|
Nicaragua Conservative and Liberal Regimes, 1858-1909
The Conservative Party (Partido Conservador) ruled in
Nicaragua from 1857 to 1893, a period of relative economic
progress and prosperity sometimes referred to as the
"Thirty
Years." A railroad system connecting the western part of
Nicaragua with the port of Corinto on the Pacific coast
was
built, and roads and telegraph lines were extended.
Exports of
agricultural products also increased during this period.
Coffee
as an export commodity grew between the 1850s and the
1870s, and
by 1890 coffee had become the nation's principal export.
Toward
the end of the 1800s, Nicaragua experienced dramatic
economic
growth because of the growing demand for coffee and
bananas in
the international market. The local economic elites were
divided
between the established cattle raisers and small growers
and the
new coffee-producers sector. Disputes about national
economic
policy arose between these powerful elites. Revealing
their
sympathies, the ruling conservatives passed laws favoring
cheap
labor that benefited mostly coffee planters.
The period of relative peace came to an end in 1891
when
Roberto Sacasa, who had succeeded to the presidency in
1889 after
the death of the elected incumbent, was elected to a term
of his
own. Although a conservative, Sacasa was from León, not
Granada,
and his election produced a split within the ruling
Conservative
Party. When Sacasa attempted to retain power after the
March 1893
end of his term, the liberals, led by General José Santos
Zelaya,
quickly took advantage of the division within conservative
ranks.
A revolt began in April 1893 when a coalition of
liberals and
dissident conservatives ousted Sacasa and installed
another
conservative in office. An effort was made to share power
with
the liberals, but this coalition soon proved unworkable.
In July,
Zelaya's liberal supporters resigned from the government
and
launched another revolt, which soon proved successful. A
constitutional convention was hurriedly called, and a new
constitution incorporating anticlerical provisions,
limitations
on foreigners' rights to claim diplomatic protection, and
abolition of the death penalty was adopted. Zelaya was
confirmed
as president, a post he would retain until 1909.
Zelaya's rule proved to be to be one of the most
controversial periods in Nicaraguan history. Zelaya was a
ruthless dictator who managed to stay in power for sixteen
years
despite foreign and domestic opposition. Nevertheless, he
was
responsible for the creation of a professional army and
the
growth of strong nationalist feelings.
Zelaya opened the country to foreign investment,
expanded
coffee production, and boosted banana exports. His
government
promoted internal development and modernized Nicaragua's
infrastructure. During his tenure, new roads and seaport
facilities were constructed, railroad lines were extended,
and
many government buildings and schools were built. The
proliferation of United States companies in Nicaragua grew
to the
point that, by the early 1900s, United States firms
controlled
most of the production of coffee, bananas, gold, and
lumber.
Zelaya's administration was also responsible for an
agreement
ending the Nicaraguan dispute with Britain over
sovereignty of
the Caribbean coast. Aided by the mediation of the United
States
and strong support from the other Central American
republics,
control over the Caribbean coast region was finally
awarded to
Nicaragua in 1894. Sovereignty did not bring the
government in
Managua control over this region however; the Caribbean
coast
remained culturally separate and inaccessible to the
western part
of the country. Although his reputation was boosted by
resolution
of the centuries-old dispute with Britain, Zelaya was
regarded
with suspicion abroad. His imperialistic ambitions in
Central
America, as well as his vocal rebukes of United States
intervention and influence in Central America, won him
little
support. Zelaya's nationalist anti-United States stance
drove him
to call upon the Germans and Japanese to compete with the
United
States for rights to a canal route. Opposition to these
schemes
from the conservative faction, mostly landowners, led
Zelaya to
increase repression. In 1903 a major conservative
rebellion, led
by Emiliano Chamorro Vargas, broke out. Another uprising
in 1909,
this time aided by British money and the United States
marines,
was successful in driving Zelaya from power.
Data as of December 1993
|
