Chapter 2 Flashcards
(10 cards)
What was La Matanza, and why is it central to Salvadoran history?
La Matanza (“The Massacre”) was a 1932 slaughter in which Salvadoran military and National Guard forces killed around 30,000 mostly Indigenous peasants after a failed uprising, freezing the country politically and socially for decades.
What event triggered the 1932 uprising by agricultural workers?
The privatization of communal land for coffee plantations, dispossessing peasants and forcing them into exploitative labor, triggered the revolt.
How did the Salvadoran government and elite suppress the memory of La Matanza?
Through propaganda, destroyed records, censorship in libraries and media, and by labeling any reform movement as communist-inspired.
How did the U.S. shape Salvadoran military and police forces during the Cold War?
The U.S. trained Salvadoran forces in riot control and counterinsurgency, supplied weapons, and rewrote police manuals, seeing any dissent as communist insurgency.
What does the phrase “We were all born half dead in 1932” mean in the context of the book?
It reflects how La Matanza traumatized generations and instilled fear, shaping political passivity and harsh repression for decades.
Who was Oscar Romero and why did he matter to Juan?
Romero was the Archbishop of San Salvador who became a bold voice against state violence. He restored Juan’s faith in God and validated his medical activism.
How did Romero use his sermons to challenge state repression?
He detailed weekly acts of violence, naming victims and holding authorities accountable, which reached millions by radio and became the most trusted public record.
What shift occurred after Romero’s friend Rutilio Grande was assassinated?
Romero radicalized—abandoning cautious diplomacy and using his platform to openly condemn the military and advocate for land reform and the poor.
Why did Juan bring bullet casings to Romero, and what did Romero do?
After witnessing a hospital execution by masked soldiers, Juan brought the casings to Romero to expose the crime. Romero promised to report it to the church’s legal aid group.
What was Romero’s message to President Carter about U.S. military aid?
Romero urged Carter to stop arming El Salvador’s military, arguing the aid was fueling repression, not preserving peace, and violating human rights.
