USFP in Nicaragua for Standard U.S. History

1. The Nicaraguan Revolution
and the
Iran-Contra Affair
www.slideshare.net/dschaenman

2. Background
• What do you know?
• exports: coffee, sugar, cotton and timber
• U.S. intervention in the civil war (1926-33)
• Anastasio Somoza vs Augusto Sandino
• Somoza Dynasty 1936-1979
Somoza may be a son-of-a-bitch, but at least he’s our son-of-a-bitch
--President Roosevelt (alleged)

3. Somoza and Sons
• strong supporters of anti-Communism and
U.S. business investments
• massive corruption
• Bay of Pigs
• 1972 earthquake
...43 years of dictatorship...
6.2 Richter Scale
5,000 killed
$800 mil

4. Preview of U.S. Responses
• President Carter: concern for human
rights?
• President Reagan: good old-fashioned Cold

5. The Revolution Begins!
• restrictions on the press
• increase in public protests
• Sandinistas increase in popularity
• middle/upper class flight
• plea to the U.S.--how will Carter respond?

6. Nature of the Revolt
• brutality of the National Guard
• rocket attacks, teenagers and
mutilations
• Bill Stewart, ABC News
• forced resignation of Somoza
• moderate reforms enacted

7. Sandinistas and Carter
• desire for moderation from the U.S.
• relationship quickly sours
• econ aid from the Soviets & Cuba
• aid to El Salvador

8. Middle Eastern Impact: 1979
• Iranian Hostage Crisis (Nov) 444 days
• Soviet invasion of Afghanistan (Dec)
• impact on Carter’s policies and the 1980
election

9. Reagan and the Contras
• fear of “another Cuba”
• 1984 election of Daniel Ortega
• freedom fighters or terrorists?
• impact ofVietnam
• Contra attacks on infrastructure
• Dewey Clarridge (CIA)
• attacks on civilians
• drugs?

11. Iran Contra Connection
• Boland Amendment
• Hostage Crisis, Part II: Lebanon 1985
• U.S.-->Israel-->Iran-->Lebanon
• profit from missile sales-->Nicaragua

14. Iran Contra Scandal
• How did people find out?
• Eugene Hasenfuss
• Lebanese newspaper
• Congressional investigation
• What did Reagan know?
• Fawn Hall

15. Significance of the
Iran-Contra Affair
• Once again, can we trust our government?
• What happens when our leaders lie?
• What policies are we prepared to support
to achieve our goals?
• Who’s watching the government?
• How does this impact democracy?