Somoza & Sandino:

20th Century Nicaragua

Nicaragua: Pre-Somoza

• Jose Santos Zelaya (liberal) monopolized power from 1893-1910

•U.S. capital moves into country – mining, fruit, coffee, timber

• Upsets U.S. by not negotiating for canal, then negotiating with others

•Conservatives see opportunity and launch revolution in 1909

• U.S. intervenes in support of conservatives

• Adolfo Díaz takes power

• U.S. worked with Díaz to improve economy

• Díaz called for “Platt Amendment” for Nicaragua

• Liberals launch revolution in 1912 – U.S. intervenes to help Díaz

Nicaraguan ties to the United States

• 1912-1933 – U.S. marines stayed in Nicaragua

• 1916 – Bryan-Chamorro Treaty – U.S. gains exclusive rights to build any canal

• by 1920s – railroad, mining, lumber, banking nearly monopolized by U.S.; Atlantic Fruit and UFCO owned much of the productive land in Nicaragua

• By end of 20s, Nicaragua was basically a protectorate of the U.S.

• By 1930, U.S. officials were responsible for fiscal and monetary policy

Nicaragua as of 1930

• export economy was weak

• had lowest per capita income in Central America

• had most illiterate people in Central America

• eastern provinces were not connected by rail or road to the capital

Augusto Sandino

• born in 1895 to coffee plantation owner & Indian peasant plantation worker

• 1912 – radicalizing event for Sandino –conservatives had Benjamin Zeledon (liberal revolution leader) killed – saw train carrying body & saw soldiers kicking dead body

• stayed on plantation until 25 years old, then left for oil fields of Mexico

• went to work for American companies and saw conditions for workers

• 1926 – went back to Nicaragua and became active in liberal party insurrection

• Liberal party family background, strong nationalist

• 1926-1933 – Sandino led guerrilla war of national liberation against conservatives and U.S. marines

• ideological basis not clear (look on www.sandino.org)

• U.S. labeled him as bandit and offered reward for his body, but could not defeat him – finally got tired and sought way out

• U.S. arranged cease-fire between liberals and conservatives; U.S. created National Guard (supposedly apolitical); U.S. scheduled elections where U.S. would supervise voting

•1933 – U.S. withdrew marines

Anastasio Somoza Garcia

• Son of well-off coffee grower

• young liberal party politician

•Studied in U.S. and spoke fluent English

• During 1926-1933 intervention Somoza served as intermediary between Nicaraguan President, U.S. marines, and State Department

• his pro-U.S. attitude impressed U.S. ambassador

• was acceptable to all sides as commander of newly created National Guard

Somoza and Sandino

• Feb. 1933 – new government signed peace agreement with Sandino for cease-fire – Sandino agreed to partial disarmament, government gave Sandino and others amnesty and set up safe area for Sandino and others to move safely without government harassment

• Feb. 1934 – Sandino was invited to capital to finalize agreement – he was seized and shot by National Guard under orders from Somoza

• Then National Guard went into safe area and in a brutal operation killed many of Sandino’s supporters

• Sandino became a martyr – a symbol of patriotism, nationalism, and anti-imperialism

• Somoza became a dictator – he used his military position to gain power, he imposed self as liberal candidate and became President in 1937

Somoza Dynasty

• 1937 marked start of 42 year period of family rule

• Somoza put family and close associates in key government and military positions

• the power of the National Guard grew – it came to control radio and tv networks, postal and immigration services, health services, railroads, and internal revenue service

• National Guard was one key to Somoza’s power – he kept them happy and loyal by encouraging them to profit from their positions and by purging disloyal members – “Mafia in uniform”

• A second key to his success was an alliance with the oligarchy – he co-opted them by sharing the spoils of office

•ran Liberal party as personal party; allowed nominal political opposition but crushed serious opposition

• by end of WWII – worth est. $60 bil – textile companies, sugar mills, rum distilleries, merchant marine lines, national airline, only pasteurized milk facility

The third key was the support of the U.S., which he cultivated regularly

Somoza with FDR on visit to U.S. in 1939.

All in the Family

• in 1956 – Somoza was assassinated by a 27 year old Nicaraguan poet (he was flown to the Panama Canal Zone and Ike sent his personal

physisican but he did not survive

• son Luis took power – Luis Somoza Debayle was President of Congress at the time so he was empowered by the Constitution to take over; he was elected to his own term in 1957 – under Luis there were a few social reforms, but not many

• Luis continued his father’s support for U.S. as one of first Latin American leaders to condemn Fidel Castro; he allowed Nicaraguan bases to be used for air attacks and troop lift for Bay of Pigs

• After Luis died, his younger brother Anastasio Somoza Debayle took over – he had been director of the National Guard – use of force and corruption increased

Luis Somoza Debayle

Anastasio Somoza Debayle