Abstract
The article describes in the first part the constitution of the social classes in Nicaragua. In the first periode, after Indepen dence till the 1850ies, the major groups were constituted by a class of owners of cattle (ganaderos) and another one of peasants. Cof fee plantation introduced Nicaragua into the world capitalist eco nomic structure, but this became more acute still after the intro duction of cotton in the 1950ies. The international importance of the region has been underlined by the frequent interventions of the USA in the country, considered as a part of its zone of secu rity. The US marines left Nicaragua only after the organization of the Guarda Nacional, headed by Somoza. After 45 years of dicta torship, the regime was overthrown by a coalition of popular for ces, organized by the Sandinist Front and a part of the bourgeoisie (conservative and liberal).