Title: Nicaragua
1Nicaragua
República de Nicaragua
National Flag Blue for the oceans on either side,
and white for purity, and for the land.
Coat of Arms
2(No Transcript)
3Climate
LOWLANDS (Areas near the ocean)? Hot, tropical,
and humid Temperature typically ranges from 72
to 86 Fahrenheit
CENTRAL HIGHLANDS Most temperate of the three
regions. Temperature typically ranges from 63 to
77 Fahrenheit.
NORTHERN HIGHLANDS Cooler and drier than the
other regions. Temperature typically ranges from
54 to 68 Fahrenheit
- Tropical climate - Two main seasons dry
season from January to June, and rainy season
from July to December.
4People
Population 5,675,356
Spoken Language Spanish Literacy rate
67.5 Education 6 year compulsory, 5 year
secondary (3 years basic, 2 years focused)?
5Government
EXECUTIVE BRANCH Chief of State/Head of
Government President 5 year terms, election by
popular vote Cabinet Appointed by the President
JUDICIAL BRANCH Supreme Court 12 members,
elected to 7 year terms by the national assembly
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH National Assembly 93 seats,
elected to 5 years terms by proportional
representation
Current president Michelle Bachelet Jeria
(elected March 2006)?
6Economy
GDP 11.6 billion
MAJOR INDUSTRIES Food processing, chemicals,
machinery and metal products, textiles, clothing,
petroleum refining and distribution, beverages,
footwear, wood
EXPORTS Coffee, shrimp, lobster, cotton, tobacco,
bananas, beef, sugar, gold
IMPORTS Machinery and equipment, raw materials,
petroleum products, consumer goods
7Early History
- Spanish conquistador Gil Gonzalez Davila attempts
to conquer Nicaragua in 1522 - Gonzalez is driven from Nicaragua by natives that
same year, after successfully exploring much of
the area. - Spanish begin establishing colonies in 1524
- Natives begin contracting diseases from the
colonists, and the Spanish begin selling them
into slavery - Native population is reduced by nearly a
hundred-fold by the introduction of new illnesses
and the slave trade over the next thirty years
8Independence
- Independence movements throughout South and
Central America around 1811 stir up revolutionary
thoughts in the Nicaraguan colonies - Negotiations for independence begin in 1811, and
end when Nicaragua formally declares independence
from Spain on September 15, 1821 - Nicaragua becomes part of the United Provinces of
Central America in 1826 - Nicaragua declares independence from the UPCA on
April 30, 1838
9The 19th-20th Centuries
- Sporadic civil war occurs between the liberal
parties in Leon and conservative parties in
Granada from around 1840 to 1860 - American William Walker rigs elections in 1856,
and becomes president of Nicaragua Walker is
driven out the following year - José Santos Zelaya is elected in 1893, and begins
negotiations with Japan and Germany to possibly
construct a canal through Nicaragua - At the start of the 20th century, the US is
denied the right to build a canal through
Nicaragua, and intervenes to avoid the
possibility of a competing canal through Central
America by encouraging revolt against President
Zelaya - US sends troops and warships to Nicaragua to
secure the victory of the revolutionaries, and
President Zelaya resigns - US Marines occupy Nicaragua from 1912 to 1933
10The 20th century
- Anastasio Somoza becomes president in 1937
through rigged elections, alters the constitution
to give himself full control of the government,
and stays in power for 20 years, when he is
assassinated - Anastasio's son Luis Somoza Debayle becomes
president in 1957 - In 1963, a new president is elected, but he
remains largely a puppet ruler under the powerful
Somoza family - In 1967, Anastasio Somoza Debayle, Luis Somoza's
brother, becomes president, again through rigged
elections after his term is up in 1972, he
passes on the leadership of the country to a
triumvirate - A devastating earthquake that same year in
Managua causes much of the country to go
homeless, and kills thousands the Somoza family
keeps relief money for itself, not allowing it to
pass on to the affected citizens - Anastasio Somoza Debayle alters the constitution
yet again, allowing himself to be reelected
11The 20th century (cont.)?
- A group called the Sandinistas, a resistance
group against the Somoza regime, kidnaps
influential Somoza leaders in 1974, gaining a
large ransom - Struggles continue between the Somozas and the
Sandinistas, until the Sandinistas capture the
palace in 1978, effectively initiating the spread
of resistance throughout the country - On July 17th, 1978, the Somozas surrender, and
Luis resigns and successfully escapes from
Nicaragua - Under suspicion of communist sympathies in 1981,
the Reagan administration began to fund Contra
forces in Nicaragua, insurgents against the
Sandinista government - Occasional conflict results between the Contra
and the Nicaraguan government - In 1987 the US ends its financial backing of the
Contra forces in Nicaragua, and a peace treaty is
signed that greatly reduces the amount of
military conflict in Nicaragua
12The 20th century (cont.)?
- The US declares a trade embargo against
Nicaragua, and proceeds to use its swaying power
to keep international loans from the Nicaraguan
government - Nicaragua begins an economic collapse due to US
actions and Sandinista economic policies - Elections are held in 1990, and a non-Sandinista
president is elected, turning the government
around, and introducing several important reforms - The post-Sandinista government negotiates with
the Contra forces, and successfully cuts the
amount of Contra troops to a fifth of their
former size - Spiraling inflation from the Sandinistas was
brought under control, but the economy remains
very poor today