Changes

Beginning in the late 1970s Nicaragua was ravaged by a civil war between the Somoza government and a socialist faction known as the [[Sandinista]] National Liberation Front (FSLN), which had conducted a low scale guerrilla war against the Somoza regime since the early 1960s. Despite generous funding by the [[Carter administration]] to the Sandinistas, the regime resolutely turned away from the US and with [[Cuba]]n and East European help <ref>[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/report/1989/HJM.htm U.S. Policy in Central America], Major J.M Hughes USMC.  Retrieved from globalsecurity.org 15 July 2007.</ref> built up an army of 75,000, larger than that of Mexico.<ref>Mona Charen, ''Useful Idiots'', Regnery Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0895261391</ref> As well as killing hundreds of thousands of people, the war left 20% of the country's population homeless.<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/country_profiles/1225218.stm</ref>  The Somoza dynasty ended in 1979 with a massive uprising led by the FSLN.

Beginning in the late 1970s Nicaragua was ravaged by a civil war between the Somoza government and a socialist faction known as the [[Sandinista]] National Liberation Front (FSLN), which had conducted a low scale guerrilla war against the Somoza regime since the early 1960s. Despite generous funding by the [[Carter administration]] to the Sandinistas, the regime resolutely turned away from the US and with [[Cuba]]n and East European help <ref>[http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/report/1989/HJM.htm U.S. Policy in Central America], Major J.M Hughes USMC.  Retrieved from globalsecurity.org 15 July 2007.</ref> built up an army of 75,000, larger than that of Mexico.<ref>Mona Charen, ''Useful Idiots'', Regnery Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0895261391</ref> As well as killing hundreds of thousands of people, the war left 20% of the country's population homeless.<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/country_profiles/1225218.stm</ref>  The Somoza dynasty ended in 1979 with a massive uprising led by the FSLN.

The FSLN established an authoritarian dictatorship soon after taking power. U.S.-Nicaraguan relations deteriorated rapidly as the regime nationalized many private industries, confiscated private property, supported Central American guerrilla movements, and maintained links to international terrorists. The United States suspended aid to Nicaragua in 1981. The [[Ronald Reagan|Reagan Administration]] facilitated funding to the [[Contras]] through arms sales by [[Israel]] to [[Iran]] in what became known as the [[Iran-Contra affair]].<ref>"President Ronald Reagan told a packed [[White House]] news conference that funds derived from covert arms deals with the Islamic Republic of Iran had been diverted to buy weapons for the U.S.-backed Contra rebels in Nicaragua." http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB210/index.htm</ref>  The post [[Vietnam]]-era [[Boland amendment]] denied direct appropriations to continue the policy of [[Containment]] as it pertained to Nicaragua during this period of the [[Cold War]].  

The FSLN established an authoritarian dictatorship soon after taking power. U.S.-Nicaraguan relations deteriorated rapidly as the regime nationalized many private industries, confiscated [[private property]], supported Central American guerrilla movements, and maintained links to international terrorists. The United States suspended aid to Nicaragua in 1981. The [[Ronald Reagan|Reagan Administration]] facilitated funding to the [[Contras]] through arms sales by [[Israel]] to [[Iran]] in what became known as the [[Iran-Contra affair]].<ref>"President Ronald Reagan told a packed [[White House]] news conference that funds derived from covert arms deals with the Islamic Republic of Iran had been diverted to buy weapons for the U.S.-backed Contra rebels in Nicaragua." http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB210/index.htm</ref>  The post [[Vietnam]]-era [[Boland amendment]] denied direct appropriations to continue the policy of [[Containment]] as it pertained to Nicaragua during this period of the [[Cold War]].  

In response to both domestic and international pressure, the Sandinista regime entered into negotiations with the Nicaraguan resistance and agreed to nationwide elections in February 1990. In these elections, which were proclaimed free and fair by international observers, Nicaraguan voters elected as their President the candidate of the National Opposition Union, Violeta Barrios de Chamorro.  

In response to both domestic and international pressure, the Sandinista regime entered into negotiations with the Nicaraguan resistance and agreed to nationwide elections in February 1990. In these elections, which were proclaimed free and fair by international observers, Nicaraguan voters elected as their President the candidate of the National Opposition Union, Violeta Barrios de Chamorro.