Nicaragua

Nicaragua is a republic in Central America. It is the largest Central American nation but the least densely populated. It is bordered on the north by Honduras and on south by Costa Rica. Its western coastline is on the Pacific Ocean, while the east side of the country is on the Caribbean Sea. The country's name is a combination of Nicarao, the most populous indigenous tribe when the Spanish arrived, and the Spanish word Agua, meaning water, after the two large lakes in the west of the country, Lago Managua and Lago Nicaragua.

History

Main article: History of Nicaragua

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Colonized by Spain in 1524, Nicaragua achieved independence in 1821 and joined the United Provinces of Central America. It separated from the federation in 1838, becoming a completely sovereign republic in 1854.

Related Topics:
Spain - 1524 - 1821 - United Provinces of Central America - Republic - 1854

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The nation's early history was marked by the desire of U.S. commercial interests to make use of Nicaraguan territory. When gold was discovered in California, Cornelius Vanderbilt's Accessory Transit Company undertook a steamship and carriage business to link Greytown (present-day San Juan del Norte), at the mouth of the San Juan River (linking the Lago Nicaragua with the Gulf of Mexico), to the Pacific. Nicaragua's strategic position has ever since been of interest to the United States.

Related Topics:
California - Cornelius Vanderbilt - Accessory Transit Company - San Juan del Norte

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Sandinista revolution

Nicaragua has seen U.S. military interventions and lengthy periods of military dictatorship, the most infamous being the rule of the Somoza family (supported by successive U.S. governments) for much of the early 20th century. In 1979 the Somoza family was deposed, and a multi-factional coalition took control of the government. Conflicts within the coalition eventually resulted in power being consolidated by Daniel Ortega, who was elected President in 1984 elections marred by opposition refusal to participate and complaints of government restrictions, but claimed to be as free and fair by Western NGOs allowed into the country by the Sandinistas. Ortega and the FSLN leadership implemented a series of ambitious socialist reforms to the country, but the new president's rule was undermined by increasing civil war in which the United States, under President Ronald Reagan, covertly funded anti-Communist rebel forces called Contras despite a 1982 Congressional amendment prohibiting aid.

Related Topics:
Dictatorship - Somoza - 20th century - 1979 - Daniel Ortega - 1984 - Socialist - Civil war - Ronald Reagan - Anti-Communist - Contras - 1982 - Congressional - Amendment

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The 1990 Elections and U.S. Involvement

Multi-party elections held in 1990 saw the defeat of the Sandinistas by a coalition of right-wing parties led by Violeta Chamorro. The defeat shocked the Sandinistas as numerous pre-election polls had indicated a sure Sandinista victory and their pre-election rallies had attracted crowds of several hundred thousand people.

Related Topics:
Multi-party - 1990 - Violeta Chamorro

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The unexpected result was subject to a great deal of analysis and comment, and was attributed by commentators such as Noam Chomsky and S. Brian Wilson to the Contra threats to continue the war if the sandinistas retained power, the general war weariness of the Nicaraguan population, and extensive U.S. funding of the opposition.

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On the other hand, P. J. O'Rourke wrote in "Return of the Death of Communism" about "the unfair advantages of using state resources for party ends, about how Sandinista control of the transit system prevented UNO supporters from attending rallies, how Sandinista domination of the army forced soldiers to vote for Ortega and how Sandinista bureaucracy kept $3.3 million of U.S. campaign aid from getting to UNO while Daniel spent three millions donated by overseas pinks and millions and millions more from the Nicaraguan treasury . . ."

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