Nicaragua Research Paper

Prior to the Spanish colonization, Nicaragua was under the control of Indians tribes such as Nicarao, Misquito,Gotegas, and several others. Despite Nicaragua being the largest country in Central America, it is sparsely populated within its three natural regions: The Pacific Lowlands, Central Highlands, and the Caribbean Lowlands. The area was discovered by Europeans in 1502 with the arrival of Christopher Columbus, who set out on his fourth voyage to explore the eastern coast. However, it wasn’t until two decades later that Nicaragua was established as a Spanish colony. The first expedition was led by Gil Gonzalez de Avila in 1520, who sparked the interest in the Spanish conquest of Nicaraguan territory. His primary mission was to obtain

gold and other mineral wealth. As Gonzalez Davila proceeded to explore the fertile western valleys, he stumbled upon an indigenous group and their leader, Chief Nicarao, who not only graciously gave him gold, but at his request, convinced the Natives to convert into Christianity.

Swelled with success and assertiveness, Gonzalez and his troop moved into the region’s interior, but encountered resistance from an army of Niquiranos. Outnumbered, Gonzalez and his troops decided to retreat. They returned to Panama with large quantities of gold and pearls, thus reporting their find and eventually naming the region Nicaragua. Consequently, this of course created gold fever among many Spanish conquistadors. Within a few months, several Spanish forces invaded Nicaragua and each was led by a conquistador. Francisco Hernández de Córdoba, sent by the governor of Panama, Pedrarias, approached from Costa Rica. Pedro de Alvarado and Cristóbal de Olid- came from Guatemala through San Salvador and Honduras. However, Córdoba, eventually completed the Nicaraguan conquest effort. Whereas most invaders were interested only in gold, Cordoba came in with more permanent goals: He wanted to colonize Nicaragua. In order to do this, he needed to establish permanent settlements, thus leading to the founding of Granada and Leon in

1524.
The seemingly inevitable clash of the Spanish forces, not only pitted them against each other, but directly affected the Natives along the way. By the time it was over, the indigenous population was completely wiped out and their cities and civilization laid in ruins. It was estimated that at the time of early Spanish contact, that as many as one million Natives lived in the region. However within the first three decades of contact with the Spanish, only an estimated 100,000 remained in the country- a horrendous loss of about 90% of the native population. Many factors contributed to the massive decline in population. First, many Amerindians were killed in skirmishes with the Spaniards since they were no match for the invaders’ advanced methods of military attack, including horses, armor, guns, and other weapons. Second, the indigenous population was completely wiped out by the rapid spread of new diseases, for which the natives had no immunity. Smallpox, mumps, measles, chicken pox, influenza, and even the common cold took a horrendous toll on the Natives. However, contact was particularly catastrophic to Natives from western and central Nicaragua, where most Spaniards lived. Due to the lack of gold and excessively hot climate in Eastern Nicaragua, Spaniards tended to avoid it, therefore providing the reason as to why many people living in that area survived. Third, an estimated 200,000 Native Nicaraguans were enslaved and exported to South America from 1528 to 1540, to work in Peruvian mines and elsewhere. Last but not least, the factor stated above contributed to the destruction of the agricultural system/neglectment of agricultural production, since conquistadors stressed their interests in gold and had the indigenous population sought out and work on gold mines as opposed to importing food or agricultural mines. Also it turns out many Spanish towns founded in Nicaragua during the first years of the conquest disappeared. By the end of the 16th century, Leon and Granada remained as the Spanish urban centers.
Economic inequality resulted in tremendous poverty. During the colonial era, foreign interests have generally prevailed over national interests, consequently, leading to nationalistic reactions. Spaniards tended to settle alongside the Pacific coast, on farms and ranches, thus deciding to force the Natives to work on these lands. These laborers farmed cacao beans for the source of cocoa and into for export amongst other crops, but herded cattle for the local populations. In an attempt to attract more settlers, the ecomienda system was established. An encomienda was a piece of land given to a settler and along with thar right, the settler had the right to use local native peoples to work on the land. In exchange for working the land, the settlers promised payment and eventual freedom to the Natives. However, often the Natives were kept as permanent, unpaid laborers- essentially slaves. The Indian slave trade was colonial Nicaragua’s principal activity during the mid-16th century. These slaves were in great demand in Panama, Peru, and other early Spanish settlements where local laborers were killed by disease. After the massive decline of the population along with destruction caused by natural disasters, of the remaiing population, most were mestizos. Gradually, Spain paid relaitvely little attention to Nicaragua, and remained poor and isolated throughout the 17th and 18th centuries.
In 1610, the city of Leon was destroyed when volcano Momotombo erupted but was eventually rebuilt.

The plains around the new site allowed it to become the center of ranching. Essentially, Nicaragua, being one of the poorer colonial possessions, it was low on the list of Spanish priorities and little serious effort was made to hang on to it. However, throughout the 1600s, that didn’t stop England, France, and the Dutch from competing with Spain for control over its colonies. In European countries created buccaneers and attacked each other’s settlements. In 1633, a dutch privateer, Abraham Blaauvelt, built one alongside the Mosquito Coast and allied with a local indegenous group who detested the Spanish, otherwise knwon as the Miskito Indians. Eventually, the British was thriving in trade off of the Coast to the point where it generated conflict between the British and the Spanish. Ongoing control over the Moskito Coast went on until the 19th century. In 1664, English buccaneers, followed by French buccaneers attacked Granada. Recognizing the loss in potential revenues, the buccaneer era was brought an end to, however that didn’t mean that there wouldn’t be competition over its economic

resources.
By the 1700s, Nicaragua’s agriculturally based economy improved significantly. Of the established settlements in Nicaragua, the area around Leon came to be associaged with cattle and the export of animal products, trading primarily with colonies along the Pacific. Granada, on the other hand became a center of regional trade with Spain and its center of agricultural wealth. Another advantage Granada had over Leon is the fact that it is located in Lake Nicaragua, thus making it an important trading post. Leon was more for the center of stock raising industry. Eventually, Leon and Granada came under the conrol of two competing elite families. As these establishments grew, the wealthy merchants and landowners developed a rivalry. Each attempted to promote the dominance of their city, but this only furthered tensions in the political struggle between them. Families in Leon came to oppose the restrictions intrade policies set by the Spanish Crown and hoped for fa more open, free trade system; ultimately, they cme to be known as liberals. The family in Granada on the other hand, primarily benefitted off these restrictive trade policies, therefore wishing to resist change. Ultimately, they came to be known as the conservatives. In Nicaragua, a huge gap existed between the wealthy elite and the impoverished masses. By the 18th century, the Spanish had mined most of the mineral riches in Central America and began to turn their attention to agriculture- raising tropical crops and livestock for export. As the coloial era began towind down, Nicaragua was at war with itself. Any potential for progress within the country was lost due to the constant fighting between the pwoerful and elite conservatives of Grand and the liberals of Leon.
Essentially, Leon and Granda became political rivals in a constant struggle to control the country. From 1810 through the mid-1820s, there was a struggle for Spanish American independence. There had been a growing resistance to the restrictive trade policies used by the Spanish Crown. These reductions had allowed for many in Spanish America to realize the benefits of trading with foreigners. This in turn, led creoles to want greater control over their trade decisions and thus create political conflict. It was ultimately the frequent raids by Dutch, French, and British Pirates that brought about the end of colonial rule and brought national independence for Nicaragua. However, the catalyst was the French Invasion of 1794, which happened to weaken Spanish power. Provincial juntas and a Central Junta were created to lead the Spanish resistance to the French. In 1809, for the first time, Creoles had been asked to participate in governing. However, because of the lack of equal representation and the refusal to adopt policies of free trade, Creole elites were angered. Eventually, resentment toward the Spanish-born elite (peninsulares--those born in Spain and the only persons allowed to administer Spanish colonies) grew among Nicaraguan creoles. The first local movements against Spanish rule in Central America occurred in 1811, when the Province of El Salvador staged a revolt. Peninsular authorities were deposed and replaced by creoles, who demanded less repressive laws. Although the Province of Nicaragua officially refused to join the rebellion, a popular uprising soon broke out. Violence and political rivalry prevailed in all of the Central American colonies during the ensuing decade.

There had been a point in which the Spanish Empire was governed a spart of the Audencia of Guatemala. However, there was a rebellion in 1821, which resulted in the Audiencia of Guatemala to declared independence from Spain on September 15. Initially, Mexico tries to incorporate the various territories as part of the Mexican Empire, but due to controlling efforts, separatist feelings sparked. In 1823, the United Provinces of Central America, declared their independence from Mexico. Under a weak federal government, each province enforced its own independent administration which eventually led to internal conflicts. This further proves that the provinces were not able to function as a unit, despite repeated efforts from 1826 to 1829 to millitarily centralize control. The urge was eventually abandoned in 1837, thus marking the downfall of the federation. A Constituent Assembly formally declared Nicaragua's independence from the United Provinces of Central America on April 30, 1838.