Pact of Espino Negro
Encyclopedia
Pact of Espino Negro was an agreement developed by the United States
to resolve the political conflict in Nicaragua
was elected president of Nicaragua and Juan Bautista Sacasa
, who had served as Vice-President under overthrown President Jose Santos Zelaya
, served as his Vice President Believing the Nicaraguan government was stable, the United States Marines agreed to end it's 13 year presence in the country and wihdrew from Nicaragua in August of 1925. However, President Solórzano, who had already purged the liberals from his coalition government, was subsequently forced out of power in November 1925 by a conservative group who proclaimed General Emiliano Chamorro (who had also served as president from 1917 to 1921), as president in January 1926. In the wake of Chamorro's coup, Sacasa fled to Mexico. Fearing a new liberal-conservative war would take place, the United States refused to accept Chamorro as President and sent Marines back to Nicaragua in May of 1926 to protect United States citizens and property within the nation. In October of 1926, following a mediated peace agreement, Chamorro resigned as President and former Nicaraguan Preisident Adolfo Diaz
was elected President by the Nicaraguan Congress.
However, the country was again plagued with violence when Sacasa returned to Nicaragua and claimed his rights to the Presidency. In April 1927, The United States sent Henry L. Stimson
to Nicaragua to help resolve the conflict. On May 20, 1927, General Jose Maria Moncada, the leader of the liberal rebels, and President Diaz agreed to a truce.
also refused to sign the Pact of Espino Negro. Sandino would afterwards state an undeclared guerrilla war against the United States Marine and the Nicaragua National Guard. In January of 1933, the United States- now in the mist of The Great Depression and anxious to end involvement in Nicaragua's military affairs after seeing the casualties inflicted by Sandino's army- agreed to with withdraw from Nicaragua. The following year, however, the Nicaraguan National Guard captured and executed Sandino and destroyed his entire army. The leader of the Nicaraguan National Guard, Anastasio Somoza
, also used this police force to win the 1936 Nicaraguan presidential election and establish a dictatorship.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to resolve the political conflict in Nicaragua
Nicaragua
Nicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
Background
In 1924, moderate conservative Carlos SolórzanoCarlos Solórzano
Carlos Solórzano is a Guatemalan born Mexican playwright. He is considered one of the most important playwrights in Guatemalan history...
was elected president of Nicaragua and Juan Bautista Sacasa
Juan Bautista Sacasa
Juan Bautista Sacasa Sacasa was the President of Nicaragua from 1 January 1933 to 9 June 1936. He was the eldest son of Roberto Sacasa, 44th and 46th President of Nicaragua, and wife and cousin Ángela Sacasa Cuadra...
, who had served as Vice-President under overthrown President Jose Santos Zelaya
José Santos Zelaya
José Santos Zelaya López was the President of Nicaragua from 25 July 1893 to 21 December 1909.-Early life:He was a son of José María Zelaya Irigoyen, born in Nicaragua, and mistress Juana López Ramírez...
, served as his Vice President Believing the Nicaraguan government was stable, the United States Marines agreed to end it's 13 year presence in the country and wihdrew from Nicaragua in August of 1925. However, President Solórzano, who had already purged the liberals from his coalition government, was subsequently forced out of power in November 1925 by a conservative group who proclaimed General Emiliano Chamorro (who had also served as president from 1917 to 1921), as president in January 1926. In the wake of Chamorro's coup, Sacasa fled to Mexico. Fearing a new liberal-conservative war would take place, the United States refused to accept Chamorro as President and sent Marines back to Nicaragua in May of 1926 to protect United States citizens and property within the nation. In October of 1926, following a mediated peace agreement, Chamorro resigned as President and former Nicaraguan Preisident Adolfo Diaz
Adolfo Díaz
Adolfo Díaz Recinos was the President of Nicaragua between 9 May 1911 and 1 January 1917 and between 14 November 1926 and 1 January 1929...
was elected President by the Nicaraguan Congress.
However, the country was again plagued with violence when Sacasa returned to Nicaragua and claimed his rights to the Presidency. In April 1927, The United States sent Henry L. Stimson
Henry L. Stimson
Henry Lewis Stimson was an American statesman, lawyer and Republican Party politician and spokesman on foreign policy. He twice served as Secretary of War 1911–1913 under Republican William Howard Taft and 1940–1945, under Democrat Franklin D. Roosevelt. In the latter role he was a leading hawk...
to Nicaragua to help resolve the conflict. On May 20, 1927, General Jose Maria Moncada, the leader of the liberal rebels, and President Diaz agreed to a truce.
Pact
As part of the agreement, President Díaz would finish his term and United States forces would remain in Nicaragua to maintain order and supervise the 1928 elections. The United States would also work with the Nicaraguan government to organize a non-partisan police force. Both the rebels and the government also agreed to disarm their forces while the United States organized this police force- which would be known as the Nicaraguan Naitional Guard- as well.Aftermath
While most of the government and rebel forces agreed to accept the pact, Saracas refused to sign the agreement and left the country. A rebel liberal group under the leadership of Augusto César SandinoAugusto César Sandino
Augusto Nicolás Calderón Sandino was a Nicaraguan revolutionary and leader of a rebellion against the U.S. military occupation of Nicaragua between 1927 and 1933...
also refused to sign the Pact of Espino Negro. Sandino would afterwards state an undeclared guerrilla war against the United States Marine and the Nicaragua National Guard. In January of 1933, the United States- now in the mist of The Great Depression and anxious to end involvement in Nicaragua's military affairs after seeing the casualties inflicted by Sandino's army- agreed to with withdraw from Nicaragua. The following year, however, the Nicaraguan National Guard captured and executed Sandino and destroyed his entire army. The leader of the Nicaraguan National Guard, Anastasio Somoza
Anastasio Somoza
Anastasio Somoza may be:Nicaraguan dictators:* Anastasio Somoza García, * Anastasio Somoza Debayle, Also:* Anastasio Somoza Portocarrero, son of Somoza Debayle...
, also used this police force to win the 1936 Nicaraguan presidential election and establish a dictatorship.
Further reading
- Zimmerman, M. (2000). Sandinista: Carlos Fonseca and the Nicaraguan revolution. Duke University Press, pp. 155–157