Solidarity movement

E31676

The Solidarity movement was an independent Polish trade union and social movement in the 1980s that became a major force in opposing communist rule and helped trigger democratic change across Eastern Europe.


Statements (57)
Predicate Object
instanceOf political movement
social movement
trade union
aim democratization of Poland
free trade unions
political reform
workers' rights
alsoKnownAs Solidarność
continent Europe
country Poland
foundedBy Gdańsk Shipyard workers
Lech Wałęsa
hasAward Nobel Peace Prize to Lech Wałęsa in 1983
hasPart Inter-Enterprise Strike Committee
hasPoliticalWing Solidarity Electoral Action
headquarters Gdańsk
ideology Catholic social teaching
anti-communism
democracy
inception 1980
influenced Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia
collapse of communist regimes in Eastern Europe
democratic opposition in Eastern Europe
end of the Cold War
keyPerson Anna Walentynowicz
Bronisław Geremek
Jacek Kuroń
Karol Modzelewski
Lech Wałęsa
Tadeusz Mazowiecki
language Polish
legalStatus legal from 1980 to 1981
outlawed from 1981 to 1989
re-legalized in 1989
locationFounded Gdańsk
memberCount about 10 million members at its peak
movementType labor movement
opposition movement
pro-democracy movement
opposedBy Communist government of the Polish People's Republic
Polish United Workers' Party
Soviet Union
opposedSystem one-party communist rule
originatedFrom Gdańsk Shipyard strikes
recognizedAs first independent trade union in the Eastern Bloc
religion Roman Catholicism (dominant among members)
significantEvent Gdańsk Agreement
Round Table Talks
introduction of martial law in Poland
partly free elections in Poland in June 1989
slogan Nie ma wolności bez Solidarności
supportedBy Catholic Church in Poland
Pope John Paul II
timePeriod 1980s
usedMethod civil resistance
negotiations
strikes


Please wait…