Lesson 19: Revolution and Intervention in Nicaragua

April 4, 2019

Review:

• Mining in Latin America
• Lithium Triangle

Presentation:

• Geography of Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean
  • Study this map of the region.

  • 

  • Countries: Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico.
  • Physical Features: Gulf of Mexico, Yucatan Peninsula, Baja Peninsula, Gulf of California, Panama Canal.

• Diverging American views of Immigrants from Central America
  • NY Times
  • Fox News
• Nicaragua, Honduras and the Iran-Contra Affair
  • My primary source: Stephen Kinzer
  • Iran-Contra Primer (History Channel)
  • Contras based in Honduras, linked to Cocaine trade
  • Not only Nicaragua, Honduras and/or Iran-Contra; one of many similar incidents
• Nicaragua (54:40-1:02:15)
  • Occupied by US Marine Corp 1927-1933
  • Somoza family rule 1936-1979
  • Sandinista Revolution
  • Reagan administration supports Contras
  • Iran-Contra Scandal
  • Sandinista-Contra conflict killed 50,000+
  • I visited Nicaragua in 2016
    • Stayed in Grenada
    • Saw the inside of a volcano
    • Day trip to León, capital of the Sandinista revolution
      • Museo Historico de la Revolucion
      • Original campus of Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Nicaragua, UNAN
      • Cathedral of the Assumption Mary, just outside
  • Nicaragua Today – a new revolution?
    • Protests Against Ortega (HBO/Vice News)
    • Inside the Nicaraguan Town Resisting President Daniel Ortega (NY Times)
    • Daniel Ortega (President of Nicaragua)
    • Rosario Murillo (Vice President of Nicaragua)

• Harvest of Empire documentary Official Trailer

Assignment:

• Watch Harvest of Empire