The Sandinista Era ( PDF file)

• Objectives
• Materials
• Activities

Objectives:

As a result of this lesson, students will be able to:

1. explain the hopes and expectations of the Nicaraguan people following the overthrow of the Somoza Dynasty.
   
2. describe the policies developed by the Sandinista government and evaluate their impact on the Nicaraguan people.
   
3. analyze the origins of the Contra War and evaluate its consequences.
   

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Materials:

1. Student Handout: The Sandinista Revolution
   
2. Student Handout: The Sandinista Government
   

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Activities:

1. Explain that all revolutions have both an immediate cause (a particular incident that triggers rebellion) and a series of underlying causes that create the atmosphere in which revolution takes place.
   
   a. Explain that according to historian Crane Brinton, revolutions such as the one that overthrew Somoza have four underlying causes. (List the four causes on the chalkboard.)
   - Political inefficiency
   - Economic discontent
   - Social class antagonism
   - Desertion of the intellectuals (when respected leaders in society openly speak out against the government and call
   for change)
   b. Direct students to review their materials from the previous lesson (The Somoza Era) and ask them to identify any events or situations that indicate the presence of any of the four underlying causes.
   c. Following their review, ask students to share their findings. List their observations on the chalkboard.
   
   
2. Distribute the student handout entitled The Sandinista Revolution.
   
   a. Direct students to read the first two paragraphs.
   b. Ask them to explain why the assassination of Chamorro can be identified as the immediate cause of the revolution. What did Chamorro represent?
   
   
3. Direct students to read the remaining paragraphs on the first page.
   
   a. Ask students to hypothesize why the anti-Somoza movement had such broad support.
   b. Ask students to evaluate the actions of the National Guard in Monimbo. What do their actions reveal about the nature of the Somoza regime?
   
   
4. Direct students to read the remaining paragraphs of the handout.
   
   a. Ask students to hypothesize why the anti-Somoza movement was eventually successful.
   b. Write the phrase "Broad Opposition Front" on the chalkboard and ask students to explain the significance of the term. What does it reveal about the nature of the opposition to Somoza?
   
   
5. Distribute the student handout entitled The Sandinista Government.
   
   a. Direct students to read the first paragraph on the first page.
   b. Ask students to summarize the cost to the Nicaraguan people of the overthrow of Somoza.
   c. Ask students to place themselves in the situation of an average Nicaraguan citizen in July 1979. What are your hopes and expectations now that the Somoza regime has been overthrown? What is it that you want from this new government that is replacing Somoza?
   d. Write student responses on the chalkboard.
   
   
6. Direct students to read the first page in its entirety.
   
   a. Ask students to review the list of hopes and expectations they had listed on the chalkboard.
   b. Ask students to evaluate the Sandinista programs summarized on this page. Have these programs addressed any of these needs or expectations in a positive fashion? Which programs? How? (Note: the Minister of National Education, Carlos Tunnermann, received the UNESCO Prize in 1980 for the achievements of the National Literacy Campaign.)
   c. Direct the attention of the class to the last sentence in the second paragraph. What does it mean to rule by "unappealable decree?" How much decision making power did the junta have? What limits were placed on its power? Is this democratic?
   
   
7. Direct students to read the second page in its entirety.
   
   a. Ask students to explain the reasons why opposition to the Sandinistas began to develop in Nicaragua. What policies were the Sandinistas following that created this opposition?
   b. Ask students to review the list of hopes and expectations they had listed on the chalkboard. Have the Sandinistas achieved these goals? Why or why not?
   
   
8. Direct students to read the third page in its entirety.
   
   a. Ask students to explain and evaluate U.S. policy towards Nicaragua during the Reagan administration. How did it contribute to conflict in Nicaragua?
   b. Ask students to evaluate Sandinista policies as the Contra War intensified. Are their policies in keeping with democratic principles? Why or why not?
   
   
9. Direct students to read the fourth page in its entirety.
   a. Ask students to evaluate Sandinista policies following the election of 1984. Are their policies in keeping with democratic principles? Why or why not?
   b. Ask students to review the Esquipulas II proposed by Oscar Arias Sánchez as described in the last paragraph.
   - If you were in the Sandinista government would you agree to this plan? Why or why not?
   - If you were a Contra would agree to this plan? Why or why not?
   
   
10. Direct students to read the text on the fifth page of the handout.
    
    a. Ask students to hypothesize why Daniel Ortega agreed to negotiate with the Contras. What would be his motivation? How would it benefit the people of Nicaragua?
    b. Ask students to evaluate the election of 1990 and to hypothesize why the Nicaraguan people chose to elect a new government.
    
    
11. Direct students to examine the costs of the Contra War as indicated in the table at the bottom of the fifth page.
    
    a. Ask students to evaluate the impact of the Contra War on the Nicaraguan people.
    b. Direct students to re-read the first paragraph in the handout and ask them to evaluate the combined impact of the Sandinista Revolution and the Contra War on the Nicaraguan people.
    c. Ask students to place themselves in the situation of an average Nicaraguan citizen in July 1979.
    - What are your hopes and expectations now that the Somoza regime has been overthrown?
    - What is it that you want from this new government that is replacing Somoza?
    - How hopeful would you be that your hopes and expectations would be fulfilled? Why?
    
    
12. Concluding Activity
    
    Direct students to write a critique of the following position taken by Sergio Ramierz in his book Adios Muchachos: "Although in its decline the Sandinista movement ended up burying the dreams of thousands of young people who took up arms, its main legacy was the establishment of democracy in Nicaragua."
    

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