What caused the Salvadoran Civil War?

The Salvadoran Civil War, which lasted from 1979 to 1992, was rooted in decades of systemic social injustice, political repression, and the failure of military governments to address the grievances of the population.12

Key Factors Leading to the Conflict

• Military Dictatorships and Repression: For nearly 50 years, El Salvador was governed by a succession of military regimes that prioritized the interests of the landed elite and suppressed dissent through force. Efforts to challenge this status quo—such as labor strikes, student protests, and the rise of popular front organizations—were met with increasing violence.12
• Failure of Reform: Attempts to implement meaningful changes, including agrarian reform, were either retracted or proved insufficient to reduce political violence. The government’s inability to address economic inequality and social grievances fueled public discontent.12
• Political Polarization: The assassination of Archbishop Óscar Arnulfo Romero in 1980, a vocal critic of the military establishment, served as a flashpoint for the escalating violence.23
• Formation of the FMLN: By 1979, multiple guerrilla organizations had emerged, eventually uniting as the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN) to challenge the government militarily.12

The conflict was further intensified by the involvement of the United States, which provided significant financial and military support to the Salvadoran government throughout the 1980s.23