History: Nicaragua
The culture of Nicaragua is a direct reflection of the country’s history. As a country long entrenched by a corrupt family, their rule, as well as the country’s history is especially pertinent to the cultural values that many hold.
However, everyone has their own stories, beliefs, and values which make up their own cultural identity that is unique in and of itself. This is what makes each country so special. It would be impossible to cover every aspect in a blog post, however, I hope to convey the history of Nicaragua to the best of my ability.
The Spanish first arrived with Christopher Columbus’ expedition in 1502. Prior to this the land that makes up what we now know as Nicaragua was occupied by Indigenous people which have been linked to the Aztec and Maya civilizations. The oral history (linguistically and culturally) of the people of western Nicaragua is indicative with the notion that they migrated South from Mexico several centuries before the arrival of the Spanish.
Most people in central and Western Nicaragua spoke dialects of Pipil, which is a language closely related to that of the Aztec. The food and culture of western Nicaragua also confirmed that early inhabitants came from Mexico. Lowland areas of Nicaragua were inhabited by tribes that migrated north from what is present-day Colombia. Eastern Nicaragua consisted of other tribes as well as extended family and traded resources and customs such as round thatched huts which are typical for the Caribbean, suggesting that Eastern Nicaragua was heavily influenced by the islands.
1500's
Nicaragua was left alone for many decades until the first attempt of conquering the country in 1520. The country is noted to have been found on September 15, 1821 However, it was not until 1522 that a formal military expedition under Gil González Dávila, led to the Spanish conquest of Nicaragua. González arrived in Nicaragua through Costa Rica. After falling sick he reached the land controlled by chief Nicoya (in Costa Rica) who welcomed González and his people and gave him the means to continue his expedition to Nicaragua. The highlands of Nicaragua were governed by Chief Nicarao (who is believed to be the reason behind the country’s name) who took González as a friend. More than 9,000 of his tribe members converted to Roman Catholicism, all of which were baptized. Confident in his successes González ventured further where he encountered resistance from the people living there and returned to Panama.
In 1523 the governor of Panama appointed Francisco Hernández de Córdoba to lead an expedition to Nicaragua and in 1524 the Spanish established permanent settlement. From that, Francisco Hernández de Córdoba was distinguished as the founder of Nicaragua.
Similarly, to other countries, the Spanish encountered resistance from the indigenous people. Ultimately the Spanish enslaved most of the population and many died out from diseases brought there from Europe.
1823
Nicaragua broke free from Spanish rule in 1823 and became an independent nation in 1838. The country experienced a wave of immigration, mostly from European countries such as Germany, Spain, Italy, and France because their money would go further than it would in Europe.
Early 1900's
During the 20th century the United States military occupied Nicaragua due to political differences with the U.S. government. At the time, Nicaragua was governed by the country’s conservative party. From 1927–1933 General
Augusto César Sandino led a war against the Conservative regime which led to the U.S. marines withdrawing from the country. When they left [U.S. maries]they set up the Guardia Nacional (National Guard) with Anastasio Somoza García (a friend of the U.S.) in charge, which was designed with the best interest of the United States in mind.
Somoza had control over the economy, military support, as well as the support of the United States. With such a strong hold over many aspects of the country he took control in 1937 as the president of Nicaragua. He had complete political power as he also controlled the Nationalist Liberal Party(LPN) which controlled legislature and the judicial system.
1956
In 1956 Somoza was shot leaving his son Anastasio in charge of the military
and his son Luis Somoza Debayle as acting president, nominated by the Somoza-controlled LPN for the 1957 elections.
1963
In 1963 Luis Somoza allowed a political supporter, Rene Shick, to become president against his brother’s wishes as he wanted full family control and his own turn at presidency. In 1967 Anastasio became president after promoting himself to major general and through a corrupt election.
His first term was full of corruption and conflict between him and the National Guard, as well as the LPN. He appointed relatives to many key posts and used their power and positions to expand their family’s dominance over the country.
Guerrilla groups such as the Sandinista National Liberation Front made many attempts against the government but all were crushed by the National Guard.
1971
In 1971 Somoza-Debayle stepped down but retained the post of Chief of the Armed Forces. Then in 1972 a devastating earthquake hit the capitol city of Managua leaving 6,000 dead and 20,000 injured. The Somoza family took advantage of this tragedy for their own personal gain and Somoza-Debayle embezzled money from the international relief funds.
Martial Law was declared, supported by the U.S. ambassador and Somoza-Debayle was made Chief Executive of the government with U.S. marines sent in to insure Somoza-Debayle’s regime was instituted. The Somoza family extended their interests into areas such as banking which they had previously ignored. This produced widespread protest and drove the middle and upper class into open opposition. The Roman Catholic Church also became critical of the regime.
1974
In 1974, through a rigged election Somoza won a six year presidential term. By the end of the decade in 1978 Nicaragua experienced an economic slowdown which made grounds for a revolution. The editor of the anti-Somoza newspaper, Joaquín Chamorro was assassinated and the public held Somoza-Debayle responsible for his death. Led by the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN), anti-Somoza forces launched an uprising against the military.
Somoza-Debayle resigned on July 17th, 1979 and fled to Miami, later exiling to Paraguay where he was later assassinated in 1980. For the first time in their history Nicaraguans were given the freedom to determine their own futures. However in 1981 when Ronald Reagan took power, he condemed the FSLN for joining forces with Cuba. His administration, authorized by the CIA began financing, arming, and training groups of rebels known as the Contras (many of which were former individuals under Somoza’s national guard). This began the Contra War whose goal was to undermine the Sandinista regime. This war lasted 10 years and cost 60,000 lives and $178 billion dollars as well as the Nicaraguan economy.
1970’s-1990’s and the United States
From the 1970’s-1990’s many people were fleeing the country as the Sandinista’s were taking young kids as soilders. The Sandinista Revolution brought a wave of Nicaraguan refugees into the U.S. and according to the 1990 U.S. Census 168,659 of the total 202,658 documented Nicaraguans in the U.S. were born in Nicaragua.
The Sandinista Revolution and the Contra War that followed brought the first large waves of Nicaraguan refugees into the U.S. Many Nicaraguans who immigrated did so to escape poverty. However, nearly all of the estimated 200,000 Nicaraguans who fled to the U.S. (and other nearby Central American countries) between 1978 and 1979 returned after the victory of the Sandinistas in 1979.
1980's
In 1985 FSLN’s presidential candidate, Daniel Ortega takes office and declares a state of national emergency, suspending civil rights.
By 1988 Nicaragua is a disaster zone, destroyed by Civil War and Hurricane Hugo. President Ortega agrees to the first round of peace talks with Contra leaders.
1990
In 1990 the Sandinista government was defeated by an anti-Sandinista party led by Violeta Chamorro, the widow of journalist Joaquín Chamorro. Violeta Chamorro was the first woman to be
popularly elected as President of an American nation, the first woman president of Nicaragua and first female president in the Americas. At this time Chamorro improved diplomatic relations with the United States and the FSLN still held popular support in Nicaragua. However, during her time as president Violeta did not dismantle the Sandinista Popular Army.
1997
In 1997 Arnoldo Alemán Lacayo, the Liberal Party’s conservative candidate, won the presidential elections 49% to 39% over FSLN opponent, Daniel Ortega. Alemán was successful in promoting economic recovery and helped grow Nicaragua’s infastructure. However due to Hurricane Mitch in 1998 at least 3,000 are kills and hundreds of thousands were left homeless.
2001
In 2001 liberal party candidate Enrique Bolaños beats his Sandinista party counterpart, former president Daniel Ortega, in presidential election. Bolaños was widely viewed as an American “puppet” and many voters saw him as as weak canidate. However, Bolaños won and was sworn into office in 2002 and two days into his five year term he began an anti-corruption campaign to investigate and prosecute all former and current state employees who engaged in corrupt behavior.
2002
In 2002 Former president Arnoldo Aleman was charged with money laundering, and embezzlement during his term in office and was later jailed for 20 years for corruption but a year in was transferred to house arrest.
2006
In 2006 Ex-President Daniel Ortega was returned to power in the presidential elections. In 2009 President Ortega announced his plans to change the constitution to allow him to stand for another term in office and in October of that year the Constitutional Court lifted the ban on president seeking re-election.
2011
In 2011 President Ortega is re-elected for another five-year term and According to the Consejo Supremo Electoral (Supreme Electoral Council) Ortega beat Fabio Gadea, with 63 percent of the votes.
2016
In 2016 Daniel Ortega won a third consecutive presidential term and his wife Rosario Murillo became vice-president.
2018
His reelection has caused widespread protests for years but a uproar began in 2018. President Ortega tried to change the country’s social security and protests were led mostly by well educated students. The changes increased contributions by workers and employers and reduced retired workers’ pensions. Ortega decided to scrap his proposed changes to social security after they spark nationwide protests which led to at least 40 deaths. Peaceful protests are continuing in Nicaragua with participants now calling on Ortega’s resignation.
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