Leading up to Polish Revolution

• Increasing food prices on meat, and bread
• Communism
• Low wages and labor shortages
• Want for a democracy

The Beggining...

• August 1980, massive strikes enabled Polish workers to gain an independent union they called "Solidarity."
• Gained the right to strike.
• Ended the Soviet Block-countries, and Soviet union itself

Drive for democracy

•  10 years of unmanaged growth policies, increasing national debt, and need for resources in 1979 drove Poland to a point of Revolution
• PZPR (Polish United Workers Party) headed under Edward Gierek try to sway support
• Widespread distrust, and corruption with Gierek's efforts gave birth to "anticommunism"
• Polish citizens put their backs to government: starting building up a semilegal civil society free from censorship
• Government pushes for new laws, citizens rebelled

Climax of Revolution

• 1970-71 prices on the countries food and supplies rises 30% or more
• 1980 government places new food price increases
• December 13th 1981, communist authorities impose martial law on Solidarity 
• July 1st 1980, huge strikes broke out at Ursus from meat price increases up to 60%
• Government grants wage increases average of 10% or 20% to quell spirit of Solidarity
• Gdansk shipyard strike- workers demand recognition of Solidarity
• Lech Walesa emerges as a strong politcal leader and head of Solidarity speakers
• Fall of 1982 moderates in Solidarity organize peace talks with PZPR

Fall of Communism...

• Reforms turn their attention to PZPR attempting to diminish it
• Augush 31st 1980, PZPR recognizes the basic rights of workers to create free trade unions
• Solidarity changes into a huge organization with major politcal and social strength 
• Fall of 1981 Solidarity's first national congress adopted a form of calling for Poland's economic and social structures
• Radicals in Solidarity challenge communism authority  
• 1989 after the Round Table talks, Solidarity flourishes with its power as a trade union, and a political movement known as Europe's first noncommunist government
• The "Citizen's Committee was born; representing Solidarity's ideas

The Aftermath...

• First free elections held in 1990
• Poland's ruling class was the noncommunist Solidarity 
• Lech Walesa elected President of Poland in 1990
• Aleksander Kwasniewski elected president 1995
• Kwasniewski pushed for strong democracy
• Under Kwasniewski's reign as president, Poland joined NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) in 1999