How secure was the USSR's control over Eastern Europe, 1948-1989? - Poland

Question 1

Why were there protests against the Soviet control in Poland?

Answer 1

Soviet control of Poland increased in unpopularity

Numerous protests about wages and food prices occurred in an attempt to improve the standard of living

Question 2

When did the Polish economy reach crisis point?

Answer 2

1979

Question 3

What did the Polish government do in July of 1980 in reaction to the economic crisis?

Answer 3

They raised the price of goods, including food, while blocking any pay increases

Question 4

How did people respond to the raising of prices by the government?

Answer 4

People were facing poverty
People went on strike
The strikes spread quickly across the country

Question 5

Who was the Lenin Shipyard strike led by?

Answer 5

Lech Walesa

Question 6

When did the Lenin Shipyard strike take place?

Answer 6

14th of August 1980

Question 7

What did the people of the Lenin Shipyard strike demand?

Answer 7

The strikers had a list of 21 demands

They demanded the right to form a trade union

Question 8

When was Solidarity formed?

Answer 8

Mid-September 1980

Question 9

Why did the communist Polish government agree to meet the demands of Solidarity?

Answer 9

• Fear of a general strike
• Popularity
• Support of the Catholic Church

Question 10

How did the fear of a general strike affect the agreement to the demands of Solidarity?

Answer 10

The government was afraid of a general strike which would devastate the economy of Poland
They thought there might be a general strike as originally the Solidarity membership came mainly from important areas of shipbuilding and heavy industry

Question 11

How did populairty affect the agreement to the demands of Solidarity?

Answer 11

The movement was thought of as trustworthy and represented around 80% of the workers from a wide spectrum of Polish life
Walesa was seen as a folk hero by many
Popularity was helped as the union message was spread through its own newspaper

Question 12

How did the support of the Catholic Church strike affect the agreement to the demands of Solidarity?

Answer 12

-In Poland the government was unable to crush the church because of the strong faith of the people

Question 13

When did General Jaruzelski become Prime Minister of Poland?

Answer 13

February 1981

Question 14

What did Jaruzelski claim to have?

Answer 14

Evidence that the Solidarity leaders were planning a coup

Question 15

What did Jaruzelski introduce to outlaw Solidarity?

Answer 15

Martial law.

Walesa and most of the Solidarity leaders were put in prison

Question 16

What reforms did Gorbachev introduce when he became leader of the Soviet Union in 1985?

Answer 16

The release of political prisoners connected with solidarity

His reforms did now however improve Poland’s economic situation

Question 17

When did strikes begin once more in Poland, and what was the cause of it?

Answer 17

In 1988, because food costs rose by 40%

Question 18

What did Walesa do in response to rising prices of food?

Answer 18

Walesa negotiated with the Polish government to find a solution

Question 19

When was Solidarity once again legalised?

Answer 19

April 1989

Question 20

What happened in the elections following the legalisation of Solidarity?

Answer 20

Candidates were fielded in the upcoming elections
Solidarity won every seat it contested and the first non-communist government of the post-war era was formed with Walesa as President

Question 21

What had Solidarity demonstrated to the rest of the eastern bloc?

Answer 21

That communist control could be resisted