The Sandinistas Overthrow Somoza (1979)

On July 19, the Sandinistas lead the revolutionary overthrow of U.S.-backed dictator and West Point Graduate, Anastasio Somoza, The FSLN begins instituting popular measures such as land reform and literacy programs. The Sandanistas were made up of factions from all spectrums of the political arena, from the Catholic Church to the Communist Party of nicaragua. Soon after the overthrow of Somoza, splits emerged in the new Sandanista governmnet that pushed the coalition decidedly to the left with Daniel Ortega emerging as the president. Others, in frustration, left and joined the opposition.