Nicaragua

The Republic of Nicaragua (República de Nicaragua) belongs to the larger region of Central America claimed as Spanish territory in the 16th century and designated the Captaincy General of Guatemala. Granted independence from Spain in 1821, the nation later briefly joined the Mexican Empire along with its neighbors (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Chiapas). All but Chiapas chose to leave after a short period to form the United Provinces of Central America. When this union began to dissolve, however, the nations chose to go their seperate ways and in 1840 Nicaragua became an independent republic.

The United States first became involved in Nicaraguan politics in 1909 when it provided support to a group of insurgents rebelling against the government. This involvement ultimately led to a military intervention, with US Marines occupying Nicaraguan soil from 1912 until 1933 and occasionally clashing with the anti-conservative guerilla movement led by General Augusto César Sandino.