A cluster of five countries-Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, & Cost Rica-are commonly referred to as Central America. Although these nations differ in their histories and politics, they share at least one factor; they have been caught up in the turmoil of America's foreign policy in this region. These tapes depict the chain of events that have led to the Central America we view on television.
ca 100--Mayan civilization begins.
600-900--Mayan civilization flourishes (followed by decline).
1453-- Constantinople falls to the Turks; search for new trade routes begins.
1492--Columbus discovers the Americas.
1513--Balboa crosses Isthmus of Panama: claims for Spain the Pacific Ocean and all land around it.
1518--Cortes launches conquest of Aztecs.
1519-1605--Indian population of "New Spain" drops from about 25 million to near 1 million.
1713--Treaty of Utrecht marks decline of Spain as a European power.
1776-1783--Independence and revolution in the U.S.
1821--Mexico declares independence from Spain.
1822 --Central American provinces agree to become part of independent Mexico; secede from Mexico in 1823.
1823--Monroe Doctrine rejects European influence in the Western Hemisphere.
1824-1838 --Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, & Costa Rica join to form United Provinces of Central America.
1827-1829-- Civil War in Guatemala.
1846-- Mexican-American War. Polk negotiates with Colombia to build Panamanian canal.
1850--Clayton-Bulwer Treaty restricts unilateral canal construction by U.S. or Britain.
1855-- William Walker (an American) conquers Granada & assumes control of Nicaraguan army; elected President of Nicaragua (1856), and reinstates slavery.
1881-- Panama Canal excavation begun by French-led international corporation; bankruptcy halts work.
1898-- Spanish-American War.
1901 -- U.S. offers $40 million for assets of failed canal project, plus $7.25 million to Colombia for Canal Zone rights.
1903 -- Colombia rejects Panama Canal treaty; Panama declares independence (Nov.6) and signs canal treaty (Nov. 18).
1909-1912 -- U.S. Marines twice intervene in Nicaragua; occupy the country until 1925, intervene again in 1926.
1914 -- Panama Canal opens
1927 -- U.S. State Department negotiates end to Nicaraguan civil war: General Augusto Sandino refuses to lay down arms.
1930 -- U.S. "Good Neighbor" policy begins under Hoover.
1932 -- "La Matanze" (mass killings of Indians) in El Salvador; rebellion, guerrilla war, "Death Squads" through 1980s.
1934 -- Nicaragua's Sandino assassinated (1934); Anastasio Somoza Garcia seizes power in Nicaragua (1936), assassinated 1957; sons rule until 1979 revolution.
1947 -- Organization of American States (OAS) created.
