The original FSLN mission to overthrow the corrupt dictatorial government of of Anastasio Somoza Debayle promoted itself as a grass roots movement to end universal suffrage, racial discrimination, form a democratic government, political pluralism, provide food for the poor, take control of land, create a non-violent government, and to enforce human rights.

   The early group members struggled against imprisonment, but by the early 1970’s, enough  peasants and student activists had joined the FSLN to constitute various defense mechanisms against their violent oppressors.

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   The FSLN was recognized as a national revolutionary movement on December 27, 1974 when the guerillas kidnapped Nicaraguan officials hoping to remove 14 Sandinistan prisoners from prison.  The operation proved to be a success when the FSLN received a ransom of one million US dollars. In addition, the Nicaraguan government read a declaration over the radio concerning the Sandinistan prisoners.

   In 1975 the group was growing so rapidly that it had to split into three different groups. Each developed different motives for change.

Proletarians - concentrated on organizing poor people (developed on the basis of Marxist theory).

Prolonged Popular War - organized peasants and labor movements (developed on the basis of Mao ZeDong’s, Communist China movement).

Third Way Pluralism - (Multiculturalism) Members of a diversely oriented social group maintain an autonomous partnership in the development of their traditional culture.

   The climax of the Nicaraguan Revolution happened on July 19, 1979 when the FSLN entered Managua.  50,000 people were killed and many left homeless, but the people overthrew the Nicaraguan government and took control of the capital.

   Nicaragua then began to provide sanctuary for Communist insurgents operating throughout Central America which also threatened the safety of the strategically important Panama Canal.