SANDINISTA STRATEGY
The tactics and strategies at first applied by the FSLN were rudimentary and called for the use of homemade weapons. The limited forces of the FLSN were not concentrated in one area. This provided an advantage in the sense that guerrilla war was made possible in the rural parts of Nicaragua. Urban movements were not employed until the Sandinistas were able to collectivize. The first urban nationwide display of objection to the suppression of the civilians of Nicaragua were strikes which occurred throughout the country. After the assassination of Joaquin Chamorro, over 85% of the population stopped all action for more than two weeks with little effect on the Somoza government, which held power through the military and not through the support of the people. At this point in 1978 the frustration and rage of the population was building and the FLSN made a pointed move to enlist all people, men and women, to fight in the revolution against the Guardia Nacional. The majority of the FLSN were students and younger people willing to take immediate and violent action. The tactics of the FLSN relied on the rage of the youth of Nicaragua at the oppressive and impoverished condition of the nation.
WOMEN OF THE SANDINISTAS
Women were first allowed to join the FLSN in 1967. The socialist beliefs of the Sandinistas encouraged the participation of women in all military operations and that the inclusion of women would lead to a stronger army and therefore greater success. Not only did the liberal beliefs encourage military participation, but also equal division of labor in traditionally female areas of work such as childcare and cooking. In posters created in support of Sandinistas, women are often depicted holding a child while in uniform with a rifle hanging across her back. It also became acceptable to be a young woman without a husband or child to take care of, whose only job was fighting for freedom. This ideology empowered women of Nicaragua who were previously accustomed to a repressive home life as well as a repressive government. The Asociación de Mujeres Nicaragüenes Luisa Amanda Espinoza was an organization aligned with the Sandinista network, specific to women and was named after the first Sandinista woman to die in battle. Although, the focus of this organization was primarily the war and not the emancipation of women. The revolution empowered the women of Nicaragua, but only as a side effect of practical necessity.
The tactics and strategies at first applied by the FSLN were rudimentary and called for the use of homemade weapons. The limited forces of the FLSN were not concentrated in one area. This provided an advantage in the sense that guerrilla war was made possible in the rural parts of Nicaragua. Urban movements were not employed until the Sandinistas were able to collectivize. The first urban nationwide display of objection to the suppression of the civilians of Nicaragua were strikes which occurred throughout the country. After the assassination of Joaquin Chamorro, over 85% of the population stopped all action for more than two weeks with little effect on the Somoza government, which held power through the military and not through the support of the people. At this point in 1978 the frustration and rage of the population was building and the FLSN made a pointed move to enlist all people, men and women, to fight in the revolution against the Guardia Nacional. The majority of the FLSN were students and younger people willing to take immediate and violent action. The tactics of the FLSN relied on the rage of the youth of Nicaragua at the oppressive and impoverished condition of the nation.
WOMEN OF THE SANDINISTAS
Women were first allowed to join the FLSN in 1967. The socialist beliefs of the Sandinistas encouraged the participation of women in all military operations and that the inclusion of women would lead to a stronger army and therefore greater success. Not only did the liberal beliefs encourage military participation, but also equal division of labor in traditionally female areas of work such as childcare and cooking. In posters created in support of Sandinistas, women are often depicted holding a child while in uniform with a rifle hanging across her back. It also became acceptable to be a young woman without a husband or child to take care of, whose only job was fighting for freedom. This ideology empowered women of Nicaragua who were previously accustomed to a repressive home life as well as a repressive government. The Asociación de Mujeres Nicaragüenes Luisa Amanda Espinoza was an organization aligned with the Sandinista network, specific to women and was named after the first Sandinista woman to die in battle. Although, the focus of this organization was primarily the war and not the emancipation of women. The revolution empowered the women of Nicaragua, but only as a side effect of practical necessity.