Modern Russia and Eastern Europe

1
Modern Russia and Eastern Europe
2
Boris Yeltsin

• Wanted to reform the economy using shock
  therapy but inflation rose drastically

3
Chechnya

• 1991 declared independence but Yeltsin refused

4
Poland

• 1989 Poles voted out Communists and brought in
  national hero and Solidarity candidate Lech
  Walesa
• The country attempted to revive itself
  economically but like Russia struggled with
  inflation

5
Hungary

• Inspired by Poland called for change
• Encouraged private enterprises to stimulate
  economy
• 1989 Communists dissolved government

6
Germany Reunifies

• East Germans were not permitted to leave for the
  West
• By 1989 huge demonstrations broke out in East
  Germany
• President Reagan demanded Gorbachev to tear down
  the wall
• Berlin Wall was opened and people poured through
• Communism fell in East Germany and allowed for
  reunification- 1990

7
Germany Post Reunification

• East Germany had to be rebuilt including its
  economy
• Germany has one of the largest economies in the
  world and has been working to fight inflation and
  high unemployment

8
Czechoslovakia

• 1989 demonstrators demanded democracy
• Government attacked demonstrators
• 500,000 protesters gathered
• Within hours the government resigned
• Due to the economy they formed two countries
• Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993

9
Romania

• Demonstrations to end Communism met with violence
• 1990 first free general elections were held
• Economy has suffered due to corruption and crime
• Moved away from a state controlled economy

10
Yugoslavia

• Many Ethnic differences in country
• Republics in Yugoslavia started to declare
  independence Slobodan Milosevic invaded and
  started a bloody war
• Ethnic Cleansing to rid Bosnia of its Muslim
  population
• Peace was brokered between the warring factions
  in 1996

11
Whats in common?

• Push toward a market economy
• Rise of Democracy across Europe