The Fall of Communism I.1985 – Mikhail Gorbachev comes to power in the S.U. He inherits a country where: A.Living conditions for the average Soviet did not match those of people in the West. B.For too long the Soviets devoted spending money on the arms race, underfunding other important government programs.

II.Gorbachev introduces two new political policies that encourage political discussion and new communication with the west. A.Peristroika: economic restructuring B.Glasnost: political openness The Fall of Communism

III.People in Soviet satellite countries see this as a relaxing of Soviet grip on their countries. One by one they begin to replace their Soviet backed governments and replace them with democratically elected ones. The Soviet Union’s empire begins to crumble… The Fall of Communism

A.Poland 1.In the 1980’s the labor union “Solidarity” battled with the communist government for better working conditions. 2.Feb – the two sides agree to hold free elections for the Polish Senate. 3.The Communist Party lost badly in the elections. Although still in power, their leaders realized they had no support from the people. 4.Other “puppet” parties supported the Solidarity movement. 5.The Communists lost their first truly free election.

B.Bulgaria 1.November 1989 – Demonstrations cause the removal of the Communist president. C.Czechoslovakia 1.November 1989 – Mass demonstrations begin. The Communist government falls by the end of the year. The Fall of Communism

D.Hungary 1.In the 1980’s, the communist government became more liberal. a)Provided freedom of assembly b)Allowed protests 2.June 17, 1989 – the body of a Hungarian leader executed in 1956 during the Soviet invasion was excavated from it’s unmarked grave and properly buried. 200, 000 people turned out for the ceremony. Among the crowd were communist politicians who wanted to be associated with reform. 3.Demands for reform come from most parties. In March 1990, Hungary has a free election. The Communists lose. The Fall of Communism

E.East Germany 1.November, 1989 – The Berlin Wall comes down. East & West Germany unify in less than a year.

F.Rumania 1.Had been ruled by the cruel dictator Nicolae Ceausescu. 2.December, 1989 – Ceausescu orders the arrest of a Hungarian pastor who was preaching against the government. His parishioners form a human chain to prevent his arrest. 3.The next day the people of the town riot. Troops are unwilling to follow orders to shoot the protestors. The secret police are called in. They shoot approx. 70 people. 4.On December 21, Ceausescu organizes a rally in support of his government. It turns into a protest and Ceausescu flees instead. 5.Street fighting takes place between supporters and reformers. (1000 people die) 6.Army and police turn on Ceausescu, arrest and convict him of genocide. On December 25, 1989 he and his wife are executed.

G.Yugoslavia 1.July 1990 – Republics of Croatia and Serbia move toward civil war. The central government loses power. H.Albania 1.June 1991 – a new coalition government takes power. The Communist party changes their name to the Socialist party and sits with the opposition.

IV.The USSR itself falls apart A.August 29, 1991 – Parliament votes to suspend activities of the communist party B.December 25, 1991 – Gorbachev resigns C.December 26, 1991 – Soviet Union disbands, creating the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)

Vladimir Putin December 31, ? Boris Yeltsin July 10,