief, Nicarao, by Spanish explorer Gil Gonzalez de Avila ("Nicaragua Profile - Timeline"). -
Independence
April 30, 1838: Audiencia of Guatemala declares its independence from Spain and becomes part of the Mexican Empire in 1821 only to declare independence from Mexico in 1823 under the name the United Provinces of Central America. Because of centralization of power problem civil wars racked the new nation in 1826 and 1829. The federation dissolved in 1837. Nicaragua’s independence was declared in April of the next year ("Nicaragua Profile - Timeline"). -
Struggle and Domestic Turmoil First part of blurb: 1850: The US and Britain had fought over influence over Nicaragua and the possibility of a canal. The domestic turmoil prompted William Walker, a rich soldier from the US, to take over
Nicaragua. There was a long struggle throughout the decade that involved Nicaragua’s neighbors, the British Navy and the US marines to expel Walker. This started a cycle of Nicaraguan politicians requesting US help to settle domestic disputes and the US eagerly responding with military intervention. The British eventually give up control of Nicaragua’s Caribbean coast to their central government in 1860 ("Nicaragua Profile - Timeline"). -
Peace broken
1893: Nicaragua’s 35 year period of peace was broken by liberal Jose Santos Zelaya seizing power and establishing a controversial, sixteen year dictatorship("Nicaragua Profile - Timeline"). It was the start of a strong army and national feelings. Zelaya opened up Nicaragua’s economy to foreign trade. Infrastructure grew. Zelaya was forced out in 1909 through a conservative revolt backed by US marines. -
Nicaraguan National Guard
June 1925: as isolationist sentiments grew in the US, they started to withdraw their troops from Nicaragua. They left completely after creating the Nicaraguan National Guard. Troops were first sent in by President Taft in 1912 (Gascoigne, "HISTORY OF NICARAGUA"). -
Order out of Chaos First part of blurb: January 1927: The Nicaraguan government fell into chaos soon after US marine removal. The US re-intervened because they didn’t want a civil war that may end with a liberal victory as with the Mexican
Revolution. However, the added presence of the marines just added to the chaos. The fighting didn’t cease until US power with the strengthening National Guard started to crush the rebellions. 2 of the most influential Nicaraguan’s emerged: Augusto Cesar Sandino and Anastasio Somoza Garcia. Juan Bautista Sacasa comes to an agreement with the US Special Commissioner and he eventually becomes president (Gascoigne, "HISTORY OF NICARAGUA"). -
Somoza comes to power
June 1936: Somoza García has amassed enough power through his National Guard to overtake the presidency. He forces his uncle, President Juan Bautista Sacasa, to resign and then makes the Nicaraguan Congress appoint him as the new president after some constitutional changes (Gascoigne, "HISTORY OF NICARAGUA"). This is the start of Somoza dynasty that would last for more than 40 years. -
Sandino assassinated
January 1943: Sandino assassinated after leaving the president’s house from conducting peace negotiations. Sandino and President Juan Bautista Sacasa were good friends (Gascoigne, "HISTORY OF NICARAGUA"). The perpetrator was National Guard associates who were probably the errand boys of Somoza. This only strengthened Somoza’s power. -
Source 1 (It didn't fit in the descriptions)
Gascoigne, Bamber. "HISTORY OF NICARAGUA." HISTORY OF NICARAGUA. HistoryWorld, n.d. Web. 18 Jan. 2017.
HistoryWorld is an online history encyclopedia established by Bamber Gascoigne. HistoryWorld won the New Statesman New Media award for the best educational website in 2002. It is meant to be an educational site that is easy to use for teachers and students. -
Source 2
"Nicaragua Profile - Timeline." BBC News. BBC, 13 Jan. 2017. Web. 18 Jan. 2017.
It is from BBC, British Broadcasting Corporation. It is the largest broadcast news organization and is considered a very reputable source. While BBC has been accused of being Indophobic, that may not have affected this article.
