HUB DATE 1989 The Age of Revolutions in Eastern Europe & The Downfall of Communism Patrick Perez Raffi Margossian Jessica Cortez AP Euro Period 3 Spring Break
THEME Many Eastern European countries experienced a collapse of communism during this year because of popular resentment towards it.
Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev (b. 1931) was elected president of Soviet Union in He introduced two new policies: Glasnost (social reform) and Perestroika (economic reform) Both policies encountered opposition from his citizens, and he badly underestimated the unrest that they could generate from their discontent.
Soviet Union (cont.) His behavior towards Eastern Europe in 1989 showed that the Soviet Union could no longer afford to support communist governments. He decided to not intervene to uphold the Soviet Union’s authority in the Communist countries. During 1989 and 1990, the Baltic Republic’s parliaments tried to decrease Soviet Control and Lithuania declared independence.
Poland In 1981, General Wojciech Jaruzelski (b. 1923) became head of the Polish Communist Party and imposed martial law. They had Solidarity leaders arrested. (Solidarity is their independent union.) Later on, the government relaxed martial law and released the Solidarity prisoners. In 1988, new strikes arose but the communist government couldn’t impose control.
Poland (cont.) After consultations between the government and Solidarity, Lech Walesa (b. 1944) served as the mediator and the union became legalized. Jaruzelski promised free elections to a parliament with increased powers. In the 1989 elections, the communists lost against the Solidarity candidates. Jarzuelski couldn’t find a communist who could forge a majority coalition in parliament, so he turned to Solidarity and appointed a noncommunist prime minister.
Hungary The Hungarian government opened its borders with Austria, which permitted travel between the two countries. This led thousands of East Germans to travel through Hungary and Austria to West Germany. Janos Kadar ( ) was stripped of his position as the president of the Hungarian Communist Party. The name of the Hungarian Communist Party was changed to the Socialist Party and allowed other political parties to engage in politics. They also promised free elections.
Czechoslovakia “The Velvet Revolution” After the Berlin Wall fell, Vaclav Havel (b. 1936) led the revolutionary party December 1989 – Soviet Union, and members of the Warsaw Pact recognized a.mistake in the 1968 invasion of Czechoslovakia The Civic Forum, Havel’s revolutionaries, forced Gustav Husak (b. 1913) to resign. December 28, 1989 – Alexander Dubcek ( ) became chairman of Parliament and Havel became President.
The Velvet Revolution – Key People Vaclav Havel – Leader of the revolutionary party, the Civic Forum Gustav Husak – President of Czechoslovakia until 1989, when Havel’s group forced his resignation
Germany Autumn 1989 – Eastern Germany faced peaceful demonstrations. This began the movement for unification Gorbachev refused to show military support The majority of the government resigned and younger communists took over November 1989 the Berlin Wall fell and an emotional celebration began Helmut Kohl, chancellor of West Germany began the unification movement in late 1989 By 1990, the United States, Soviet Union, France and Great Britain recognized the reunification.
Fall of Berlin Wall 1989 Eastern & Western Germans take down the Berlin Wall
Romania Involved significant violence. Nicolae Ceausescu ( ) had governed a Communist regime in Romania since In mid-December, he fired on crowds that were during their demonstrations. By December 22, 1989, the capital city of Bucharest had been in full revolt. Nicolae and his wife attempted to leave the country, but were captured and tried, and were executed on December 25, 1989.
Post After Germany United, the Warsaw Pact dissolved leaving Communism at the peak of its destruction The Cold War officially ended in November 1990 when the Soviet Union, the United States & other Western European Leaders signed the Charter for a New Europe By late 1991, Russia, Ukraine & Belarus formed the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Soviet Union no longer existed.