El Salvador: The Civil War Just How Civil? Starring El Salvadorians in the 80s and The United States

Initial wealth discrepancy attributed to 95% of income coming from coffee, which was owned by 2% of population Class tension escalated throughout the late 19 th and early 20 th centuries Central American Socialist Party, 1932, rallied peasants against government

Junta – Empty Campaign Promises? Back and forth assassinations and coups continued, until government escalated response A junta who, in 1979, failed to keep promises of a better quality of living, resulted in a unified guerilla group

Following complete dissatisfaction with new military junta, five major guerrilla groups formed FMLN Military began eliminating suspected guerrilla sympathizers and supporters Government-backed military sought to eliminate any rebel activity perpetrated by FMLN FMLN retaliated, destroying infrastructure and killing government officials

American funding kept the government campaign alive American funding ceased following the rape and murder of four visiting American church women, but soon resumed once again afterwards It wasnt until the United Nations was able to confirm human rights violations – United States previously unwilling to acknowledge the possibility of violations