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SOLIDARITY IN POLAND

Write these questions in your book (leave half a page for each answer)

Write the relevant information under eachquestion as we work through the powerpoint.

1. Why were there strikes in Poland in 1980?

2. Why did the Soviet Union view Solidarity as a threat?

3. Describe how the Soviet Union tried to stop Solidarity.

4. Explain why Solidarity was so difficult tocontrol.

Background

Background

Most Poles were Catholics: the Catholic Church was well-organised and encouraged Polish nationalism.

Background

Most Poles were Catholics: the Catholic Church was well-organised and encouraged Polish nationalism.

The Soviets disallowed new churches being built and removed crosses from schools and hospitals.

Background

BACKGROUND

Background

Background

Ordinary Polish people had more power than in other communist countries: polish farmers

held on to their own farms. Among Polish factory workers there was a strong tradition of

using strikes against the government

Background

The appointment of John Paul II and his return to Poland in 1979 caused a surge in pride in Poland and their Catholic faith.

Background

July 1980: The Communist Polish government increased the price of meat by 100%.

14 August: more than 17000 workers walked out of the Lenin Shipyards in Gdansk.

Solidarnosc (Solidarity)

The workers at the shipyard formed an illegal trade union called Solidarnosc.

They appointed an unemployed electrician called Lech Walesa as their leader.


The workers at the shipyard formed an illegal trade union called Solidarnosc.

They appointed an unemployed electrician called Lech Walesa as their leader.

The government reluctantly agreed to sign an agreement which said that there

should be free Trades Unions, freedom of information, access to the media and civil

rights.


Solidarity’s popularity was fuelled as the truth about the past few years was being

openly talked about and taught in classrooms and written about in

uncensored magazines and newspapers.

What did Russia do?

How serious was the Soviet threat?

How serious was the Soviet threat?

Russia was in debtto the USA.

Martial Law

12th December 1981: Jaruzelksi declares Martial Law

Lech Walesa, all the leaders of Solidarity and thousands of activists were arrested.

The press was closed down.

Curfews imposed.

Telephones and other links with the outside world were shut down.

American Reaction

Solidarity again…

Solidarity again…

November 1982: overwhelming public

outcry forced Walesa's release, but Solidarity

remained illegal.

Solidarity again…



remained illegal.

1983: Walesa was awarded

the Nobel Peace Prize.

Solidarity again…



remained illegal.

1983: Walesa was awarded

the Nobel Peace Prize.

Walesa continued as leader of the

now-underground Solidarity movement

A little help from Moscow

In March 1989, Gorbachev told

the Eastern European

countries that the Red Army would no longer protect them. It was clear to ordinary Eastern Europeans that Soviet

tanks would not be used to put down demonstrations.

1989: Free elections were held in Poland, Solidarity won almost all the seats.

Which was the more serious threat to Soviet control of Eastern Europe:

events in Czechoslovakia in 1968;

the emergence of Solidarity in Poland?

Explain your answer.

solidarity in poland - · pdf filewrite these questions in your book (leave half a page for...

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