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On Tuesday, July 1st, strikes amongst predominantly industrial workers broke out across Poland. The “collective consious” (I) of the working class was awakened and the solidarity movement began gaining strength.
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On December 13, the authoritarian government of the People’s Republic of Poland imposed martial law on the disaffected nation (II). Solidarity, among other political movements, was banned, and the government began meddling in people’s daily lives (imposed a curfew, sent soldiers to patrol streets, shut down communication systems, etc.)
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On August 31, street demonstrations organized by the underground Solidarity took place in 66 cities across Poland, resulting in many wounded and seven dead by the hand of the Communist government.
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On July 22, 1983, Martial Law ended. However, many of the political prisoners detained during this time were not released.
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In 1984, more than 35,000 political prisoners were released on the 40th anniversary of the People's Republic. Did not participate in the Summer Olympics.
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Gorbachev assumed power, marking the end of the Polish military dictatorship. With Gorbachev’s ascension came the enactment of Perestroika and Glastnost, two policies whose liberal
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Round-table talks were held between Solidarity, the Communists and the Catholic Church. Partially free elections saw widespread success for Solidarity, which helped form coalition government.
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1990 - Walesa was elected president of Poland. Market reforms, including large-scale privatisation, were launched.
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Soviet troops started to leave Poland. Small constitution in Poland which was a constitution regulating relations between legislative and executive branches of Poland, and the local self-government.
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1993 - Reformed Communists entered coalition government. They pledged to continue market reforms.
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Poland joined NATO's Partnership for Peace programme.
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Aleksander Kwasniewski, a former Communist, narrowly beats Lech Walesa to become president.
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Polish parliament adopts a new constitution. General election is won by the Solidarity grouping AWS. Jerzy Buzek forms a coalition government Towards EU membership
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The EU opens talks on Polish membership.
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Poland joins NATO.
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Aleksander Kwasniewski re-elected as president.
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Poland permits citizens to apply to see the files kept on them by the secret police during the communist era.
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New coalition between the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) and the Peasants' Party forms government with SLD leader Leszek Miller as prime minister.
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Information and Images derived from: "Martial Law." BBC News. BBC. Web. 18 May 2012. http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/special_report/1999/09/99/iron_curtain/timelines/poland_81.stm. "1980: Poland Mass Strikes - Henri Simon." Libcom.org. Web. 18 May 2012. http://libcom.org/history/1980-poland-mass-strikes. "Poland Timeline." BBC News. BBC, 18 Jan. 2012. Web. 06 June 2012. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/1054724.stm.
