Augusto César Sandino was a leader of the Nicaraguan resistance against imperialism and the U.S. military presence in Nicaragua. He is also considerd a national hero and legend in Nicaragua.

Sandino was born in Niquino, Nicaragua the illegitimate son of a white middle class land owner and his indian servant. During his youth he was shocked by the inequities of Nicaraguan society which was ruled by a class of rich landholders. Consequently, Sandino developed his life’s quest for justice and defending the exploited. He became acquainted with radical revolutionary ideas such as anti-imperialism anti-clericalism, anarchism, communism, socialism and above all the glorification of his indian heritage.

In 1921 after murdering the son of a prominent conservative townsperson, he fled to Honduras, Guatemala and eventually Mexico. He returned to Nicaragua in 1926 and became involved in the resistance to the U.S. backed-conservatives. In September of 1927 Sandino start ed his guerilla war. He called his army, “The Army in Defense of the National Sovereignty of Nicaragua.” Sandino then aligned himself with the liberal cause to fight the conservative regime. His goal was to force U.S. business and military interests out of Nicaragua. Sandino then become a renegade guerillaa general for the liberals. Operating in Nicaragua’s northern mountains he became adriot in using guerilla warefare tactics against U.S. marine installations in the region.

In 1993, after 20 years of occupation, the U.S. marines finally left Nicaragua. Juan Bautista Sacasa soon became president of Nicaragua and Antonio Somoza García was appointed head of the National Guard. The purpose of the guard was to be peace keeping force to take the place of the U.S. marines. Sandino soon reached an agreement with the new president to reduce the size of the National Guard. Sandino sympathizers were to beplaced in the northern sections of the country thus eroding Somoza’s power. So, on february 21, 1934 Samoza had Sandino shot. His body was never found.