Polish Independence

By: Scott Richard and JD Coffey

Origins and Development

• Polish Economic Depression• Food shortages were causing riots • Unions for workers banned together. They made

Walesa there spokesperson and a chairman. The new name for the group of unions was Solidarity.

• The Polish Government Outlawed Solidarity in fear that the Soviet Union might intervene and send troops into Poland.

Key Leaders and Role

• Lech Walesa– Solidarity Movement Leader

• General Wojciech Jaruzelski– Government Leader

• Tadeusz Mazowiecki– Advisor to the Solidarity Movement– First Noncommunist Premier– Split with Lech over a market economy dispute

Methods

• Unions had been in place in order to protect the workers wages and there ability to live. These unions, in order to become stronger, joined together to become the Solidarity Party. This party was recognized by the government of Poland. However, after pressure from the Soviet Union the Polish government was forced to declare the part illegal. Anyone involved was arrested.

• Formation of Unions– Solidarity Movement

Connections to Cold War• The Soviet Union felt that the Solidarity Movement was becoming

to extreme and powerful. In order to stop the spread of the threat they sent troops in to occupy Poland. This was an act of the Cold War because the Soviet Union was fighting the influence of the west on the labor unions in Poland.

• Soviet Occupation of Poland– Employment of Brinkmanship– Brinkmanship- Pushing dangerous events to the verge of

disaster.– The action of Soviet troops being sent into Poland could be

considered an act of war against Poland and the democratic ideas forming there.

Post Conflict Political Organization•Republic

•Led by Lech Walesa until 1995

•Free Market Economy

•Separation of Powers Similar to The United States

Difficulties Faced

•Economic Troubles

•A five-day work week was granted on Jan 31 1981 after decades of six-day work weeks in Poland. output fell by nearly 10% in 1981.

•The state was paying farmers 10 zlotys for a liter of milk that sold it stores for 4 zlotys. Farmers bought bread and fed it to their livestock because it was cheaper than the wheat it was made from.

•Military

•The movement was successful at first but was then shut down by General Jaruzelski (soviet backed military coup)

SPERMI•Social

•Freedoms

•Speech, protest, etc.

•Greater Communication

•Other citizens

•Government

•Political

•People are more involved

•Greater ability to adapt

•Economic

•Free market

•Ability to grow and prosper

SPERMI Continued•Religious

•Ability to worship (or not) as they chose

•Catholic Church

•Military

•Reductions

•Redirect Spending

•Ideological

•Freedoms

•Advancement

•Creativity

Long Term Impact

•Proven “Toughness”

•Greater Sense of Unity in Poland

•Release of Economic Hardships

Sources• http://www.president.pl/en/about-poland/polish-political-system/ • http://www.age-of-the-sage.org/historical/biography/

lech_walesa_solidarity.html • http://www.historyguide.org/europe/walesa.html• http://www.britannica.com/nobelprize/article-9075929ryguide.org/

europe/walesa.html