What was the significance of Solidarity in Poland

1
Why did Soviet control of eastern Europe collapse
in 1989?

• What was the significance of Solidarity in
  Poland?

2
Learning Objectives

• Today I will
• Learn about the reasons for the growth of
  Solidarity.
• Gain an understanding of why the Polish
  government gave into the demands of Solidarity.
• Learn the reasons why the Polish government
  started to clamp down on Solidarity in December
  1981.
• Recognise the significance of Solidarity.

3
Background to Solidarity

• Soviet Control in Poland was extremely unpopular.
• Over the years there had been protests against
  Soviet control 1956 and 1970 strikes led to
  changes in leadership.
• However, during the 1970s things were much better
  in Poland and its people were experiencing a
  degree of prosperity.

4
Background to Solidarity

• However, in the late 1970s Poland experienced a
  recession and standards of living fell.
• Polish workers started to form Trade Unions.
• In July 1980 there was an outbreak of strikes
  when the government announced an increased of
  prices.
• A trade union called Solidarity was set by Lech
  Walesa for the shipyard.
• Solidarity became a symbol of opposition to the
  authoritarian communist government.

5
Why did the Polish government agree to
Solidaritys demands?

• August 1980 Solidarity put forward 21 demands to
  government including free trade unions and the
  right to strike.
• The government agreed to all 21 demands.
• By the end of 1980 membership had grown to over 9
  million.

YOUR TASK read p. 413 and make notes about WHY
the government agreed to the demands.
6
It has the support of the Catholic Church the
government dared not confront the Catholic Church
as it was incredibly powerful in Poland.
Strongest union in industries that were essential
the government and economy a strike would
seriously damage the country.
They were not seen as an alternative to the
Communist Party in fact 1/3 of members were
part of the Communist Party.
Why did the Polish Government agreed to the
demands of Solidarity?
The government was playing for time it hoped
that the union would be divided like previous
movements.
It had gained the interest and support of the
west the Soviet Union had to tread carefully.
The Leader, Walesa, was careful with his
negotiations. He did not want the Soviet Union
sending in the tanks.
It was very popular 95 of the Poles said they
trusted it.
7
Why did the Polish government clamp down on
Solidarity in December 1981?

• February 1981 - Prime Minister of Poland
  resigned and the leader of the army took over.
  From the moment her took office people around the
  world expected the Soviet Union to send in tanks.
• March 1981 After negotiations Walesa called off
  a strike. Solidarity members were unhappy.
• May 1981 Rural Solidarity was set up by the
  farmers.
• September 1981 Solidarity produced an open
  letter that said they were fighting for workers
  rights throughout the communist bloc.
• November 1981 Negotiations between the
  government and Walesa break down Poland was on
  the edge of chaos.
• December 1981 the government acted Soviet
  troops were based on the Polish border and
  martial law was introduced. Walesa and 10,000
  Solidarity leaders were imprisoned.

8
Increasing signs that Solidarity was acting as a
political party. The Soviet Union could not have
an eastern European country within the Soviet
bloc dictated by an independent party.
Poland was sinking into chaos food was being
rationed, national income had fallen by 13,
industrial production by 11, foreign trade by
20 and unemployment was rising.
Why did the Polish government clamp down in
December 1981?
The situation had gone too far for the Soviet
Union they had to restore communist control.
Solidarity itself was tumbling into chaos the
union was divided between many different
fractions. Walesa no longer had control.
9
Significance of Solidarity?

• It proved that some opposition could not be
  stamped out by the government or the Soviet
  Union.
• It showed communist countries that if they stood
  together against oppression it was very difficult
  for the authorities to deal with them.
• Proved that some people no longer trusted
  communist governments.
• If military force was not used, then communist
  control seemed very shaky.

10
The aftermath of Solidarity

• From 1984 onwards Solidarity began to rebuild.
• However, in 1986 attention was drawn away from
  Solidarity and Poland.
• There was a new threat to Soviet domination in
  eastern Europe Mikhail Gorbachev, the new
  supreme leader of the Soviet Union.