The 1980s were a time of war and change in Latin America. Nicaragua's Sandinista revolution aimed to bring equality and education. But civil war broke out as the US, under President Ronald Reagan, secretly supported Contra rebels. This caused great suffering in the country. In Panama, power shifted from Omar Torrijos to Manuel Noriega. Noriega secretly worked with the CIA and drug cartels. The murder of Hugo Spadafora led to his brother pushing the US to focus on Panama. This led to a US military invasion that removed Noriega. In Chile, people voted to end Augusto Pinochet’s control. This gave hope for democracy despite ongoing US influence. Meanwhile, Venezuela faced debt problems and riots under President Carlos Andres Perez. These troubles helped Hugo Chavez rise to power, starting a new wave of change in the region.