The Velvet Revolution November 17, December 29, 1989 Mariah Martinez Cynthia Gonzalez

Why is it called the Velvet Revolution? ● Lou Reed’s Velvet Underground influenced the Plastic People of the Universe, who were close friends of Vaclav Havel ○ an underground rock band that musically embodied Czech’s opposition movement and sat on a velvet couch. ● it was a NON-VIOLENT (everyone lived) revolution led by Vaclav Havel ● also known as the gentle revolution

Events leading up to the Velvet Revolution ● The “Prague-Spring” 1968 ○ brief period of time when the government of Czechoslovakia led by Alexander Dubček seemingly wanted to democratise the nation and lessen the stranglehold Moscow had on the nation’s affairs.Alexander Dubček ● Fall of the Berlin Wall ○ November 9, 1989

Conditions that allowed for the Velvet Revolution ● By the second half of the 1980s, the political atmosphere in the Soviet Union and its satellite states was more relaxed than it had been in previous decades, due to Mikhail Gorbachev's introduction of two new governmental policies: Glasnost and Perestroika. ● Many historians cite the introduction of these two policies as a catalyst for many of the nonviolent democratic revolutions that erupted in Soviet-bloc countries. ● Economy in a downturn ● In Poland, Gorbachev had ended the Brezhnev Doctrine

1 The first demonstrations took place in January Protesters marking 20 years since Czech student Jan Palach self-immolated in protest against the Soviet-led invasion of 1968 were brutally dispersed by police. 2 There were more demonstrations in August, marking the actual anniversary of the 1968 invasion. The first cracks were appearing in communist rule.

3 The next protest was held on October 28, 1989, the anniversary of the founding of Czechoslovakia in Demonstrators flashed victory signs as they demanded freedom and democracy on Wenceslas Square in Prague. 4 The turning point came on November 17, 1989, with the biggest protest for 20 years. Thousands of students marched peacefully through the city center until they were stopped at Narodni (National) Street by a cordon of riot police.

5 The students lit candles and chanted ''We have bare hands'' 6 The demonstrations grew rapidly. On November 19, riot police blocked a bridge to prevent protesters marching to Prague Castle, the seat of the Czechoslovak president.

7 On November 21, more than 200,000 demonstrators took to the streets of Prague for a fifth consecutive day of protests 8 On November 24, the crowds had grown to 300,000. Vaclav Havel, a dissident playwright and former political prisoner, addressed the massive crowd from a balcony overlooking Wenceslas Square. On November 26, the protests had to move to a large park to accommodate the numbers. Half a million people came to listen to speeches from Havel and other opposition leaders. 9 Karel Urbanek resigns on December 20, The Velvet Revolution ends on December 20, 1989

Who was Vaclav Havel? ● Born October 5, 1936 in Prague, Czechoslovakia. ● Became the leading figure in a new coalition of non-communist opposition groups pressing for democratic reforms. ● As a result of an agreement between the partners in the bloodless, “Velvet Revolution”, Havel was elected to the post interim president of Czechoslovakia on December 29, ○ Was re-elected to the presidency in July 1990, becoming the country’s first noncommunist leader since 1948.

Nonviolent tactics used during the revolution ● banners and posters with the slogan “The End of Single Party Rule” and “Havel to the castle” ● protesters waved the Czechoslovak flag ● public assemblies ● drama and music ● strikes