POLAND FALL OF COMMUNISM Alexey Arbuzov, Frederique Kramer, and Riccardo Stanzani

 Communist leader: Wojciech Jaruzelski  Elected in 1981  Dictator: imposed martial law in Poland between December 1981 to July 1983  Made the decision to crack down on the “Solidarity problem”, fearing Soviet intervention, although in hindsight documents show the USSR had no plans to intervene PROBLEMS IN POLAND BEFORE 1989

CONSUMER PROBLEMS 1980’S Empty Shops Long lines Rationing

 The USSR’s threatening pressure was a major cause of martial law in 1981  Gorbachev’s reforms stimulated resentment in the Polish government: Glasnost – made the Polish want lesser restrictions on media Perestroika – created resentment, disbelief and doubt in economic reforms Stoppage of intervention helped dissenters in gathering support with far less fear of reprisal RUSSIAN INFLUENCE

STRIKES  Dissatisfaction of Polish workers coalesced into strikes  Great strikes and protests in 1956, 1970, and the largest in 1980  1980: Gdansk strike, resulted in Gdansk agreement  Striking workers unite, Walesa becomes leader, forming the union of Solidarity

 Founded in Gdansk in August 31 st, 1980  Independent self-governing trade union  Polish government attempted its destruction with enforcement of martial law in 1981  Medium of communication between workers and government (expression of needs)  For the most part an underground organization VOICE OF THE PEOPLE Solidarity

GDANSK AGREEMENT  Poor economic conditions in the long term created dissent across the country  Rise in meat prices sparked revolts that paralyzed Poland  The strikes resulted into government giving into their demands  Brought democratic changes into communism system  Independent unions were allowed to form, allowed more control  The largest, Solidarity, began as one of these unions but slowly transformed into a form of political party

 Martial law crushed opposition, and killed 100 people  Banned pro-democracy organizations, and banned their leaders  90 people killed  Martial law severely effected normal life MARTIAL LAW

 Took place in Warsaw, February 6 – April  Polish government talked with Solidarity in an attempt to defuse growing social unrest ROUND-TABLE AGREEMENT -Pay raises and indexation -Future pluralist elections -The limit of the future president's competence -The limit of competence for the future Sejm and Senate -The access to mass communication media by opposition forces -Legalization of independent trade unions -The introduction of the office of President (thereby annulling the power of the Communist party general secretary), who would be elected to a 6-year term -The formation of a Senate What They Wanted What They Got

 In April 1989 Solidarity was able to participate in parliamentary elections  Solidarity won majority in the Sejm and captured 99 out of the 100 available seats in the Senate  Communist candidates were unable to secure even the minimum number of votes to capture the seats that were reserved for them CREATION OF SENATE

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