Independence+of+Nicaragua+From+Spain

**1. What made the colonies decide to split from Spain? ** **2. What territories were included in the Captaincy General of Guatemala? ** **3. When was the Independence Act written and what authorities recognized it? ** **4. Why were Leon and Granada constantly fighting? ** **5. Explain what mercenaries thought, when they heard horses galloping. ** **6. What marked the start of the filibuster`s defeat? Explain. ** **7. Use the dictionaries available in the wiki to find a definition, a synonyms and an antonyms to the following words: (in english please). **
 * The Birth of a Nation **
 * Please read carefully the following questions. Then, answer them in your notebook. Look for key words (colonies, mercenaries, filibusters) in the questions to help you find the answers faster. **
 * Questions: **
 * = ** Split ** ||= **threat** ||= **defeat ** ||= ** patriotic ** ||= ** against ** ** bloody **  ||= ** aghast ** ||

**<span style="font-family: 'Footlight MT Light','serif'; text-align: justify;">A little history ** <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Footlight MT Light','serif'; font-size: 120%; text-align: justify;">There were several factors that made the colonies decide to split from Spain: the independence of regions in the north (from England), the French revolution that brought new ideals, the strong control and tax system imposed on the region by the Spanish crown, and the progressive weakening of this same government.

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Footlight MT Light','serif'; font-size: 120%; text-align: justify;">Nicaragua formed part of the Spanish ‘Captaincy General of Guatemala’, which included the territories from Costa Rica up to Chiapas (nowadays a region in the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico). <span style="font-family: 'Footlight MT Light','serif';">The independence ideas reached the region and the leaders started a negotiation process that ended in September 1821, when they wrote an Act of Independence which was recognized by the representative of the Spanish crown. Among the people who were the driving force behind the Central American Independence was the Nicaraguan Miguel Larreynaga, who is still remembered on the __<span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Footlight MT Light','serif'; text-decoration: none;"><span class="wiki_link_ext">ten Córdoba bills <span style="font-family: 'Footlight MT Light','serif';">. __ <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Footlight MT Light','serif'; font-size: 120%; text-align: justify;">Now that Spain was out of the picture, Nicaragua and all other regions from Central America decided to join the Mexican Empire, but this only lasted a few years. The small countries from the isthmus therefore decided to form the ‘Federation of Central American States’, which did not last long either due to particular interests of the leaders of every province. Consequently, Nicaragua gained complete independence on April 30th, 1838. **<span style="font-family: 'Footlight MT Light','serif';">An independent Nicaragua ** <span style="font-family: 'Footlight MT Light','serif';">The independence brought forth a continuous conflict over power by the strong cities of <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Footlight MT Light','serif'; text-decoration: none;"><span class="wiki_link_ext">León <span style="font-family: 'Footlight MT Light','serif';"> and <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Footlight MT Light','serif'; text-decoration: none;"><span class="wiki_link_ext">Granada  <span style="font-family: 'Footlight MT Light','serif';">, and their political parties (León housed the liberals and Granada the conservatives). <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Footlight MT Light','serif'; font-size: 120%; text-align: justify;">A few years later, this confrontation provoked a historical incident which threatened the new nation. During the conflict, the conservatives got a mercenary army involved from North America, headed by William Walker. After obtaining military stability in the country, William Walker decided to take over control of the country and declare himself president with the idea to annex the region to the United States. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Footlight MT Light','serif'; font-size: 120%; text-align: justify;">The national groups normally opposing each other decided to unite against this threat and with the support of the Central American armies they started a national war that saw its historical climax at the patriotic battle at Hacienda San Jacinto. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Footlight MT Light','serif'; font-size: 120%; text-align: justify;">The battle started at dawn and the patriots took some hits but maintained their positions. Their arms were old and they frequently failed to function. An ingenious action, however, brought them a surprising victory. When the battle became more violent and the Nicaraguans lost their positions, the horses that were located at an enclosure on a hill within the farm were set free. Upon hearing this sound, the mercenaries thought cavalry reinforcements of the enemy had arrived and aghast the troops fled the scene. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Footlight MT Light','serif'; font-size: 120%; text-align: justify;">The famous patriotic battle at San Jacinto signified the start of the filibuster’s defeat throughout the country. The battle took place on September 14, coincidentally one day before the independence celebrations.