HIST 8B Lecture Notes - Lecture 19: Ernesto Cardenal, Liberation Theology, Banana Wars
03/03/2016 History
Odara Caetano Veloso
1978-1979 Sandinista Revolution
● 1912: USA occupies Nicaragua during Banana Wars
● 1912-1978: Somoza dynasty in power
● National Guard: state terror
● 1961: Leftist Coalition forms the FSLN
● 1977: Carter cuts aid to Somoza
● 1978: opposition Journalist Chamorro assassinated
● General Strike: Sandinistas advance
● 1979: OAS mediates negotiations between regime and FSLN
● 1979: Somoza resigns
○ had remained in power for over 50 years: maintained unfair system of gov
○ FSLN enters Managua
● Liberation theology
○ calls for an activist church
○ “I don’t come here to bring peace, I come here with a sword”
○ advocate for the poor
○ combat: institutionalized sin that oppresses people
■ sin that must be reprimanded by the Church
■ idea founded by Father Gutierrez
○ the theology mixes with Marxist lang. (class struggle), spread of goods
○ active role in Central America: ferment for social revolution
● 1960s: progressive pope
○ advocating for the poor
○ reformist and progressive priests
○ split between church that advocates for the poor and for social order
● The Catholic Church was the only institution in Nicaragua that adhered to liberation
theology
○ Ernesto Cardenal: advocated for social revolution
● Forces of National Liberation
● Triumph of second popular revolution with Marxist revolution in 1979
1980-1988: Counterrevolution
● 1980: Reagan in power
○ financed the Contras against the Sandinista gov (was not supposed to do this)
● Contras: opposition to Sandinistas
● The Contras entered drug-trafficking of cocaine to fund their counter-revolution with the
help of the CIA
● Iran-Contra affair: US illegally sells arms to Iran illegally fund the Contras
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Document Summary
1912: usa occupies nicaragua during banana wars. 1979: oas mediates negotiations between regime and fsln. Had remained in power for over 50 years: maintained unfair system of gov. I don"t come here to bring peace, i come here with a sword . Sin that must be reprimanded by the church idea founded by father gutierrez the theology mixes with marxist lang. (class struggle), spread of goods. Active role in central america: ferment for social revolution. Split between church that advocates for the poor and for social order. The catholic church was the only institution in nicaragua that adhered to liberation theology. Triumph of second popular revolution with marxist revolution in 1979. Financed the contras against the sandinista gov (was not supposed to do this) The contras entered drug-trafficking of cocaine to fund their counter-revolution with the help of the cia. Iran-contra affair: us illegally sells arms to iran illegally fund the contras.
