Republic of
Nicaragua
República de Nicaragua
Nicaragua was named after Nicarao, the leader of one of the country’s native tribes.
His name was combined with the Spanish word for water, agua, to form the word
Nicaragua.
During Easter, Catholics often give up eating red meat. Some Catholics in Nicaragua
eat iguana instead.
Nicaraguans often use their chins or lips to point to things.
The city of León has a gigantic Catholic cathedral, even though the city itself is quite
small. Legend has it that the church had two sets of blueprints for new cathedrals, one
for León and one for Lima, Peru (a much bigger city). The blueprints were somehow
switched, and little León ended up with a huge cathedral, while Lima got a very small
one.
Early Nicaraguans drank hot chocolate, but it was very different from the hot
chocolate we drink today. Theirs was a combination of hot water, unsweetened
chocolate, and spicy red peppers.
Flag
Nicaragua’s flag was most recently adopted on 27 August 1971.
The flag is blue with a white stripe through the middle. The
white stripe stands for the purity of the land, and the two blue
stripes represent the oceans that border Nicaragua. In the
center of the flag is an emblem with the words República de
Nicaragua, America Central. Inside the emblem are five
volcanoes (a common feature in Central America), which
represent Nicaragua’s connection with the rest of the region.
National Image
César Augusto Sandino is one of Nicaragua’s national heroes.
In the 1920s, he formed a rebel army that fought to remove
United States troops, who were stationed in Nicaragua to
stop fighting within the country. Thirty years after Sandino’s
death, a group of Nicaraguan revolutionaries—the
Sandinistas—began to call themselves by his name.
Land and Climate
Nicaragua is the biggest country in Central America. It’s
about the size of the state of Iowa, covering 49,998 square
miles (129,494 square kilometers). Most people live in the
western part of the country, which is separated from the east
by low mountains. Lago de Nicaragua is Central America’s
largest lake and the only freshwater lake in the world known
to have sharks. There are over three hundred islands in the
lake, with people living on most of them. Along the Pacific
coast are several active volcanoes that sometimes spew ash
into the air and cause earthquakes in the area.
About 20 percent of Nicaragua’s land is good for growing crops. Another third is
covered in forests. There are pine forests in the northwest. Mountains, tropical rain
forests, and coastal wetlands are found in the east. Nicaragua’s climate is tropical and
warm, although the mountains are cooler than the rest of the country. Hurricanes and
tidal waves sometimes strike the coasts, often causing serious damage.
Population
About 5.8 million people live in Nicaragua. More than one
million people live in the capital, Managua, on the Pacific side
of Nicaragua. Most people live on the Pacific coast.
Meanwhile, the Caribbean side is sparsely populated. The
majority of Nicaraguans (69 percent) are mestizo, or of
mixed European and Indian heritage. Only about 5 percent of
Nicaraguans have purely native heritage. There are also
people of European heritage (17 percent) and African
heritage (9 percent). The culture and people in various parts
of Nicaragua are often quite different from one another. This
is especially true for people on each of the coasts, who make
their living in different ways, speak different languages, and
have different customs.
Language
The official language of Nicaragua is Spanish. Nicaraguan
Spanish is usually less formal than the Spanish spoken in
other countries. It also includes words from native
Nicaraguan languages. For example, the word chocho comes
from one of Nicaragua’s native languages. Nicaraguans use
this expression when they are surprised or excited. It is
common for people not to pronounce s’s and other letters at
the end of words. Along the Caribbean coast, small groups
speak the languages of native tribes that lived in Nicaragua
before the Spanish arrived. Only a few of these native
languages have survived and are still spoken, such as
Miskito, Sumo, and Rama. Some residents of Managua and other large cities speak
English in addition to Spanish.
Can You Say It in Spanish?
Hello
Hola
(OH-lah)
Good-bye
Adiós
(ah-dee-OHS)
Please
Por favor
(POHR fah-VOHR)
Thank you
Gracias
(GRAH-see-ahs)
Yes
Sí
(see)
No
No
(noh)
Religion
Most Nicaraguans are Roman Catholic or belong to another Christian church. Most
attend church each week, and even those who don’t usually still have a Christian
baptism and funeral. Religious artwork, especially pictures of the Virgin Mary, decorates
many homes and vehicles. People often make a small shrine around a cuadro (painting)
of a saint who is important to them. They place flowers, candles, and other objects
around the cuadro and pray to the saint for help and protection.
Time Line
1500
1502
Christopher Columbus becomes the first European to visit
the coast of Central America
1522
The first Spanish explorers, led by Gil Gonzalez de Avila,
arrive and establish colonies in Nicaragua
1700
1740
The British claim Nicaragua’s Mosquito Coast on the
Caribbean Sea
1800
1821
1823
Nicaragua declares its independence from Spain and
becomes part of Mexico’s Iturbide Empire
The Iturbide Empire breaks apart, and Nicaragua joins the
United Provinces of Central America, made up of
Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Honduras, and El Salvador
1838
Nicaragua leaves the United Provinces and becomes an
independent republic; arguments over which groups will
control the country eventually lead to civil war
1855
American William Walker becomes involved in the civil war
and seizes control of Nicaragua, declares himself
president, and legalizes slavery
1857
1860
1893
Walker is driven out of Central America, the civil war ends,
and Nicaragua forms a new government
The British cede (return) the Mosquito Coast back to
Nicaragua
General José Santos Zelaya takes control of the country,
setting up a dictatorship and breaking ties with the United
States
1900
1909
1912
1927
A revolt breaks out and Zelaya is removed from power
with the aid of U.S. troops
The U.S. begins setting up military bases in Nicaragua
Augusto César Sandino launches attacks on U.S. troops in
Nicaragua, hoping to encourage them to leave
1933
U.S. troops leave Nicaragua
1934
General Anastasio Somoza orders Sandino to be killed
1936
General Somoza becomes president, starting the 43-year
Somoza dictatorship
1956
1961
1972
1978
1979
1981
1982
1988
General Somoza is assassinated; his son Luis Somoza
Debayle becomes president, continuing his father’s
tradition of corruption and strict control of the country
The Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) is
established to try to remove the Somozas from power
A powerful earthquake rocks Managua, killing thousands
and leaving many more homeless; Somoza takes
advantage of the situation by selling the aid sent from
other countries to his own people
Pedro Joaquin Chamorro, a leader in the fight against the
Somozas, is murdered, sparking a strike and uniting many
Nicaraguans with the FSLN
The Somozas flee the country; the FSLN takes control of
the government
Concerned that the Sandinistas are communists and would
help communist enemies of the U.S. (the Soviet Union and
Cuba), the U.S. stops sending aid to Nicaragua
Contra rebels sponsored by the U.S. begin attacks against
the FSLN government
Nicaragua’s leaders meet with the Contras to discuss a
peace agreement, but negotiations are unsuccessful so
fighting continues
1989
The leaders of Central American countries meet to discuss
the situation in Nicaragua; they decide to stop attacks by
the Contras, bring in United Nations troops to keep
Nicaragua peaceful, and hold elections the following year
1990
The FSLN loses the presidency in elections
1998
Hurricane Mitch hits Nicaragua, killing thousand and
leaving thousands more homeless; countries from around
the world send aid and forgive Nicaragua’s debts
2000
2005
Nicaraguans, frustrated with soaring fuel prices and the
high cost of living, participate in street protests that last
for weeks; Nicaragua’s National Assembly signs the
Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), which
aims to make it easier for these countries to trade with
one another
2006
Nicaragua announces plans for a canal to link the Atlantic
and Pacific oceans
2008
As a result of the world-wide economic crisis, Nicaragua
struggles to sell its goods to other countries and the
economy’s growth slows
PRESENT
Early Nicaragua
In 1522, Spanish explorers arrived in what is now Nicaragua. They found several tribes
living in villages, farming the land, and raising animals. Archeologists believe that these
tribes were related to those who were living in Mexico at the time, because they share
many of the same traditions and habits, such as their form of money, their language,
and their diets. The native tribes did not welcome the Spanish invaders. Not long after
they set foot on land, the explorers were forced back on to their boats by the native
tribes. But the Spanish returned to establish settlements two years later, and this time
the native Nicaraguans were no match for the Spanish numbers and weapons. Many of
the natives died of diseases the Spanish brought with them. The Nicaraguans were not
used to these new diseases and were unable to them fight off. Most of those who didn’t
die of diseases were sold into slavery and sent to other Spanish colonies. Within a few
decades, almost the entire population of native Nicaraguans had been wiped out.
Independence
By 1821, Nicaragua was eager to become independent from Spain. When Mexico gained
its independence that year, Nicaragua and the other Central American countries soon
followed. Nicaragua became part of the Empire of Mexico, which only lasted until 1823.
At that point, Nicaragua joined with other Central American countries to form the
United Provinces of Central America. Almost immediately, there were disagreements
between member countries. Soon the organization began to break apart. In 1938,
Nicaragua left to become truly independent for the first time since the Spanish had
arrived.
Two main political parties were formed, the conservatives and the liberals. The two
parties disagreed on how the country should be run. They began fighting a civil war
over who would control the government. When the civil war ended in 1857, the
conservatives had control of the country. For the next few decades, power was traded
back and forth between the liberals and the conservatives, sometimes leading to
violence. In 1909, the United States sent troops to Nicaragua to stop rebellions and
keep the country peaceful. Most of the rebel groups eventually agreed to stop fighting,
but one exception was the group led by César Augusto Sandino. He and his Army for
the Defense of Nicaraguan Sovereignty refused to stop fighting until U.S. troops had
left Nicaragua.
The Somoza Years
By the 1930s, the United States was looking for a way to
take its troops out of Nicaragua. They were tired of fighting
Sandino’s army. The plan was for the United States to train a
national guard of Nicaraguans to keep order in the country
after the U.S. troops were gone. Sandino did not like this
idea, because he believed that the national guard would still
be controlled by the United States. Not long after the
national guard was established, Sandino was murdered on
the orders of Anastasio Somoza, one of the generals in the national guard. Before long,
Somoza had taken over the government and established a dictatorship. When Somoza
was assassinated, his son quickly took his place. Nicaragua would be controlled by the
Somoza family for the next 43 years. The Somozas ruled Nicaragua with strict laws and
harsh punishments for anyone who disagreed with them. The family grew rich off the
country’s resources, while most Nicaraguans remained very poor.
Sandinistas
In 1961, a group called the Sandinistas (named after
Augusto Sandino) began to fight against the Somoza
government. When a leader in the fight against the Somozas,
Pedro Joaquín Chamorro, was assassinated, people came
together to oust (overthrow) the Somozas. In 1979, the
Somozas fled the country, and the Sandinistas took control
of the government.
After decades of neglect by the Somozas, Nicaragua had many challenges to overcome.
Many people had been killed in the war, and the economy was struggling. The
Sandinistas made education and health care top priorities, sending out thousands of
volunteers to teach people to read and write. The United States sent millions of dollars
to help the new government revive the country. Although progress was being made,
many Nicaraguans did not approve of the way the Sandinistas were running the
country, and the United States became concerned about Nicaragua’s relationship with
U.S. enemies Cuba and the Soviet Union. In 1980, the United States stopped sending
aid to Nicaragua. Two years later, the United States began supporting the Contras, a
force made up of various groups who opposed the Sandinistas and came together to
fight against their government. The Sandinista government began organizing its own
army, and money that the government would have spent on improving the country
went towards fighting a war. The United States eventually stopped funding the Contras,
but it soon made it illegal for the United States to trade with Nicaragua. These
measures, combined with the recent war, almost destroyed Nicaragua’s economy.
When elections were held in 1990, the Sandinistas lost.
Nicaragua Today
After the 1990 elections, Nicaragua’s government focused on
rebuilding the country and restoring democracy. After years
of dictatorship and war, Nicaragua’s government did not
work efficiently, and many accused the leaders of corruption.
Although the United States and Nicaragua have not always
agreed, relations between the two countries have improved,
especially after the United States sent aid when Hurricane
Mitch struck Nicaragua in 1998. In 2004, many countries
forgave Nicaragua’s debts. This allowed Nicaragua to focus on improving the country
instead of repaying the billions of dollars it owed.
Games and Sports
In the 1930s, North American marines stationed in Nicaragua
taught local people how to play baseball. It is now the most
popular sport in the country. Even the poorest kids find ways
to play baseball. They may use a stick as a bat and a rock or
rolled up piece of fabric as a ball. Almost every town has a
baseball team, and Nicaraguans gather to watch teams play
whenever there’s a game. People also enjoy soccer, boxing,
softball, basketball, and volleyball. Popular kids’ games are
rayuela (similar to hopscotch), hide and seek, and jump rope. Kids also like to play with
trompos (spinning tops attached to strings).
Holidays
Many of Nicaragua’s holidays are related to the Roman Catholic Church. One of the
most important holidays is Purísima, on 7 December. On this day, Nicaraguans honor
the Virgin Mary. This celebration started hundreds of years ago and is connected to a
legend about the eruption of the Cerro Negro Volcano. The volcano erupted for days
and threatened to destroy the city of León. One day someone set a statue of the Virgin
Mary on the ground near the volcano. Soon the eruption stopped. The people believed
that they had been saved by the Virgin Mary.
Each year people get together to celebrate this event and to honor the Virgin Mary. In
each neighborhood, someone sets up an altar in her honor. Friends and relatives come
to sing hymns and pray. Then refreshments (such as fruit, sugar cane, and candy) are
served to the guests. The next day people may celebrate with fireworks, festivals, and
special meals. Kids go to houses in their neighborhoods and shout, “What brings us so
much happiness?” The neighbors shout back, “The Virgin Mary!” and each child is given
a basket of candy. For this reason, Purísima is sometimes called La Gritería (the
shouting).
Food
Most meals in Nicaragua include beans and rice. One of the
most popular dishes is gallo pinto (rice, beans, garlic, and
onions fried together), and many people eat it for two meals
a day. Other common dishes include enchiladas, nacatamales
(meat, vegetables, and corn meal cooked in a banana leaf),
vigorón (vegetables with pork skins), and baho (meat,
vegetables, and plantains). Many meals are served with
tortillas. Fried plantains are a common side dish. Locally
made cheeses are a favorite of many Nicaraguans. On hot
days, people drink refrescos, drinks made from fruit juice mixed with sugar and water.
Refrescos are often sold in small plastic bags that are tied at the top. To drink the juice,
people tear a hole in one of the corners of the bag and drink the juice from the hole.
Tropical fruits are common, especially bananas, which are used in all kinds of foods,
like breads, cakes, and milkshakes.
Schools
Nicaraguan kids attend school from ages six to thirteen. Most
kids start school, but only about one-third finish. Even
though families do not have to pay to send their children to
school, many children cannot attend because they have to
work to help support their families. Many schools do not have
enough classrooms and teachers, so students go to school in
shifts. One group of students attends in the morning, and
another group attends in the afternoon. Most rural schools
have only four grades. Kids who want to continue school
after that have to go to a school in a bigger town.
Most classes are taught in Spanish, but a few use languages spoken by native
Nicaraguans. Nicaraguan kids study many of the same subjects you do: math, science,
geography, and English. After high school, very few students go on to college. Most
Nicaraguans are unable to continue their education because they can’t afford tuition
and they need to start earning money.
Life as a Kid
Nicaraguan kids usually come from big families. Urban kids
have very different lives from rural kids. Rural kids usually
work in the fields with their parents and siblings to help their
families earn money. Many are not able to attend school
because they are needed to help at home. The most popular
game for kids who live in the countryside is baseball. Kids
also spend their time playing outdoors, riding horses, and
swimming.
Kids who live in cities usually attend school in the mornings. Most have chores to do at
home, but they usually don’t have to help support their families as much as rural kids
do. Some families have televisions, so these kids spend time watching their favorite
shows or playing video games. The most popular sport for urban kids is soccer.
Government
President: Daniel Ortega
Nicaragua's government is divided into four branches. The president, the vice
president, and the cabinet (a group of people chosen to give the president information
and advice) make up the executive branch, which enforces the country’s laws. The
legislative branch is made up of the National Assembly. Its 92 members are elected by
the people to represent them in making the country’s laws. The judicial branch is made
up of the courts, which decide if the laws follow the constitution. The electoral branch is
in charge of the elections. One important step toward true democracy was a 1995
decision to amend (change) the constitution to take away some of the president’s
power and give it to the National Assembly. The voting age is 16.
Money and Economy
Nicaragua’s economy has been damaged by war, government
corruption, natural disasters, poor leadership, and the United
States’ past refusal to trade. Even with these challenges, the
country’s economy has improved. Nicaragua has many
natural resources and hardworking people, both of which are
helping the economy recover. Nicaragua’s economy is based on agriculture. People
grow crops (like coffee, bananas, sugar cane, cotton, rice, and corn) and raise
livestock, which are then sold within Nicaragua or to other countries. Manufacturing is a
growing part of Nicaragua’s economy. Goods such as processed foods and cardboard
are made in Nicaragua and then sold around the world. In 2008, the demand for
Nicaragua's exports (products sold to other countries) fell, causing the economy's
growth to slow down. By creating jobs, eliminating poverty, and bringing in new
businesses, Nicaragua’s government plans to strengthen its economy and improve the
lives of its people. The currency is the gold córdoba.
Getting Around
Years of fighting, neglect, and natural disasters have left
Nicaragua’s roads in a state of disrepair, sometimes making
it hard to get around. Outside of cities, many roads are
unpaved or are in bad condition. Some areas in the
countryside can only be reached by four-wheel drive trucks
or on horseback. In cities, people often drive their own cars
or take buses. Buses are also a common form of
transportation for people needing to travel between cities.
The Footprints of Acahualinca
In 1874, workers just outside of Managua stumbled upon
what would turn out to be the oldest known signs of human
life in Nicaragua. The workers didn’t know it at the time, but
the footprints they found were left thousands of years ago by
a group of about ten people—men, women, and children. The
footprints look like they could have been left yesterday
because volcanic mud and ash came together to preserve
them. The people walked through an area of mud that
formed when volcanic ash mixed with water. Soon after, a
nearby volcano erupted, scattering ash over the footprints,
perfectly preserving them until they were discovered
thousands of years later. The footprints are an important clue
in learning about the ancient people who lived in Nicaragua
thousands of years ago.
Learn More
Embassy of the Republic of Nicaragua, 1627 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington,
DC 20009; phone (202) 939-6570. Or contact the Nicaraguan Institute of Tourism,
Hotel Crowne Plaza, 1C Sur, 1C Oeste, Managua, Nicaragua; web site
www.visit-nicaragua.com.
© 2009 ProQuest LLC and Brigham Young University. All rights reserved. It is against
the law to copy, reprint, store, or transmit any part of this publication in any form by
any means without written permission from ProQuest.
Country Detail Map
Nicaragua
Coco
T
HONDURAS
LA
S
S
Puerto Cabezas
C
I
EL
U
IN
O
MOGOTON
B
SA
MO
A
NT
A
Nicaragua is the largest
country in Central America.
Estelí
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Lake
Managua
U
León
CARIBBEAN
SEA
I
Chinandega
nde
Gra
Matagalpa
Co
O
co
Nicaragua is subject to
earthquakes, volcanic eruptions,
hurricanes, and tidal waves.
Masaya
Lake Nicaragua and
Lake Managua are
the largest lakes in
Central America.
PACIFIC
OCEAN
Q
Juigalpa
Bluefields
Lake
Nicaragua
S
apa
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Tip
it
M
Managua
San
COSTA RICA
© 2007 ProQuest LLC and Brigham Young University.
Juan
Lake Nicaragua is the only
freshwater lake in the world
known to have sharks,
but many people believe that
the sharks are now extinct.