Chapter 23: The Collapse of Communism in the Eastern European Satellite States

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  • Created by: Madisonxo
  • Created on: 07-05-19 10:40
When did Jaruzelski end the suppression of Solidarity?
1989: Believed its popularity had reduced so ended martial law and made Solidarity legal.
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When did the Polish gov agree to talk to leaders w/Solidarity + what did this result in?
1989: 3 major reforms - legalisation of non-governmental trade unions, creation of president, formation of a Senate, in the lower house (Sejm) 35% of seats would be free elected+the rest would be communist.
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In June 1989, what were the election results?
Solidarity won 92/100 Senate seats and 160/161 seats it was allowed to compete for in the Diet (parliament), the satellite socialist groups (traditional allies of Polish comm party) refused to join a coalition unless Solidarity was represented.
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What happened as a result of this election?
Aug 1989: Lech Walesa demanded a gov led by Solidarity + within a fortnight (w/Soviet agreement) a new pro-Solidarity gov was formed. By end of 1989: poland was a multi-party state dominated by Solidarity. Poland = democratic
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What happened in 1988 in Hungary?
Kadar resigned after Politburo member Nemeth negotiated a one billion Deutsch Mark loan from W German banks. He was then named PM.
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What happened in 1989 in Hungary?
Soviets agreed to withdraw all military forces from Hungary by 1991, free elections were agreed to take place based on the belief that the comm party in Hungary would have strongest support, they also agreed to open their border w/Austria
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What did this open border lead to? (Austria-Hungary)
Allowed East Germans to travel to w Germany freely, resulted in an exodus. Showed the rejection of the comm E German regime and therefore the rejection of communism. Led directly to the crisis in E Germany in Nov 1989
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How did Hungary move away from communism?
Peacefully: 1990 elections moved Hungary to a democracy, served as a model for other EE countries.
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What was the East German government like in the late 1980s?
Ran by Honecker: Ignored calls for reform embedded in Perestroika, he remained loyal to the Comm Party and was determined for E Germany to remain a single party state.
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How did events in Hungary effect E Germans?
60,000 E Germans left for Hungary to seek asylum in W German embassies there. Due to mounting international pressure, the E German gov temporarily allowed its citizens to travel to W Germany, but only if they promised to return.
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What happened in October - led to Honecker's forced resignation?
E Germans protested the lack of reforms. The Comm party replaced Honcker with Krenz who announced that E Germany was going to implement reforms + perestroika, glasnost and end of the Brezhnev Doctrine
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How did the E German economy effect the rate of reform/government changes?
Nov 1989: Krenz visited GV for economic aid, but the USSR did not offer any. The Gov proposed relaxing travel laws to improve the economy, but many thought the laws were too relaxed, the gov lost control of the public + the entire Politburo resigned
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How did the E German government react to this?
9th Nov: Proposed another travel law broadcast live on TV, announced the authorisation of foreign travel w/o advanced notice + free transit through border crossings into W Germany. The Berlin wall was void+E Germans headed to the West.
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What did the E German government think that the new travel law would do?
E German gov hoped this reform would increase its credibility and popularity as a People's Republic, but it led to its collapse.
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How did the comm. gov in E Germany effectively come to an end?
1st Dec: Gov changed the constitution, eliminating the clause that gave the Comm Party a dominant role in gov. 2 days later, Krenz+the Central Committee resigned. A coalition gov was put in place. Negotiations for reunification began immediately.
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When did E Germany cease to end?
3rd Oct 1990: Incorporated into the FRG.
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What initially led to opposition in Czechoslovakia?
Havel (Charter 77) began gaining support in 1989 as the population was tired of hearing of Western prosperity while they remained behind the Iron Curtain.
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Charter 77?
Manifesto by Havel to call attention to human rights violations within Hungary, used Helsinki Acts against the repressive gov reminding them that they agreed to respect the civil, social and cultural rights of its people - 243 signatures.
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What happened in 1989 in Wenceslas Square?
Demonstration in memory of the suicide of a Czech student, Havel+13 others were arrested+jailed. This increased the amount of opposition.
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How did the environment lead to protest?
Nearly half the rivers in Slovakia were polluted+over 3/4 of well water was unsuitable for human consumption, large amounts of Czechoslovak forests were dying.
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What happened in August 1989?
Mass protest took place in Prague. Chants like 'long live Poland' and 'long live Dubcek' were widespread.
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How did the gov react to further demonstrations in November?
Police attacked and beat students and later in November Havel created a united opposition group, the Civic Forum. The comm regime made no attempts to arrest the leaders believing they could introduce reforms to avoid losing power.
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At the same time as the reforms, what did the Civic Forum produce?
Programmatic Principles of the Civic Forum (their own manifesto)
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What happened after their manifesto was created?
The constitution was amended and the phrase that gave the Comm Party lead role in gov was removed, the Party suggested a coalition but Civic Forum said no and the Comm leadership resigned.
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After the Comm leadership resigned, what happened?
Elections were called and in Dec Havel was elected as president.
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Czechoslovakia conclusion?
Democratic, multi-party state created in Central Europe. Known as Velvet Revolution. Change = peaceful.
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What was the Brezhnev Doctrine?
USSR's commitment to ensuring each bloc country stayed communist by joint responsibility and any means necessary incl. force.
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When did GV end the Brezhnev Doctrine?
1985 - from when he took office. Believed comm could only survive if people WANTED to accept it rather than be forced to live under it.
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Card 2

Front

When did the Polish gov agree to talk to leaders w/Solidarity + what did this result in?

Back

1989: 3 major reforms - legalisation of non-governmental trade unions, creation of president, formation of a Senate, in the lower house (Sejm) 35% of seats would be free elected+the rest would be communist.

Card 3

Front

In June 1989, what were the election results?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

What happened as a result of this election?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

What happened in 1988 in Hungary?

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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