Points in Nicaragua History: The US occupation

From 1909 to 1933 the United States occupied Nicaragua, with our ever-famous marines.
The US's interests in Nicaragua lied in their abundant natural resources and the very convenient location for a Atlantic-Pacific canal (through the San Juan River into Lake Nicaragua, and then a small length of land left until the Pacific Ocean).


As you might also know, the US is really great at finding reasons to occupy a country. Our reason this time was that on November 17, 1909 two Americans were executed under the orders of President Zelaya (they had confessed to having laid a mine in the San Juan River with the intention of blowing up the Diamante, but whatever). Zelaya was also very against foreign access to Nicaraguan natural resources. Through US pressure Zelaya resigned later that year, replaced by Adolfo Díaz, who essentially became a figurehead for the US government.
(A photo of the dapper Zelaya)


And so began the US occupation, which only had a nine month break beginning in 1925, but the Marines came back after a little scuffle between the conservatives and liberals. In 1914 the Bryan-Chamorro Treaty was signed, which gave the US control over the proposed canal (which never happened, obviously).

From 1927 to 1933 General, and beloved national icon, Augusto César Sandino led a guerrilla war against the regime, but his main goal and purpose of the war was to evict foreign influence and interference in Nicaraguan political affairs. In 1933 the Americans left due to the Great Depression and also to the incredible success of Sandino's guerrilla war. But, if you thought the Americans would leave that easily, you would be wrong. For assurance, they created the National Guard, a military and police force trained by the Marines and left Anastasio Somoza García (a grand friend and supporter of the US and its policy) in charge.

Here is Sandino with Somoza, after they had just signed the peace agreement ending the guerrilla war. On February 21, 1934 only days after the peace agreement Somoza ordered the assassination of this national hero, and soon after systematically sought out and killed his followers and army.