Poland+and+Solidarity

__**Cody H & Matt D**__

>>>>>> Soviet Union providing economic aid >>>>>> Western banks offered easy cridit to fund industrial expansion and the import of new technology >>>>>> World demand for Polish exports of coal remained strong. >> *** Oct 1981, General Jaruzelski became the communist leader - he was not going to give solidarity a say >> >> sorce: >> []
 * Poland and Solidarity**
 * 1968-1970 Poland was affected by the events in Czechoslovakia, Gomulka knew that there needed to be economic reform
 * In Warsaw demostrations broke out against Soviet Domination - Gomulka put down the protest with working class support from the police
 * Dec 1970, economy worsened, strikes beginning in Gdansk ship yard spread around Poland. Gomulka was repalace with Edward Gierek, the communist party maintained control.
 * From 1970 -76 Poland managed to maintain some economic stability and control labor unrest by:
 * Workers were supported by the Roman Catholic church - Oct 16 1978 Karol Wojtyla was made Pope.
 * In 1980, because of substantial price increases, a strike at the Lenin shipyards in Gdansk began radical changes in Poland
 * Lech Walesa was the leader of an independent Trade Union, not allowed in Poland
 * Dec 13, 1981 - General Jaruzelski declared Martial Law and arrested Lech Walesa and other leaders.
 * Strikes were banned and troops occupied the country.
 * The world governments got involved, Regan put pressure on Poland through economic sanctions and halted USSR flights to the USA. By 1984 Poland let many of the prisoners go.
 * By 1988-89 Gorbachev did not have the capacity or the will to send in the Red Army to deal with uprisings against communism, like they did before.
 * 5 April 1989, Solidarity leaders signed an accord with the Polish Government that restored solidarity and provided for free elections (First time since WWII). The Iron curtain would soon fall apart.
 * Elections held June 4, 1989 - Solidarity won 99 out of 100 seats in Parliament