Chapter 35 Section 4
Changes in Central
and Eastern Europe
Changes in the Soviet Union lead to changes
throughout Central and Eastern Europe
Do Now: What caused the downfall of the
Soviet Union?
End of Cold War
• Polish leader Lech
Walesa organized
Solidarity (independent
trade union), elected
1st non-communist
government in Eastern
Europe.
• Fall of the Berlin Wall
(1989), Helmut Kohl
led to the reunification
of Germany in 1990.
Collapse of the Soviet Union (1991)
Collapse of the Soviet Union (1991)
• Attempted coup to overthrow Gorbachev failed in
1991.
• Communist support for coup forced Gorbachev to
recognized independence of several satellites.
• Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine formed
Commonwealth of Independent States in
December 1991.
• Soviet Union now fully broken apart, Gorbachev
resigned at the end of 1991, COLD WAR
FINISHED.
• Yeltsin replaced Gorbachev, said to move too fast.
• Putin took power in 1999.
Poland Reforms
The Rise of Solidarity
• Workers strike to win
recognition of
Solidarity- Polish
labor union
• Lech Walesa- leader
of the unionbecomes national
hero
Solidarity Defeats
Communists
• Communist
government banned
solidarity but can not
solve economic
problems
• In 1988, workers
rebel to force
recognition of
Solidarity
• Elections in 1989 and
1990 make Walesa
president of Poland
Poland Reforms continued
Votes out Walesa
Poland under
Kwasniewski
• Walesa tries to build a
free market economy • Alexander
quickly
Kwasniewski was
elected President in
• Though some
1995
progress made, many
Poles unhappy
• Brings Poland into
NATO
• Walesa votes out
• Tries to build a strong
market economy
Hungarian Communists Disband
• In 1990, voters elect non-Communist
government in Hungary
• Democracy thrives
• Hungary joins NATO in 1999
Germany Reunifies
• East Germany’s leaders resists reforms as in
Poland and Hungary
• Thousands of East Germans try to escape
through Hungary to Austria
• East Germany closes its borders which sparks
massive protests
• In late 1989, new East German leader opens
Berlin Wall
• By end of year, communist government there
collapses
Germany’s Challenges
• Reunification- merging of two Germanysachieved in 1990
• East Germany in poor shape, needs rebuilding
• This costly effort forces German leader Helmut
Kohl to raise taxes
• In 1998, Kohl voted out of office
• New leader-Gerhard Schroeder- has difficulty
reviving economy
• Angela Merkel elected chancellor in 2006;
economy begins to stabilize
Democracy Spreads Czech breaks up
in Czechoslovakia • Economic reforms hurt
Czech Reforms
• In 1989 large crowds
protest in Prague,
demand democracy
• Harsh government cracks
down- more protests
• By 1989, Communists
gone
• Vaclav Havel elected
President
people of eastern partSlovakia
• In 1993, Czechoslovakia
splits into two separate
countries
• Both economies grow
– Slow in Czech Republic
– Faster in Slovakia
• In 2004 Slovakia elected
Ivan Gasparovic president
and join NATO and EU
Overthrow in Romania
A Popular Uprising
• In 1989, Romania leader has army shoot
protesters
• This action prompts major revolt and
collapse of communist rule
• Dictator Nicolae Ceausescu and wife
executed Christmas Day 1989
Romanian Economy
• Corruption and crime prevalent through
1990s
• Economy lags
• Much of economy still owned by
government, not in private hands
• Government begins moving towards
market economy
Breakup of Yugoslavia
• Yugoslavia has 8 ethnic groups in a federation
of 6 republics
• Milosevic, Serbian leader, tries to impose control
over the whole country
• Slovenia and Croatia fight off Serbian army, win
independence
• In 1992, Bosnia-Herzegovina declares
independence; war breaks out
• Serbs forces participate in ethnic cleansinggetting rid of Bosnian Muslims
• In 1995, UN, US establish peace setting up
multiethnic government
Rebellion in Kosovo
• In 1998 fighting starts in Kosovo, Serb
province of ethnic Albanians
• Serbian army invades to put down
Albanian rebel with harsh force
• In 1999, NATO bombs Serbia
– Forces Serbia to withdraw
Region faces challenges
•
•
•
•
Serbia has a new leader
Milosevic faces war crime trials
Montenegro declared independent in 2006
Serbia accepted peacefully