Download Nicaragua

Nicaragua - History
1
In Central America, there's a country with a uniquely difficult history. This country has been greatly affected by the United States,
among other countries. It has had many bad leaders, some of whom were happy to let its people die. It has also had good leaders, some
who greatly improved the lives of its people. This country is called Nicaragua.
2
Nicaragua's history starts with some footprints. These footprints are 10,000 years old. They belong to the people of the Acahualinca,
Nicaragua's native inhabitants. The footprints were preserved through the years under lots of volcanic ash.
3
Nicaragua's natives fell victim to European explorers who arrived in the 16th century. Explorers from Spain landed on Nicaragua's
Caribbean coast to the east. They founded the cities of Granada and Leon, taking control of the natives. The natives fought, but
ultimately lost.
4
After centuries of Spanish rule, Nicaraguans (and much of the rest of Central America) won independence from Spain in the early
19th century. But independence didn't save Nicaragua from the hands of outside influence. Within Nicaragua are waterways between
the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean. This made Nicaragua very important to the United States.
5
For most of the 20th century, the United States was deeply involved in Nicaraguan politics. The United States wanted to control the
Nicaraguan government, so it used all kinds of methods to try to do that. Some of the United States' interference would cost many lives
in Nicaragua.
6
In 1855, some Nicaraguans didn't like the direction the government was taking. They invited a military explorer named William
Walker to try to take over. He did, and proclaimed himself president of Nicaragua. After he made slavery legal, he was kicked out of the
country. But he didn't take no for an answer; he tried several times to return and take control. He never succeeded.
7
The US used the "threat" of Walker's return to start interfering in Nicaraguan politics. The US trained a Nicaraguan national guard.
In 1934, General Somoza, of the National Guard, had a government opponent named Augusto Sandino killed. Somoza then named
himself president. He ruled as a dictator for 20 years, taking huge amounts of land for himself. Many in Nicaragua hated him, and in
1956, he was shot and killed. His sons kept the Somoza rule alive until 1979.
8
During that time, in 1972, there was a terrible earthquake that killed thousands of people in and around Managua, Nicaragua's
capital. Financial help came from all over the world. The Somoza family kept a lot of this money for themselves, leaving many
Nicaraguans to die.
9
The Somozas lost a lot of popular support, and a revolutionary group stepped in. The Sandinistas overthrew the Somozas in 1979.
The Sandinistas took over a country that was in great need. They did well in improving education and reducing illness among
Nicaraguans. The US government has always supported the Somoza family and didn't like that the Sandinistas won.
10
So in 1981, US President Ronald Reagan suspended aid to Nicaragua. The US government gave money to the Contras, a rebel
group that fought the Sandinistas. The war and the US' economic sanctions against Nicaragua ruined its economy. The war continued
until it was discovered that the US was making illegal arms sales to give money to the Contras.
11
Today, the Sandinistas aren't in charge in Nicaragua, but are a powerful political force. The government is trying to clean up a lot
of crime and corruption. And the government and the Nicaraguan people are trying hard to improve the country's economy and daily
life.
1. What group did the US give money to in the 1980s?
Acahualinca
Sandinistas
Somozas
Contras
2. The US supported the Somozas.
False
True
3. President Walker was kicked out of the country after 4. The Sandinistas have lost all power in Nicaragua.
doing what?
Being an alcoholic
Starting a war
Making slavery legal
Stealing money
5. Evidence of the Acahualinca goes back how many
years?
10,000
20,000
5,000
15,000
False
True
6. In what year was the Managua earthquake?
1972
1982
1962
1952