People’s Century: People Power

 

Take notes on key themes and events presented in the film.
1970s
Communist power in the early 1970s
Life in the East-Bloc Countries
Central Planning
waiting in lines
influence of western culture
secret police and use of informers
1980s
Poland, Catholicism, and resistance to communism
Gdansk and the Ship workers Strike
Lech Walesa and the Solidarity Union
martial law and the banning of Solidarity
Gorbachev Comes to Power in USSR, 1985

 

Sample Solution

The 1970s: The Iron Curtain and the Cold War

  • Communist Dominance: The early 1970s marked a period of significant Communist power, with the Soviet Union and its Eastern Bloc allies exerting influence over much of Europe.
  • Life in the East Bloc: Life behind the Iron Curtain was characterized by:
    • Central Planning: A top-down economic system that often led to shortages and inefficiencies.
    • Material Scarcity: Long lines for basic goods, such as food and clothing, were common.
    • Limited Freedoms: Citizens were subjected to surveillance by secret police and were discouraged from expressing dissent.
    • Western Influence: Despite restrictions, Western culture, particularly music and fashion, had a significant impact on young people in the East Bloc.

The 1980s: The Rise of Solidarity and the Fall of Communism

  • Polish Resistance:

    • Catholicism as a Force for Change: The Catholic Church played a crucial role in inspiring and supporting the Polish resistance movement.
    • Gdansk Shipyard Strike: Led by Lech Walesa, workers at the Gdansk shipyard staged a strike in 1980, demanding better working conditions and trade union rights.
    • Solidarity: This independent trade union, founded by Walesa, quickly grew into a mass movement challenging Communist rule.
    • Martial Law: The Polish government responded to Solidarity’s growing influence by imposing martial law in 1981, suppressing the movement and arresting its leaders.
  • Gorbachev’s Reforms:

    • Glasnost and Perestroika: Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev introduced policies of openness (glasnost) and restructuring (perestroika) in an attempt to revitalize the Soviet Union.
    • Weakening of Communist Control: These reforms led to increased freedom of speech and expression, as well as economic liberalization.
    • The Fall of the Berlin Wall: The crumbling of the Berlin Wall in 1989 symbolized the end of the Cold War and the decline of Communist power in Eastern Europe.

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