Which country underwent a revolution and U.S.-backed conflict during the 1980s?

The selected answer, Nicaragua, is correct because it was the focal point of a significant revolution and conflict during the 1980s. The Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) led a successful revolution in 1979, overthrowing the Anastasio Somoza dictatorship. Following the revolution, Nicaragua underwent dramatic changes, but it also faced opposition from the Contras, a group funded and supported by the United States. The U.S. provided military and financial backing to the Contras in an effort to undermine the Sandinista government, leading to a prolonged and violent conflict throughout the early to late 1980s.

In contrast, while Guatemala and El Salvador also experienced significant turmoil and violence during this period (including civil wars), U.S. involvement in Nicaragua through support for the Contras is particularly emblematic of Cold War foreign policy. Honduras, while affected by U.S. policies and the regional instability, did not experience a revolution or conflict to the same extent as Nicaragua during the 1980s.