El salvador timeline photo 2

El Salvador

By Reese Knapp
  • 1524

    Pedro de Alvarado conquered El Salvador

    Pedro de Alvarado conquered El Salvador
    Spanish adventurer, Pedro de Alvarado,conquered El Salvador.

  • Independence

    Independence
    El Salvador gained independence from Spain.

  • Joining United Provinces

    Joining United Provinces
    El Salvador becomes part of the United Provinces of Central America, which also includes Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua.

  • Dissolution of the United Provinces

    Dissolution of the United Provinces
    El Salvador becomes fully independent following the dissolution of the United Provinces of Central America.

  • Civil War

    Civil War
    Right-wing National Conciliation Party (PCN) comes to power after a military coup, starting a civil war.

  • Civilian Presdient

    Civilian Presdient
    Archbishop of San Salvador and human rights campaigner Oscar Romero assassinated; Jose Napoleon Duarte becomes first civilian president since 1931.

  • Earthquake

    Earthquake
    Massive earthquakes kill 1,200 people and render another one million homeless.

  • Volcano and Tropical Storm

    Volcano and Tropical Storm
    Thousands flee as the Ilamatepec volcano, also known as Santa Ana, erupts. Days later scores of people are killed as Tropical Storm Stan sweeps through.

  • Free Trade

    Free Trade
    El Salvador is the first Central American country to implement a regional free trade agreement with the US.

  • Civil War Massacre

    Civil War Massacre
    Human Rights Court for the Americas finds El Salvador guilty over the civil war massacre at El Mozote in 1981.