Brooks
World History
Unit 9-The Cold War
Changes in Central and Eastern Europe
Ch. 19.4 Notes
Drawing Conclusions: As you read about the changes in Central and Eastern Europe for the first time, take notes to
answer these questions.
Poland and Hungary Reform
1. Why did the Poles choose a former
Communist leader over Lech Walesa in the
1995 election?
2. What were some of the reforms
introduced in Hungary?
Germany Reunifies
3. Why did huge demonstrations break out
throughout East Germany?
Democracy Spreads in Czechoslovakia
4. Why did Czechoslovakia break up?
Overthrow in Romania
What brought about Ceausescu’s downfall in
Romania?
Critical Thinking: As you read the section a second time, answer these questions. Be sure you use complete sentences
and support your ideas with examples or details from the reading.
Why might Hungary’s
Communist Party have
voted itself out of
existence?
Why did Hungary and
Austria allow East Germans
to cross their borders?
Why would Europeans fear
the reunification of
Germany?
How might West Germans’
views about reunification
have changed over time?
Why is the fall of
communism in
Czechoslovakia sometimes
called the “Velvet
Revolution”?
What, in addition to
economic differences, may
have lead to the division of
Czechoslovakia?
How could Ceausescu have
been shocked by the
sudden collapse of his
power?
What factors might
predispose some postCommunist states to
corruption?
Contrast the democratic
revolutions in
Czechoslovakia and
Romania.
Why might it have been
easier for Slovenia and
Croatia to win
independence than Bosnia
and Herzegovina?
Why did Bosnia’s mixed
population cause a problem
after Bosnia declared
independence?
Why might Muslims make
up a large percentage of
Bosnia and Herzegovina’s
and Kosovo’s populations?
Why was Milosevic
extradited instead of
being tried in Serbia?
Summary Questions
How did Solidarity affect
Communist rule in Poland?
What effect did
reunification have on
Germany’s international
role?
What was the main cause
of the breakup of
Czechoslovakia?
Why did ethnic tension
become such a severe
problem in the Soviet
Union and Yugoslavia?
What are some of the
problems faced in 21st
century Central and
Eastern Europe?
What effect did economic
reform have on Slovakia?