Final answer:
The Civil War in El Salvador was influenced by economic inequality, with a small elite class controlling most land and wealth while the majority lived in poverty. U.S. interests supported the elite, while the Soviet allies backed the peasants, reflecting the Cold War's global impact.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Civil War in El Salvador between 1979 and 1992 had its roots in deep economic disparities. A small group of wealthy land-owning elites controlled much of the country's arable land and its lucrative coffee export business, creating a vast class divide with the impoverished peasants working the land.
To protect their interests, U.S. coffee companies and the U.S. government supported the elites with military aid, exacerbating tensions. Conversely, the impoverished peasants, who sought more equitable social and economic conditions, received support from Cuba and Nicaragua, allies of the Soviet Union. This international involvement contributed to the conflict, highlighting the struggle as part of the broader Cold War dynamic.
The conflict in El Salvador reflects a larger pattern of economic struggles in Latin American countries, where disparities in wealth distribution and external influences frequently led to social and political unrest. For instance, regional wars and reliance on cash crops that enriched a small upper class but did nothing for the agricultural laborers deepened class divides and impeded development in countries like Paraguay and El Salvador.