Transcript Revolution, Reunification, and Rebuilding Chapter 31 ( 1985 to present ) Decline of Communism in eastern Europe 1.

Revolution,
Reunification, and
Rebuilding
Chapter 31
( 1985 to present )
Decline of
Communism in
eastern Europe
1. The Soviet Union to 1985
• Soviets occupy Czechoslovakia in 1968
• Collective dictatorship takes power
• Russian nationalism develops
– Great Russians fearful of minorities who might
want their own republics
• Protests severely punished
– Jews especially targeted
• Educated public becomes more westernized
2. Polish Unrest
• Communists try but fail collectivization of
peasants and takeover of Catholic Church
• Economic crisis hits Poland
• Polish Pope gives homeland hope
• Lech Walesa leads union ( Solidarity) to ask for
industrial, political and economic rights
• Government smashes Solidarity but Poland is
changed for good
3.Gorbachev reforms Soviet Union
• Gorbachev brings two major changes
– Perestroika (economic restructuring)
– Glasnost ( openess)
• First free election since 1917
• Pulls troops out of Afghanistan
• Encourages reforms in Eastern Europe
The Revolutions
of 1989
4.Collapse in Eastern Europe
• Gorbachev’s plans for reform out of control
• Solidarity, again, takes power in Poland and
Gorbachev refuses to send troops to put
down revolt
• Hungary has free elections in 1980
• Czechoslovakia ousts communists
• Romania executes dictator, Ceauseccu
5. Soviet Union disintegrates
• Groups in the Soviet Union challenge Great
Russian control
• New political groups win elections in Russia,
new constitution backed by Gorbachev
• Gorbachev new president of Soviet Union
• Yeltsin, leader of parliament, saves Gorbachev
from a coup but pulls Russia out of Soviet
Union
• No more Soviet Union
6. German Unification
• East Germans push for “third way”
• Idea fails because East Germans flee the
country
• West Germany offers generous economic
package to East Germany
• Gorbachev approves unification
• Germany re-united in 1993
7. End of Cold War
• Paris Accord results in reduction in arms for
22 European countries
• USA and Russia also sign nuclear arms
reduction pact
• Only one superpower left—USA
8. Operation Desert Storm
• Iraq invades Kuwait
• France, Britain and UN support USA invasion
• Saddam Hussein defeated but forces do not
invade Iraq
Building a new
Europe in the
1990s
9. Common Patterns and Problems
• Eastern European countries adopt free market
capitalism of USA
• Digital changes usher in the global economy
– Less difference between small companies and big
• Workers/unions feel threatened
• Protesters say new policies hurt the poor
• Eastern Europe pushes to become members
of European Community
10. Changing Russia
• Companies sold to workers but inflation sets
in
• Old managers and criminals block reforms
• Profits in hands of elite few capitalists
• Wealth concentrates in Moscow
• Life expectancy falls
• Military spending declines but Russia
intervenes in Chechnya and then withdraws
11. Haves and Have Nots
• Poland, Czech Republic and Hungary adapt to
changes and are allowed into NATO and the
EEC
• Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria have problems
12. Yugoslavia Turmoil
•
•
•
•
Old Yugoslavia broken into parts after 1989
Croatia, Slovenia and Serbia
Serbia fights war against Croatia and Slovenia
Serbia breaks apart but tries to regain parts
– Bosnia ( later split between Serbs and Croats)
– Kosovo ( Albanian Muslims)
• United Nations sends troops in to bring peace
• Serbian Leader, Milosevic tried by War Crimes
Tribunal and found guilty of ethnic cleansing
13. European Union
• Europe becomes one market
– more fluid borders
– no need for passports
– easier to get jobs in foreign countries
• Maastricht Treaty provides one currency-Euro
• Many Europeans fear bureaucracy and loss of
benefits
New Challenges
st
in the 21
Century
14. Future problems of Europe
• Population decline
– social welfare system in peril
• Growth in immigration
– competition for jobs
– strain on welfare system
• Human trafficking
15. Europe’s New Role
• As promoter of peace and human rights in the
world
• As protesters of oppression in the nonWestern World
• As leader in the fight against terrorism