THE FALL OF COMMUNISM Eastern Europe 1989

BACKGROUND: Soviet Satellite Nations of Eastern European from (Cold War years) Political:governments were controlled by the USSR Economic:forced to use the communist system Military:forced to give money and troops to the Warsaw Pact and provide bases for Soviet troops

I.) Gorbachev influence A) Changes in USSR opened the door to changes in the Satellite nations B) Gorbachev announced that Soviets would not interfere with any reforms in Eastern Europe

II.) Reforms in Poland A) Lech Walesa leads Solidarity union in protests against the communist government

B) Pope John Paul II (Polish) speaks out for human rights

C) 1989 – Communist government agrees to free elections 1) Communist voted out 2) Walesa is elected president 3) No Soviet intervention

III.) Reforms in Hungary A) Communist system very unpopular B) Oct – Communist Party disbands C) Non-communist gov. elected D) Opened the border to Austria

IV.) East German communist fall A) Hardline leader, Erich Honecker, fought against reforms B) Oct. ’89 – huge demonstrations across East Germany C) Police refuse to attack demonstrators D) Honecker resigns

E) Berlin Wall comes down 1) Communist gov. hoped to bring stability by opening the wall. 2) Joyous celebrations evolved into a demand for the communist gov. to resign

“Eventually all walls fall”

F) Reunification of Germany 1) Germans pledge a commitment to democracy and human rights to the world 2) Reunited Oct. 1990

V.) Czechoslovakia A) Oct. ’89 – Crowds gather demanding freedom and democracy B) Communist gov. forced to resign C) Vaclav Havel named president

VI.) Romania A) Communist dictator, Ceausescu, orders army to massacre demonstrators B) This causes a nationwide revolt and the army turned on Ceausescu (executed 12/25/89)

The end.