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Geschichte El Salvadors
(Dieses Dokument wird zur Zeit noch ins Deutsche übersetzt.)From Civilization to IndependenceEl Salvador"s civilization dates back long before Christopher Columbus" arrival in the New World, approximately 1,500 years B.C., according to evidence in the ruins of Tazumal and Chalchuapa. The first inhabitants were called Pocomames, Lencas and Pipiles who settled in the central and western areas of the country in the mid XI Century.
The Spanish Admiral, Andrés Niño, lead an expedition to Central America and disembarked on May 31, 1522 on Meanguera Island, located in the Gulf of Fonseca. This was the first Salvadoran territory visited by Spaniards.
In June 1524 the Spanish Captain Pedro de Alvarado started a war to conquest Cuzcatlan (land of precious things) that was populated by the country"s native tribes. After 17 days of bloody battles, many Natives and Spaniards were killed, including the Indian leader Atlacatl. Pedro de Alvarado defeated and wounded on his left thigh, abandoned the war and retreated to Guatemala, commissioning his brother, Gonzalo de Alvarado, to continue the conquest of Cuzcatlan.
Subsequently, his cousin Diego de Alvarado established the village of San Salvador in April 1525 upon a site called La Bermuda, near the city of Suchitoto. In 1546, Charles I of Spain granted San Salvador the title of city.
During the subsequent years, the country evolved under Spanish rule. Towards the end of the year 1810 there arose a feeling of freedom amongst the Central American people and the time to break the chains of slavery arrived on the dawn of November 5, 1811, when the Priest José Matias Delgado, clang the bells of La Merced Church in San Salvador called for insurrection. After many internal struggles, the Central American Independence Act was signed in Guatemala on September 15, 1821. This day is commemorated in El Salvador as the Day of Independence.
Historical Dates
- The Republic - 1822
El Salvador opposes the annexation of Central America to the Iturbide Empire, but is invaded by Mexican troops and forced to annex. When the Empire collapses, the Central American countries separate from Mexico and form the Federation of Central American United Provinces. 1824. El Salvador declares the first Central American Constitution (June 12). 1841. The National Assembly proclaims the separation from the Federation of United Provinces and declares its own Constitution (February 1). 1842. The project of forming a tripartite Republic with Nicaragua and Honduras. 1850. El Salvador and Honduras ally against Guatemala. 1863. A new conflict with Guatemala, the city of San Salvador
The formation of a new tripartite Republic with Nicaragua and Honduras fails. 1850 El Salvador and Honduras ally against Guatemala. 1863. New conflict with Guatemala. The city of San Salvador is severely attacked. 1907. In a Central American Congress, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica sign a Treaty of Peace and Friendship.
- 1931 - 1944
After a coup d"etat, General Maximiliano Hernández Martínez, assumed power as Chief of State during this period. In the year 1932 he represses the first Marxist-Leninist uprising which was supported and financed by the Soviet Union.
- 1958
El Salvador and Guatemala invite Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica to decide on the integration of a Constituting Assembly as part of the projected Central American Federation (August 29).
- 1960
A military and civilian Junta overthrown President José María Lemus (Oct. 26).
- 1961
A coup d"etat lead by Colonel Anibal Portillo overthrew the Junta (January 25) and established a Civic Military Directorate. (January 30).
- 1969
Due to the ousting of more than 11 thousand Salvadorans living in Honduras an undeclared war breaks out between the two countries. Salvadoran armed forces invade Honduran territory (July 14). An emergency meeting of the OAS approves a Peace agreement between El Salvador and Honduras (July 30).
- 1970
The National Conciliation Party obtains majority votes at the elections (March 8).
- 1972
The National Assembly proclaims Colonel Arturo Armando Molina as President (February 20). The National Conciliation Party once again wins the Legislative and Municipal elections (March 12). This electoral process is labeled as fraudulent and causes a series of disturbances resulting in approximately 100 people dead and many wounded. All this ends with an attempt of a coup d"etat lead by Colonel Benjamin Mejia (March 25), backed by José Napoleón Duarte, Secretary General of the Christian Democratic Party, who jointly made a call for people insurrection that did not get enough support and was repressed.
- 1974 - 1975
A movement organized around leftist guerrillas get started, thus increasing political violence.
- 1976
El Salvador and Honduras sign an agreement stipulating the mediation of a third country lawyer in the peace negotiations (October 6).
- 1977
The party in office proclaims General Carlos Humberto Romero as President which result in new protests from the opposition.
- 1979
A military Junta headed by Colonels Jaime Abdul Gutiérrez and Adolfo Majano, overthrow President Romero and he is sent into exile. (October 15). This coup d"etat is of a leftist tendency and supported by several leaders of the opposition also leftist.
- 1980
Three leftist organizations unite to coordinate the fight against the government (January 10). The Junta announces a radical Agrarian Reform plan. (March 6). The Salvadoran private banking system is nationalized (March 7). The Archbishop of San Salvador, Oscar Arnulfo Romero, is assassinated while giving mass. (March 24). José Napoleón Duarte is appointed Chief of State. (December 13).
- 1981
José Napoleón Duarte announces the formation of a Constituting Assembly in 1982 (March 5). A new political party called Nationalist Republican Alliance (ARENA, for its initials in Spanish) is legally formed. (September 30).
- 1982
Elections for the Constituting Assembly are held. Dr. Alvaro Magaña is designated Provisional President (March 28), who forms his Cabinet with representatives from different political institutions.
- 1984
Presidential elections are held and José Napoleón Duarte is elected. (July 1)
- 1985
Municipal and Legislative elections are carried out resulting in a relative majority for the Christian Democratic Party and a strong showing of ARENA as the second political force.
- 1988
New Municipal and Legislative elections are held and this time ARENA obtains a majority for Congressmen in the Legislative Assembly in addition to 178 Municipalities of the existing 262 in the country. Additionally, the Municipality of San Salvador is won by a great majority. This Municipality had been in the hands of the Christian Democrats for more than 20 years.
- 1989
Presidential elections are held on March 19 and Mr. Alfredo Félix Cristiani, the ARENA Party candidate, is elected by 54.7% of the votes. On November 11th, the FMLN makes a final offensive that does not achieve the desired objectives.
- 1992
On January 1992 the Peace Accords are signed in Chapultepec.
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