Timeline: 1912-1933 US marines occupied Nicaragua to protect US interests 1927-1933 counter-insurgency war against first Sandinista guerrillas 1933

33 Left and installed Somoza dictatorship to maintain protection. 1934 Sandino assassinated 1961 FSLN founded by 3 young Marxists 1961 (+1963) Pope John XXIIIs started emphasis on devlopement and how to improve lives of people in central America. 1968 Medellin conference 1969 Oct 31st Nixon announced that US to latin america doesnt have to be spent on purchasing American goods. Mid 1970s Sandinistas got support from powerful grass roots Christian movement 1972 nicarguan earthquake 1973 oil embargo causes prices around the world to leap. Central America 1973-1980, oil costs go from $189 million to 1.5 billion devastating when military spending so huge 1974 Nixon resigns, disgrace 1977 carte becomes president Jan 1978 Jaoquin Chamorro murdered by pro-somoza gun men- triggered mass uprising against regimed, first time pople from urban slums joined rebellion. Feb 1978 operation pigpen Sept 1978 National Guard massacred thousands Jun 1979 US reporter killed on camera by NG 17th July 1979 Somoza flees Sept 1980 Somoza assassinated in Paraguay Sept 1980 debt restructuring deal struck