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When discussing both current and historic events, oftentimes the military and its members are characterized as a monolithic actor, without paying attention to the diverse backgrounds of the individuals who make up the armed forces. Previous historians who have written about the Marines conflict with Augusto C. Sandino have overlooked a large part of the history by ignoring the details of their lives in Nicaragua. This paper will take a renewed look at the perspectives of Marines and their mission during the conflict with Sandino in Nicaragua from 1927 to 1934 through primary sources such as diaries, newspapers, and oral histories. The sources discuss what Marines thought of the people of Nicaragua, the environment, and attitudes about the war. Their writings provide a case example of how the U.S. military men experienced these forced interactions through their assignments within the military. The Marines in Nicaragua tried to learn some basic Spanish phrases and take note of the environment around them as both their new home. As a part of that, they also inscribed the othering of the Nicaraguan people, using derogatory language to describe the community and their way of life. The Sandino confrontation offers an opportunity to witness cultural interactions through the eyes of Marines, and to learn historical lessons on how imperialist forces experience the cultures they attempt to civilize. Not only were the physical actions of the Marines imperialist in nature, but their perception of Nicaraguan culture and environment also belies imperialist attitudes.

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Everyday Imperialism: Marines in Nicaragua, 1927-1934

When discussing both current and historic events, oftentimes the military and its members are characterized as a monolithic actor, without paying attention to the diverse backgrounds of the individuals who make up the armed forces. Previous historians who have written about the Marines conflict with Augusto C. Sandino have overlooked a large part of the history by ignoring the details of their lives in Nicaragua. This paper will take a renewed look at the perspectives of Marines and their mission during the conflict with Sandino in Nicaragua from 1927 to 1934 through primary sources such as diaries, newspapers, and oral histories. The sources discuss what Marines thought of the people of Nicaragua, the environment, and attitudes about the war. Their writings provide a case example of how the U.S. military men experienced these forced interactions through their assignments within the military. The Marines in Nicaragua tried to learn some basic Spanish phrases and take note of the environment around them as both their new home. As a part of that, they also inscribed the othering of the Nicaraguan people, using derogatory language to describe the community and their way of life. The Sandino confrontation offers an opportunity to witness cultural interactions through the eyes of Marines, and to learn historical lessons on how imperialist forces experience the cultures they attempt to civilize. Not only were the physical actions of the Marines imperialist in nature, but their perception of Nicaraguan culture and environment also belies imperialist attitudes.

 

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