American Dream: November 2012

A Better Life or a very small piece of the American dream

History of a 3^rd world country

•One of the smallest country in America

•One of the most densely populated in Central America

•About the size of Massachusetts

•Known as the "Tom Thumb of the Americas"

•Aka “The Valley of Hammocks”

Natural disasters

•Volcanic activity – October 2005

•Earthquakes

•Combination of both

•Powerful earthquakes - October 1986, January 13, 2001and February 13, 2001 (7.7)

•Every year is hit with heavy rainstorms or hurricanes

Civil war

•Revolutionary movement 1979

•Civil war started in 1980

•Civil war ended in 1992

•It is estimated that 75,000 people died during the conflict, most of them civilians

Migrating…

•1960s there were only about 10,000 residing in the U.S.

•During the conflict 500,000-1,000,000 immigrated to the U.S.

•U.S. has always been involved

Negative vs. Positive

•U.S. has been accused of providing funds, and training to the armed forces – purpose was to combat the guerrilla/leftists

•U.S. provided political asylum during the war.

•Temporary Protected Status (TPS) – allows them to work only, usually given right after a big natural disaster

Conclusion

•Population was content until the civil war.

•American dream for Salvadoreans meant freedom, life, security, stability.

•now it means opportunities, education, a better life for our children and supporting families left behind

•US residents support families in

El Salvador

•remittances constitute as much as 17% of the country’s GDP

American Dream