ex/tracks/radio/mario-ft.- gucci-mane-sean-garrett- break-up/

In 1989 when the Cold War ended democracy became the new form of government in Czechoslovakia. The Czechs and Slovaks disagreed about how to run the country They divided peacefully in 1993 into two nations: Czech Republic and Slovakia

Czech RepublicSimilaritiesSlovakia Ethnic Group: CzechDemocratic Government today Ethnic Group: Slovaks Change to market economy easier for the Czechs Joined the European Union Less Diverse economy Strong economy with many different industries Expanded trade with the nations of Western Europe Modernized factories quickly

The country of Yugoslavia was created from six territories after WWI: Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Macedonia, Montenegro and Bosnia & Herzegovina Each territory formed a republic within Yugoslavia and lived in unity under the leadership of Josip Broz Tito, former President of Yugoslavia, Each territory had a different ethnic majority See Ethnic Distribution in the Balkans Worksheet Serbia was the largest republic and dominated the national government. The other republics were jealous of Serbia’s power and started to break away

In 1991 Slovenia and Croatia declared independence. Macedonia broke away later that year, followed by Bosnia a year later. The new countries combined different ethnic groups. Most republics were dominated by one ethnic group. Example: Most people living in Croatia are Croats, but many Serbs also lived there. The biggest difference between the groups is in religion. Conflict broke out between the different ethnic groups.

Bosnian Muslims, Serbs, and Croats had lived in peace for many years. However, when Bosnia declared independence in 1992, many Bosnian Serbs felt threatened and did not want to live in a Muslim-led country. War broke our in Bosnia as Serbs (who wanted to establish a purely Serbian state) clashed with Muslim Bosnians and Croats. This is known as the BOSNIAN WAR. In Bosnia, the Serbs, however, weren't happy: they saw themselves and the land they lived on as part of Milosevic's 'Greater Serbia'. Slobodan Milosevic, the president of Serbia and the former Yugoslavia, ignited tensions between the Serbs and Kosovo Muslims. Milosevic eventually took control of Kosovo.

Some groups tried to gain control of an area by attacking and forcing out the other ethnic group. This is called ethnic cleansing. Example: Serbs in some areas of Bosnia killed Muslims or forced them from their homes. Serbs then took control of those areas.

In 2002 Serbian leader, Slobodan Milosevic was tried for war crimes related to ethnic cleansing in Bosnia. He died in prison before the trial ended. By 2003 Yugoslavia no longer existed. Kosovo Reading

As conflict rose in the 1990’s the United Nations, the United States, and other European countries worked to negotiate peace between the warring groups. The United Nations and NATO sent troops to enforce peace treaties.

The conflicts disrupted economies in the region. Unstable conditions made trade difficult. Many people were forced from their homes and had to start new lives in different countries. Still today the standard of living is low in these countries compared to the rest of Europe.

mirror-video