The Nicaraguan Revolution summarizes the history of Nicaragua from the early 20th century to the 1980s, including key events like the Somoza dictatorship, the 1972 earthquake, and the rise of the Sandinistas. It describes the US's shifting policies towards Nicaragua under different presidents, from supporting Somoza to backing the Contras against the Sandinista government. It also provides an overview of the Iran-Contra affair, in which the US illegally sold arms to Iran and used the proceeds to fund the Contras, defying Congress.

1. The Nicaraguan Revolution
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2. Foreshadowing
“We are in the eyes of the world, and because of the Monroe
Doctrine, held responsible for the order of Central America,
and its proximity to the canal make the preservation of peace
in that neighborhood particularly necessary.”
Secretary of State Knox (1911)

3. Timeline Connections
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tell me about...William Walker & The Panama Canal
U.S. gov. negotiated the right to build a canal (1916)
Nicaragua tried to strike a deal with Germany or Japan
to build a canal...guess how the USA responds?

4. Background
• historical social conditions
• exports: coffee, sugar, cotton and timber
• U.S. intervention in the civil war (1912-33)
• Anastasio Somoza vs Augusto Sandino

5. Somoza and Sons (1936-1979)
...43 years of dictatorship...
• strong supporters of anti-Communism and
U.S. business investments
• Sandinistas formed
• massive corruption
• anti-Arbenz
• assassination in 1956
• Bay of Pigs (1961)
• Luis (1967)
Luis
Anastasio

6. Beginning of the End
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Dec 1972 earthquake
6.2 Richter Scale
10,000 killed
$1 billion in damages
80% of capital destroyed!
Somoza stole aid from the world

7. The Revolution Begins!
• increase in public protests
• restrictions on the press and death of Pedro
Chamorro
• brutality of National Guard
• rocket attacks, teenagers and mutilations
• Bill Stewart, ABC News
• middle/upper class flight

8. Preview of U.S.
Responses
Somoza may be a son-of-a-bitch, but at least he’s our son-of-a-bitch
--FDR (alleged)
• President Carter: concern for human rights?
• President Reagan: good old-fashioned Cold
warrior

9. Sandinistas and Carter
• dilemma for Carter
• resignation of Somoza and formation of a
coalition gov.
• desire for moderation from the U.S.
• relationship quickly sours
• start true land reform
• econ aid from the Soviets
• aid to rebels in El Salvador

10. *The Pivotal Years of 1979 & 1980*
• Iranian Hostage Crisis Nov 1979
• USSR invaded Afghanistan Dec 1979
• Iran vs Iraq War Sept 1980
• impact on Carter’s USFP and the 1980
election

11. Reagan and the Contras
• Reagan crushed Carter in 1980
• fear of “another Cuba”
• formation of the Contras
• 1984 election of Daniel Ortega
• impact of Vietnam
• Contra attacks on infrastructure
• Dewey Clarridge (CIA)
• attacks on civilians

13. Iran Contra Connection
• Boland Amendment
• Hostage Crisis, Part II: Lebanon 1985
• U.S.-->Israel-->Iran-->Lebanon
• profit from missile sales-->Nicaragua

16. Iran Contra Scandal
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How did people find out?
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Eugene Hasenfus
Lebanese newspaper
Congressional investigation
What did Reagan know?
Documents and e-mails
“I don’t believe I ever did anything that was criminal.” (North)

17. Significance of the
Iran-Contra Affair
• Once again, can we trust our government?
• What happens when our leaders lie?
• What policies are we prepared to support
to achieve our goals?
• Who’s watching the government?
• How does this impact democracy?