The Ending of the Cold War, 1985-1991: Bush and US response Flashcards
(24 cards)
Causes of the Communist world revolution in 1989?
Communist states were expensive, Gorbachev wanted to end the USSR’s responsibility of them.
Included abdonding the Brezhnev doctrine, which threatened the stability of apparatchiks (hardliners) and meant eastern bloc countries could more easily revolt
By end of 1989, only Albania remianed communist
Whenb did Jazurelski make Solidarity’s constitution legal again?
September 1986, thinking it had lost popularity
At the same time as ‘New Thinking’, including Glasnost
What happened in Feb 1988 in Poland?
Food prices increase, leading to peaceful protests, using Glasnost as justification.
After the Breznhev dontrine’s removal, the Polish governemnt now had to work with the dissenters rather than suppress them
When did the government meet with solidarity and other opposition groups?
What was agreed?
Feb 1989
The Round Table Talks
Major reforms:
* the legalisation of non-governemntal trade unions
* creation of position of president
* the formation of a Senate which is freely elected
* However, in the Sejm, the lower house of parliament, only 35% were to be freely elected, the rest were resreved for the communist party
Working with the dissidents, not suppressing them
How did the June 1989 elections go on Poland?
Solidarity won 92 out of 100 senate seats
When was a new solidarity governemnt formed?
August 1989
By end of 1989, a multi-party state with a coalition government dominated by solidarity.
Successful transisiton to democracy
After Lech Walsea called for it
When did Hungarian leader Janos Kadar resign?
1988, after increasing dissatisfaction due to economic decline
Replaced with Miklos Nemeth
Why was Nemeth made Hungarian PM?
He had negotiated a 1 billion Duestsch Mark loan from West German banks
What did Nemeth’s government do?
Adpoted basic freedoms, civil rights
Agreed to free elections in June 1989
When did the Soviets agree to withdraw their military from Hungary?
April 1989
What did Hungary do in September 1989?
To open up their border with Austria, and thus allow East Germans to travel to West Germany.
This caused a mass migration of people from East Germany, showed a rejection of communism.
Led to the East German Crisis Novemeber 1989.
By September 1989, how many had left East Germany?
60,000
How did revolution go in Romania?
Only country to have a violent communist revolution
1989, short-bloody revolution overthrew communist leader Ceausescu, who was executed.
When did Eric Honeker resign?
Why?
Eric Honecker, East German leader, resigned in Oct 1989 after the politburo forced his resignation amid protests and Hungary opening border with Austria.
Protests were due to his reultcance to follow reforms that were embedded in perestroika and determination to keep East Germany a singleparty state. Plus economic struggles.
WHat did East Germany’s growth go from in 1985 to 1989?
5.2% to 2.8%
Who became the East German leader after Honecker?
Egon Krenz
What did Krenz do?
Immediatley announced the implementation of democratic reforms and endorsed Gorbachev’s New Thinking.
Novemeber 5th, 1989, to appease its people during economic struggles, the government proposed a calming of travel laws, but this instead angered the people as they felt these reforms were not enough. The government lost control of the people and as a result the entire politburo resigned.
How did Krenz respond to the crisis?
Novemeber 9th, 1989, new travel laws authorised travel into West Germany.
Berlin Wall became chaos, as many East Germans headed there.
Decemeber 1st, facing calls for reform, the government changed the consitiutution removng the communist party’s dominant role in government. Krenz resigned.
When were Germany reunified?
October 3rd, 1990
Features of the fall of the Berlin wall?
Sudden - shows people were ready to revolt
Choatic - tensions had been brewing for a while
What ultimately caused the fall of the Berlin wall?
Economic collapse faliure largely
Who were the Civic Forum?
An opposition group of intellectuals, against the Czech governemnt, led by Vaclev Havel. Formed in Novemeber 1989 after police attacked students involved in demonstrations.
What were the ‘Programmatic Principles of the Civic Forum’?
The list of goals of the civic forum
Included goals for state law, free elections, social justice.
In response, the constitution was amended and communists were removed from their lead role in government.
Elections were caled, Havel was elected president in December 1989.
What was the revolution in Czechoslovkia known as?
The Velvet revolution
As the change occured smoothly
