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Dictator was overthrown, new government comes into place.
New government introduced reforms that gave rights to the Mayan people. Made coffee plantations state-owned, which upset US, because they had many investments in the plantations. -
Government Overthrown
US organized and trained Guatemalan exiles to invade and overthrow the government for being "communist". The reforms that benefited the Mayans were lost. -
Civil war in Guatemala
US military government's new policies result in the people fighting against the government. -
Panzos Massacre
The Guatemalan army fires on and kills many protestors in the first act of violence against civilians in the civil war. -
Burning of Spanish Embassy
Non-violent Mayan protesters occupied the Spanish Embassy, the Ambassador wanted to respond peacefully, but the Embassy was deliberately burned down. All the Mayans and the Embassy staff was killed, but the Ambassador survived. -
Start of Genocide
Mayans began to be murdered. -
Peak of Genocide
Troops of the government burned villagers houses and crops, and killed their farm animals in a "scorched earth" policy. The idea of the policy was that in any place where they thought there might be rebels, everyone would be killed. -
Majority of the Genocide Ended
Number of Mayan murders declined dramatically. -
Vinicio Cerezo elected president
Cerezo's election marked the beginning of the end of military violence against Guatemalan civilians. Cerezo was the first civilian elected President since 1966. -
Civil War Ends
Peace treaty was finally signed.
