January 22-25, 1932. The indigenous insurrection. The Marxist party called for a rebellion. The leader, Fubundo Marti was jailed and later executed. The rebels killed (estimate) less than 100 people.
January 25, 1932- Massacre in Izalco. An estimated 10,000-40,000 indigenous people were massacred by the military. Those who survived gave up their culture and practices (under threat of death). This is considered the end of the indigenous people of El Salvador.
For 6 decades the military government maintains power.
February 1977- Padre Rutillio Grande gives this sermon (exerpt)
“The very violence they create unites us and brings us together even though they beat us down, because we bring love against their anti-love, against sin, injustice, the enslavement of humankind … if Jesus himself came across the border at Chalatenango, they wouldn't let him in. They would accuse the Human-God … of being a rabble-rouser, a foreign Jew, one who confused the people with exotic and foreign ideas against democracy … without any doubt, they would crucify him again”
March 12, 1977- Padre Rutillio Grande (friend of Monseñor Romero) and 2 laypeople traveling with him (an elderly man and 15 year old boy) were assassinated by the death squad. After Grande’s martyrdom, Monseñor Romero changed from a shy conservative bishop to an active leader. For the funeral Romero canceled all other masses in the country, 100,000 attended, and Romero said, “Whosoever touches one of my priests has to deal with me.”
People in the country, activists, and priests continue to be killed. Romero calls for justice, brings public attention to the atrocities, demands the release of people who were being held without cause, and brings hope to the people.
March 24, 1980- Monseñor Oscar Romero, Catholic Archbishop of El Salvador, assassinated while celebrating communion.
March 30, 1980- Monseñor Romero’s funeral became a massacre. 100,000 people came to downtown San Salvador to pay their last respects at the Cathedral. Soldiers on the roof of the building next-door threw a bomb and opened fire on the crowd, killing 70 people.
May 14, 1980, Sumpul River Massacre. The military closed in on a town that had a guerilla presence. The entire village was killed. The people fled from town as the soldiers closed in on them, and were shot as they crossed the river. Their bodies were washed away. At least 300 non-combatants including women and children were killed, estimate of more than 700 people killed.
October 10, 1980- FMLN (the Guerilla) is formed officially by four different leftist/socialist political groups.
December 2, 1980 The torture and martyrdom of the 4 American women (3 Nuns and 1 layperson). After stopping at a military check-point these women were tortured and killed, by Salvadoran National Guard.
1980-1992 The Civil War between FMLN and the Government. (US role: provides finantial aide to the government as well as supplying arms, helecopters, planes, and training. The death squads, who committed the assasinations and massacres, were trained as the School of the Americas, a US training camp located in Georgia)
January 1981- President Jimmy Carter authorizes $5 million in aide to the El Salvadoran government.
1981- FMLN launches offensive military strikes across the country
December 10-11, 1981- The massacre at Mozote. The entire village of Mozote is separated into men, women, and children and detained overnight. In the morning the inhabitants are systematically massacred by the military. More than 200 identified dead, upwards of 700 dead. (the government claimed this never happened, but in 1992, mass graves were exhumed, more than 118 child victims, average age 6). Bullet cartridges recovered from the scene were all stamped with “Made in the USA.”
December 10-13, 1981- civilians in 5 other villages are systematically executed by death squads. More than 300 identified, many more unidentified. (the massacres of Dec 10-13 estimated at over 1,000 dead)
1982- President Ronald Reagan says that the El Salvadoran government human rights standards qualify to receive U.S. military aide.
August 22, 1982- Massacre at El Cabozo. Again, an entire village, more than 200 men, women, and children, executed.
1985- FLMN kidnaps President Duarte’s daughter, she is returned unharmed after a prisoner exchange.
1987- US aid to El Salvador increases
1989- The civil war fighting comes to the streets of San Salvador, FLMN assassinates 2 Salvadoran Government officials.
November 16, 1989 - Six Jesuit priests, the woman who cooked for them, and her daughter were massacred by the death squad. They were rousted from their beds and shot. The massacre gains world-wide attention.
February 1990- US Congress orders a task force to investigate the massacre. Congressman Moakley concludes that it was done by order of the Salvadoran Government.
1990- US Congress votes to reduce aid to El Salvador by 50%
1990- Peace negotiations begin, mediated by the United Nations
1991- FMLN executes 2 US military advisors.
January 1992 Peace accords are signed, FMLN surrenders it’s weapons, and gains status as an official political party.