6. What happened to the USSR after the fall of Communism in 1989?
The main ethnic groups demanded independence (which Gorbachev tried to prevent) and Boris Yeltsin (President in 1991) demanded the break up of the USSR.
The Soviet Union remained communist until it became illegal in 1996
7. Why was Solidarity important?
The first real breakthrough of Communist rule across Eastern Europe. Walesa being in prison made him a figurehead for the campaign. It caused distrust of the government causing an uprising to be inevitable. Started a chain reaction within Europe.
It showed the world that Polish people were willing and capable to stand up for themselves
It helped teach the USSR to never let trade unions grow
8. What happened in 1988?
Gorbachev feared his policies would back fire and fled to neutral Spain
Gorbachev abandoned the Brezhnev Doctrine and told the UN that Eastern Bloc Nations has a choice to rule themselves
Gorbachev created the Gorbachev Doctrine replace the Brezhnev Doctrine
9. What did Solidarity achieve?
Solidarity went door to door to expand their cause and were caught eventually
Solidarity sent 21 demand to the Polish government (free trade, right to strike, more pay, lower food prices) which they agreed to
Solidarity protested daily and attracted enough attention for the Polish government to get convicted of mundane Human Rights abuse
10. What was Perestroika?
Economic Restructuring to make the Soviet system of central planning more efficient
Economic Organisation to grow the Soviet economy by a target 4% per quarter
Economic Rebuilding to restrengthen the Soviet markets by introducing unregulated trade and allowing the market forces to allocate goods
11. When and where was Solidarity founded?
September 1980, in Lenin Shipyard, Gdansk, Finland
September 1980, in Lenin Shipyard, Gdansk, Poland
September 1979, in Lenin Boat Port, Gdansk, Hungary
October 1980, in Lenin Shipyard, Gdansk, Poland
12. What else effected the Soviet economy?
Many Russians were beginning to emigrate to the Western World and the quantity of the qualified workforce decreased
The war in Afghanistan was a disaster that cost Billion and left 15,000 soviet troops dead
The Wall Street Market Crash of 1939 was still hugely detrimental and meant the USSR were still paying back loans to America
13. When did Gorbachev come into power?
1987
1984
1985
1988
14. What happened in 1961?
The USSR tested out the range of their missiles as a form of aggression
The USSR put the first man into space- Yuri Gagarin
America put the first monkey into space
15. What happened in 1969?
The US set up the International Space Station- alongside Russia and several other countries
The US got the first man on the moon- Neil Armstrong
The USSR set up a satellite capable of detecting an air attack by the US
16. What were the consequences of that in Germany?
The Berlin Wall was torn down in November 1989
East Germany became its own sovereign nation with the whole of Berlin
West Germany belonged to the Allies until 1991 and East Germany integrated to be parts of surrounding countries
East and West Germany unified
17. What was the consequence of this?
Another small trade union grew and replaced Solidarity as the voice of the people
Martial Law was introduced to regain the Soviet's control in Poland, Solidarity was banned and Walesa was imprisoned but was given the Nobel Peace Prize in 1983
The Soviets invaded and took all Solidarity leaders to a Soviet prison
18. Why was Gorbachev different to other Soviet leaders?
He wasn't a communist but posed as one for years in order to reach the top and change the USSR
He publicly denounced Stalinism and wanted to improve the state of Eastern Europe and Russia
He had a large birthmark on his head
19. How big was Solidarity in January 1981?
7 million - 1/4 of all Polish workers
9.4 million - 1/3 of all Polish workers
10 million - 1/2 of all Polish workers
20. What was the Arms Race?
The race between the USA and the USSR to achieve the most advanced technology and weapons
The competition between the USA and the rest of the world regarding the quantity of ballistic missiles it has
The race between the USSR and the west to develop the most deadly atomic bomb
