It began as a revolutionary organization founded on March 10, 1975, which became part of the FMLN coalition in 1980, against the military junta in the Salvadoran Civil War.

During the separation, the ERP ordered the executions of Roque Dalton and Armando Arteaga, claiming political betrayal.

Other founding members of the RN included Eduardo Sancho (aka Fermán Cienfuegos), Lil Milagro Ramírez, Julia Rodríguez and Arsenio.

The RN was primarily based in Morazán Department as guerrilla commandos as well as in the city of San Salvador as clandestine urban forces mainly composed of university students.

After peace accords were signed in 1992, all armed FMLN units were demobilized and their organization became a legal political party.