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Struggle for Democracy in Eastern Europe

Explore the end of communism in Eastern Europe, from the Polish Solidarity movement to the dissolution of Yugoslavia, with key events such as the Velvet Revolution and ethnic tensions leading to independence wars. Witness the powerful transformations shaping the region.

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Struggle for Democracy in Eastern Europe

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  1. Struggle for Democracy inEastern Europe How does Communism end in Eastern Europe?

  2. Poland • 1980: Polish shipyard workers led by Lech Walesa go on strike, demand communist govt recognize their union Solidarity • Polish gov outlaws Solidarity and cracks down on dissent • 1985: Soviet leader Gorbachev announces glasnost (more freedom) • 1987-89: Polish Economy worsens, walkouts, strikes & rioting occur, Polish gov will allow elections, Communists voted out, Walesa is Pres Hungary • 1989: Inspired by glasnost & Poland,Hungary’s leaders call for elections • Radicals take over Hungarian Communist Party & vote to dissolve party • 1990: First national elections held, communists no longer control govt

  3. Germany • 1989: Many E. Germans flee into Hungary (no longer communist) • E. German leader Erick Honecker closes all borders – major protests • Nov 89: Hoping to stop protests, E. German govt allows people to travel between East & West Berlin – thousands leave for the west http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MM2qq5J5A1s&feature=related • 1990: E. German communists lose power, two Germanys reunified Czechoslovakia • Czech writer Vaclav Havel calls for democracy and is arrested • Thousands protest, Czechs have new elections, Velvet Revolution • New economic policy creates unemployment, esp in Slovakia • Czechs and Slovaks agree to split country

  4. Romania • Thousands protest in Timisoara, Ceausescu orders army to open fire on protestors • Communist leader Nicolae Ceausescu uses his secret police to end reform movements • Major uprising occurs, Ceausescu tries to flee but is caught, tried and executed Yugoslavia • 1980s: ethnic & cultural tensions grow after Josip Titio’s death • 1991: War breaks in Slovenia & Croatia, Serb led Yugoslav army tries to stop their independence, Serbs defeated in both wars • 1995: Bosnia wants independence, Radovan Karadžić leads Bosnian Serbs against Bosnian Muslims, starts ethnic cleansing, UN steps in • 1998: Muslims in Serbian province of Kosovo want indp. Yugoslav leader Slobodan Milosevic begins a ethnic cleansing against Muslims • UN intervenes, arrest Milosevic. 2006: Serbia & Montenegro split ending Yugoslavia

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