Jordan Garcia L.
Sept-2008
Early World History/Period 1
Eber, Marissa
The Velvet Revolution
More than 18 years ago when the Czech Republic and Slovakia where still united as Czechoslovakia, the Czechs stood up against the government in a peaceful manner. This movement is known as the Velvet Revolution or the November Events (as preferred for the Czechs). The Velvet Revolution was the result from the anticommunist ideas of the cold war and was for the country’s own benefit. This event lasted six weeks from November 16 to December 29, 2008. The revolution was against the communist regiment that suppressed Czechoslovakia and other near countries such as Poland, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria. The events that developed during the revolution demonstrate that the government can be defied with minimum violence.
The geographical position of Czechoslovakia was crucial for its revolution. By November 16 many neighbor countries were already independent from the soviet socialist republic union. Also, in November nine the Berlin Wall fell which was a sign that the communist reign was ending. There was a great immigration from East Germany to West Germany and Prague. The Czechs became aware of these events through media which were outer pressure factors to end communism.
The actual movement began in November 17 with a demonstration performed by high school and college students in Prague. It was supposed to be a commemoration for Jan Opletal, a student who protested fifty years ago against the Nazi rule in Czechoslovakia, but it ended as a petition to end communism. The demonstration encouraged students who were afraid of the government to protest, and it managed to reunite about 15, 000. As they walked through the streets they encountered a line with members of the local police that blocked their way. The students offered them flowers, but didn’t show opposition to the line which made the police respond violently. They attacked them with night...