The+Fall+of+Communism

Through both non-violent & violent uprisings, the eastern bloc of Europe defeated the communist rule in the years 1989-1992. This marked the end of the cold war. After WWII, The Red Army had gained most of Eastern Europe from the Nazis. Although Stalin promised Western Leaders at the Conference in Yalta that these newly gained territories would maintain free elections & democratic governments, within 3 years eastern Europe had undergone Stalinization.


 * Reasons for Failure of Eastern European Communism**
 * 1989 Revolutions**
 * Dissolution of the USSR**
 * After Math & Remaining Issues**
 * Sources**


 * REASONS FOR FAILURE OF EASTERN EUROPEAN COMMUNISM**

__Life under the Communist Regimes__ Because the government controlled the supply in the markets (rather than supply & demand like in a free market); there were often shortages of everyday items. The state in these countries had total control over all people & activities, by putting strict limits on the press. __Pressure from the West__ New Leaders of powerful Western Countries included Tatcher of the UK (1979), and Reagan of America (1980). They both denounced the Soviet Union & communism. Reagan called the Soviet Union "An Evil Empire." The Reagan Doctrine hoped to spark a global opposition movement to the Soviet Union. __Solidarity__ Solidarity was an independent trade union in Poland. It formed in 1980, & was the first non-state controlled trade union in a Warsaw Pact country. They promoted social & political change, by means of civil resistance. Despite the state's harsh martial law tactic to bring them down, negotiation eventually took place,

__Poland__ In April of 1989, Solidarity was allowed to compete in the federal election. They swept away the communists in a huge victory, which would be the first time a non-communist government had power in a Warsaw Pact Country. __Hungary__ In 1988, Kadar was replaced as General Secretary of the Communist Party. This opened the door to the "democrat package", allowing trade union pluralism, freedom of association, assembly & the press. It also included a new electoral law & radical constitutional changes. The border wall between Hungary & Austria was dismantled after protests in May of 1989. In October of that year, government passed legislation allowing multi-party elections & the communists were defeated in the first free election in 1990. __Die Wende (East Germany)__ Many East Germans left through Czechoslovakia to Hungary & then escaped communism by going in to Austria & eventually West Germany. This loop hole in the Soviet Border led to the escape of nearly 30,000 East Germans by the end of September, 1989. In response, the government closed the border to Hungary, leaving Czechoslovakia as the only Warsaw pact neighbouring country that East Germans could enter. But in early October, after numerous camps sprung up in Czechoslovakia (in particular outside the Prague Embassy), the Czech-East German border was closed. This completely isolated East Germany. Because Honecker (leader pf East Germany) refused to create reform, the protests began. Honecker was replaced by Krenz in mid-October, who re-opened the Czech border. After the Czech government opened their border to West Germany, creating another whole in the iron curtain, the East German Government could no longer control the flow of East Germans leaving. On Nov. 9, 1989, the Berlin Wall fall, reuniting Germany, and allowing people to travel directly between East and West Germany. __Velvet Revolution (Czechoslovakia)__ After riot police suppressed peaceful demonstrators on Nov. 17, 1989, thousands took to the streets. Until late December, more than 200,000 people protested daily in Prague. Because of endless protests, and the collapse of neighbouring communist states, the communist government stepped out of power, and ended the single party state on November 28. Barbed wire borders between West Germany and Austria (non-communist), were removed. On December 10, President Husak appointed a non-communist government before resigning. In June 1990, Czechoslovakia had its first democratic election since 1946. __Romania__ On Dec. 22, when given orders to shoot protestors, the military ended its loyalty to the president, Ceausescu. He later faced trial and was executed. Free elections were held on May 20, 1990.
 * 1989 REVOLUTIONS**


 * DISSOLUTION OF THE USSR**

The dissolution of the Warsaw Pact on July 1, 1991, opened the door to the end of the Soviet Union. Later in July, George H.W. Bush and Gorbachev officially ended the cold war. Because the Soviet Union was withdrawing troops from former Warsaw pact countries, the political unrest in the soviet union. Self determination inspired the independence of Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania. Open elections resulted in anti-communist governments being elected in Georgia. Because of a failed economy, the Soviet Union no longer had control of its territory, and many ethnic areas broke away, forming new, democratic governments.


 * AFTERMATH AND REMAINING ISSUES**

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"The Cold War and The Iron Curtain." //Frontline Fellowship//. Web. 14 June 2011. []. "Fall of Communism." //Fall of Communism//. U.S. Department of State. Web. 14 June 2011. [].
 * SOURCES:**

"Reunification of Germany." //The Cold War Museum//. Web. 14 June 2011. [].

By Holly Wacker & Laura Jickling