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Podcast: Rise of Religious and Political Tension in El Salvador

The Rise of the Religious and Political Tension in El Salvador

By Daniel Tofil

Abstract

The broad focuses of this paper are on the rise of religious and political tension in El Salvador from 1960 to 1990. It explores the evolution of religion, along with the negative effects that being religious had on certain individuals (Catholics) at this time. In addition, leftist military coups causing chaos, committing unprecedented killings of anyone at any time, in order to claim all the power. The threat of Communism is the reason why the United States established foreign policy in El Salvador. Salvadorans did not want interference. When the United States established a presence, they wanted to establish a Moderate Democracy. The nation spiraled out of control. America began training the Salvadoran military, thinking it would bring a positive change. It did the complete opposite. As the killings and violence became worse as the years went on, missionaries came in to help the people most affected by the civil war. Leftist coups feared the church, four churchwomen missionaries from Cleveland, Ohio got caught up in the violence and ultimately lost their lives. They did great things for the people of El Salvador. In the end the civil war combined with the radical leftist military coups were to powerful and no match for the people pushing for peace and democracy in El Salvador. The big thing, No one was safe. Thousands upon thousands were killed in the fight for establishing either Communism or peace.   

El Salvador
Podcast: Rise of Religious and Political Tension in El Salvador