Poland Flashcards
1st KU and analysis points
KU
• The Poles were Roman Catholic and continued to believe in their faith even though Communist ideology meant you had to be Atheist. The Pope at the time, John Paul II was polish which helped them to keep their Religious and National identity.
Analysis
• when Pope John Paul II visited his homeland ,the people of Poland turned out in large numbers to see him. He stated to the people of Poland to “renew the face of this land” encouraging them to rebel and break free of their oppressors.
2nd KU and analysis point
KU
• In 1980 after protests from solidarity lead by lech Walesa, to allow independent trade unions to exist in Poland. The group gained 9million members in only a few months and were demanding more political reforms “21 postulates”.
Analysis
•Solidarity put mass amounts of pressure on the government to reform, which it did allowing the people to legally protest.
Analysis Plus point
• However it could be argued that this was not as successful as it could have been as the central communist government in Moscow gave the leader of Poland two options shut down the protests or face invasion. General Jaruzelski quickly introduced martial law throughout Poland, banned solidarity and arrested its leaders.
