Nicaragua - A Historical Reference
Spain invaded Nicaragua in the 1500's and rapidly established it as a settlement. The population of the country rapidly became devastated because of disease, deportation, and slavery by the Spaniards. Granada was established as the colonial head of the country, and was one of the first settlements developed in the Americas by the Europeans.
Nicaragua remained a settlement of Spain until 1821, at what time it stated its freedom. Britain however controlled the Caribbean coast, but bit by bit relinquished control over the next couple of decades. In 1838, Nicaragua affirmed itself as an independent republic. Shortly there after, a U.S. capitalist named William Walker set his sights on appropriating the country and having the US Government occupy it as a slave state to assist the South. Subsequently, Nicaragua was in the middle of a civil war at the time. Walker did manage to gain power over Nicaragua, but he rapidly lost it as soon as he tried to invade Costa Rica. Walker finally left the country, but was executed in Honduras soon thereafter.
Nearly all of the 20th Century was framed by the rule of the Somozas; beginning with the father and afterward his sons. By the end of the 1970's, disturbance within the residents exploded into a rebellion, and ultimately the Somoza reign stopped by the Sandinista army. Yet again, the U.S. played a role in Nicaragua's past, by means of instructing and equipping objectors to fight the Sandinistas and their leadership of the country. Finally, a peace deal was made, and in 1990 the country organized its first democratic elections. They have not looked back since.
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