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Introduction
This timeline presents a collection of events that occurred during the Salvadoran Civil War, and some of the events that built tensions towards. The war was a result of continuous, deeply ingrained socioeconomic inequality, with most of the money circulating through the elite social class that only composed 2% of the country, and the rest impoverished. The main parties involved were the Junta military-led Salvadoran government and the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN). -
Stock Crash Compounds Socioeconomic Inequality
The Great Depression caused El Salvador's major income market, coffee, to crash in price. Though most plantations were owned by a wealthy elite, the rest of the population tended to the plantations' labor. However, the people with no land were now also losing their jobs. This widened the socioeconomic gap and created tension between the major population and its government.
Image: https://www.goldmansachs.com/our-firm/history/moments/1929-financial-crash.html -
Period: to
The Great Depression
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La Matanza
On this day, a rebellion was lead due to the Salvadoran government not seating elected members of the communist Central American Socialist party. The government retaliated by massacring and killing 30,000 of its own civilians, most indigenous. This event proved the militarist political tone that the government would maintain for decades and during most of the war.
Image: https://www.zinnedproject.org/news/tdih/la-matanza -
The Football War
Also known as the 100 Hour War, it was a four day war between El Salvador and Honduras over land and immigration problems. The elite farmers of Honduras placed pressure on the president to protect Honduran land form Salvadoran immigrants. It ended with 300,000 Salvadorans displaced that the government could not afford, along with a now strengthened but corrupted Salvadoran military. This cause more civilian dislike of the government.
Image:https://www.sportszion.com/know-the-facts-of-soccer-war/ -
Period: to
The Football War
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JRG Coup d'Etat
Commonly seen as the start of the war, the Revolutionary Government Junta (JRG) deposed President Carlos Humberto Romero in an attempt to avoid the toppling of government due to leftist measures. The US supported the coup and founded the military, fearing the country would fall into communist revolution. This would further empower the country's military. The JRG attempted land reform but the elites would commit sabotage as retaliation.
Image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlos_Humberto_Romero -
Period: to
The Salvadoran Civil War
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Assassination of Archbishop Óscar Romero
In February of 1980, Archbishop Óscar Romero published a letter for the US to stop aiding the oppressive government military. A month later, while celebrating Mass, Romero was assassinated the day after he called for Salvadoran troops to not follow orders to kill civilians. Former Major Roberto D'Aubuisson would later be convicted as the one who ordered the murder.
Image: https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/archbishop-oscar-romero-becomes-a-saint-but-his-death-still-haunts-el-salvador -
The FMLN is Founded
The Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN) was founded by the unification of five leftist guerilla organizations. It would be the main opponent of the government during the war. However, it was not supported by the US and had to fight against American-trained troops. At times, even children were recruited to join the fight as soldiers. It would eventually become a political party after the peace accords.
Image:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farabundo_Mart%C3%AD_National_Liberation_Front -
Rape and Murder of 4 American Missionaries
In 1980, Salvadoran National Guard troops were suspected of the raping and murder of 4 American missionaries on a humanitarian trip. The US would suspend aid for 6 weeks but then return with even more. It excused its aid by saying the country was doing a serious investigation, but this was disputed by Ambassador Robert E. White, who was then dismissed for refusing to participate in the coverup of the murders.
Image: https://coarpeacemission.org/ourhistory/1980-blessed-romero-the-4-churchwomen/ -
Point of Reference: AIDS is Discovered in US
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El Mozote Massacre
Though there were many more massacres during the war, El Mozote massacre was notable due to the US denial of its occurrence. The massacre, ordered by the Salvadoran government, killed up to 1000 unarmed civilians, women and children included, that were accused of collaborating with guerillas. The US would dismiss it as "leftist propaganda" to excuse its continual aid being sent to the government.
Image: https://www.zinnedproject.org/news/tdih/el-mozote-massacre-in-el-salvador/ -
Point of Reference: Chernobyl Disaster
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Point of Reference: Tainanmen Square Massacre
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Ofensiva Hasta el Tope
In November 1989, the FMLN guerilla would surprise attack the government military protecting the capital of the country, San Salvador. This would allow the FLMN to finally enter the capital, but it was not successful in overthrowing it; eventually having to retreat. However, this final offensive would make the government realize that they could not defeat the FLMN and would need to come to an agreement. Negotiation was then taken more seriously.
Image:https://alchetron.com/Ofensiva-hasta-el-tope -
The Jesuit Martyrs
On this day, the Atlacatl Battalion, a Salvadorian military unit, entered the University of Central America and and executed six jesuits and a housekeeper with her daughter. The latter victims were killed in an attempt to get rid of witnesses. This would be the event that began to bring more global attention to the war, and would lead to an increase of international pressure to end it and bring peace.
Image: https://dppucryp3i-flywheel.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/jesuitmartyrs.jpg -
Point of Reference: Fall of the Berlin Wall
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Chapultec Peace Accords
This peace agreement was signed by both the Salvadoran government and the FMLN in Mexico City in 1992. This would end the war and regulate the Salvadoran military. Furthermore, a civilian police force was formed and the FLMN transformed from a guerilla army into an official political party. By this there was 75,000-- mostly civilian-- lives were lost, and the economy and infrastructure was in ruins.
Image:https://www.weeksuntil.com/signing-of-the-peace-accords-sv
