The Pipil Indians, descendants of the Aztecs, and the Pocomames and
Lencas were the original inhabitants of El Salvador.
The first Salvadoran territory visited by Spaniards was Meanguera
Island, located in the Gulf of Fonseca, where Spanish Admiral Andrés
Niño led an expedition to Central America and disembarked on May 31,
1522. In June 1524, the Spanish Captain Pedro de Alvarado started a
war to conquer Cuscatlán. His cousin Diego de Alvarado established
the village of San Salvador in April 1525. In 1546, Charles I of
Spain granted San Salvador the title of city.
During the subsequent years, the country evolved under Spanish rule;
however, toward the end of 1810 many people began to express
discontent. On November 5, 1811, when Priest José Matias Delgado
rang the bells of La Merced Church in San Salvador calling for
insurrection, the people began to band together for freedom.
In 1821, El Salvador and the other Central American provinces
declared their independence from Spain. When these provinces were
joined with Mexico in early 1822, El Salvador resisted, insisting on
autonomy for the Central American countries. In 1823, the United
Provinces of Central America was formed of the five Central American
states under Gen. Manuel Jose Arce. When this federation was
dissolved in 1838, El Salvador became an independent republic. El
Salvador's early history as an independent state--as with others in
Central America--was marked by frequent revolutions; not until the
period 1900-30 was relative stability achieved. Following a
deterioration in the country's democratic institutions in the 1970s
a period of civil war followed from 1980-1992. More than 75,000
people are estimated to have died in the conflict. In January 1992,
after prolonged negotiations, the opposing sides signed peace
accords which ended the war, brought the military under civilian
control, and allowed the former guerillas to form a legitimate
political party and participate in elections. |
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