Nicaragua: Timeline

1821   Guatemala Guatemala

Guatemala, officially the Republic of Guatemala , is a country in Central America [i], in the sout ... 

, El Salvador El Salvador

El Salvador is a country in Central America [i] with a population of approximately 6.9 million people. ... 

, Honduras Honduras

Honduras, officially the Republic of Honduras, is a country in Central America [i], bordered to th ... 

, Nicaragua and Costa Rica Costa Rica

Costa Rica, officially the Republic of Costa Rica , is a country in Central America [i], bordered ... 

 gain independence from Spain Spain

Spain, officially the Kingdom of Spain , is a Europe [i]an parliamentary monarchy [i]. ... 

. (See History of Central America)

1838   Nicaragua declares independence from the Central American Federation (See Nicaragua's early history)

1895   Union of Nicaragua, Honduras Honduras

Honduras, officially the Republic of Honduras, is a country in Central America [i], bordered to th ... 

 and El Salvador El Salvador

El Salvador is a country in Central America [i] with a population of approximately 6.9 million people. ... 

 begins (ends in 1898).

1900   Britain Britain

The word Britain is an informal term used when referring to; ... 

 and the USA sign a treaty for the building of a Central American shipping canal through Nicaragua

1900   Two U.S. United States

The United States of America, also known as the United States, the U.S., the U.S.A., a... 

 cruisers are sent to Central America Central America

Central America is the central geographic [i] region [i] of the Americas [i]. ... 

 to protect US interests in a dispute between Nicaragua and Costa Rica Costa Rica

Costa Rica, officially the Republic of Costa Rica , is a country in Central America [i], bordered ... 

1909   Two United States United States

The United States of America, also known as the United States, the U.S., the U.S.A., a... 

 warships are sent to Nicaragua after 500 revolutionaries (including two Americans) are executed by order of dictator Jos? Santos Zelaya.

1927   Civil war Civil war

A civil war is a war [i] in which parties within the same culture [i], society [i] or nationality [i] fi ... 

 ends in Nicaragua

1931   An earthquake Earthquake

An earthquake is a phenomenon [i] that results from and is powered by the sudden release of stored energ ... 

 destroys Managua Managua

Managua, with a population of about 1,723,100 in 2004, is the capital [i] of Nicaragua [i]. ... 

, Nicaragua killing 2,000.

1960   December 13 — Guatemala Guatemala

Guatemala, officially the Republic of Guatemala , is a country in Central America [i], in the sout ... 

, El Salvador El Salvador

El Salvador is a country in Central America [i] with a population of approximately 6.9 million people. ... 

, Nicaragua and Honduras Honduras

Honduras, officially the Republic of Honduras, is a country in Central America [i], bordered to th ... 

 found the Central American Common Market.

1967   General Anastasio Somoza Debayle Anastasio Somoza Debayle

Anastasio Somoza Debayle was officially the forty-fourth and forty-fifth President of Nicaragua [i] fro ... 

 becomes president of Nicaragua.

1972   A 6.25 Richter scale earthquake Earthquake

An earthquake is a phenomenon [i] that results from and is powered by the sudden release of stored energ ... 

 occurs in Managua Managua

Managua, with a population of about 1,723,100 in 2004, is the capital [i] of Nicaragua [i]. ... 

, Nicaragua – killing over 12,000; President Somoza is later accused of pocketing millions of dollars worth of foreign aid.

1972   An earthquake Earthquake

An earthquake is a phenomenon [i] that results from and is powered by the sudden release of stored energ ... 

 in Nicaragua kills 5,000-10,000 in the capital Managua Managua

Managua, with a population of about 1,723,100 in 2004, is the capital [i] of Nicaragua [i]. ... 

.

1978   Pedro Joaquín Chamorro, a critic of the Nicaraguan government, is assassinated. Riots erupt against Somoza Anastasio Somoza Debayle

Anastasio Somoza Debayle was officially the forty-fourth and forty-fifth President of Nicaragua [i] fro ... 

's government.

1979   A Nicaraguan National Guard soldier kills ABC TV news correspondent Bill Stewart and his interpreter Juan Espinosa. Other members of the news crew capture the killing on tape.

1979   Nicaraguan president General Anastasio Somoza Debayle Anastasio Somoza Debayle

Anastasio Somoza Debayle was officially the forty-fourth and forty-fifth President of Nicaragua [i] fro ... 

 resigns and flees to Miami Miami, Florida

Miami is a major city [i] in southeastern Florida [i], in the United States [i]. ... 

; Sandinistas form a new government on July 19.

1979   The Marxist Sandinistas take control of Nicaragua.

1980   Former Nicaraguan President Anastasio Somoza Debayle Anastasio Somoza Debayle

Anastasio Somoza Debayle was officially the forty-fourth and forty-fifth President of Nicaragua [i] fro ... 

 is killed in Asunción Asunción

Asuncin, population 1,639,000 , is the capital [i] of Paraguay [i]. ... 

, Paraguay Paraguay

Paraguay, officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked [i] country in South America [i]. ... 

.

1981   Iran-Contra scandal: Ronald Reagan Ronald Reagan

Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President [i] of the United States [i] ... 

 signs the top secret National Security Decision Directive 17 (NSDD-17), giving the Central Intelligence Agency Central Intelligence Agency

The Central Intelligence Agency is an intelligence agency [i] of the United States Government [i]. ... 

 the authority to recruit and support Contra Contra

Contra may refer to: *Contra [i]s, counter-revolutionaries opposed to the Nicaraguan Sandinistas [i] ... 

 rebels in Nicaragua.

1986   Iran-Contra Affair Iran-Contra Affair

The Iran-Contra Affair was one of the largest political scandals in the United States [i] during the 19 ... 

: National Security Council member Oliver North and his secretary start shredding documents implicating them in selling weapons to Iran Iran

Throughout history, Iran has been of great geostrategic [i] importance because of its centr ... 

 and channeling the proceeds to help fund the Contra Contra

Contra may refer to: *Contra [i]s, counter-revolutionaries opposed to the Nicaraguan Sandinistas [i] ... 

 rebels in Nicaragua.

1986   Iran-Contra Affair Iran-Contra Affair

The Iran-Contra Affair was one of the largest political scandals in the United States [i] during the 19 ... 

: U.S. Attorney General Edwin Meese announces that profits from covert weapons sales to Iran Iran

Throughout history, Iran has been of great geostrategic [i] importance because of its centr ... 

 were illegally diverted to the anti-communist Contra Contra

Contra may refer to: *Contra [i]s, counter-revolutionaries opposed to the Nicaraguan Sandinistas [i] ... 

 rebels in Nicaragua.

1990   The Sandinistas are defeated in Nicaraguan elections.

2002   Enrique Bolaños begins his 5-year term as President of the Republic of Nicaragua.

2005   Hurricane Beta hits the coast of Nicaragua. It is the 13th hurricane of 2005, breaking the 1969 record of 12 hurricanes.