The Ultimate - Toward A New Europe

The cartoon symbolizes the unification of West and East Germany. This can be inferred from the image, which shows a wall being broken down, representing the dismantling of the Berlin Wall and the reunification of the two Germanys.

The fall of the iconic symbol of repression, which refers to the Berlin Wall, marked the end of communism in East Germany. The Berlin Wall was constructed by the East German government to prevent its citizens from fleeing to the West. Its fall in 1989 symbolized the reunification of East and West Germany and the collapse of the communist regime in East Germany.

Romania is the correct answer because it was the only Eastern bloc country that responded to the pro-democracy movement of 1989 with bloody repression. In December 1989, the Romanian government under Nicolae Ceaușescu violently cracked down on protests, leading to the deaths of hundreds of people. This event, known as the Romanian Revolution, ultimately led to the overthrow of Ceaușescu's regime and the establishment of a democratic government in Romania.

Boris Yeltsin was the leader who declared Russia independent from the Soviet Union. This event took place on December 25, 1991, when Yeltsin, as the President of the Russian Federation, signed the Belavezha Accords, which dissolved the Soviet Union and established the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). Yeltsin played a crucial role in the political and economic transformation of Russia during the 1990s.

The Maastricht Treaty of 1991 set up a plan for creating a European monetary union with a single currency. This means that the treaty laid the groundwork for the creation of the Euro, which is the common currency used by many European countries today. The treaty established the criteria and timeline for countries to adopt the Euro and created the institutions necessary for its implementation, such as the European Central Bank. The Maastricht Treaty was a significant step towards economic integration in Europe and the establishment of a common currency.

In 1989, Czechoslovakia experienced a peaceful revolution known as the "Velvet Revolution." This revolution led to the ousting of the communist government from power in just ten days. The people of Czechoslovakia protested against the oppressive regime, demanding democracy and freedom. The revolution was characterized by non-violent demonstrations, strikes, and civil resistance. The communist government eventually gave in to the demands of the people, leading to the end of their rule.

During the Brezhnev era, there were several changes that occurred in the Soviet Union. The urban population grew significantly, with more people moving to cities for employment opportunities. There was also a rapid expansion in the number of highly trained specialists, as the government invested in education and science. Soviet public opinion also grew, with more people expressing their thoughts and opinions. Additionally, leading Soviet scientists and professionals actively participated in international communities of their disciplines, contributing to global knowledge and advancements. However, cultural and artistic freedom was not a characteristic of the Brezhnev era, as the government tightly controlled and censored artistic expression and cultural activities.

The workers at the Lenin Shipyards in Gdansk demanded economic reforms, the right to form free labor unions, freedom of speech, and the release of political prisoners. However, they did not demand the dissolution of the Communist party.

Gorbachev's reforms included economic restructuring, openness (glasnost), free elections, and friendlier relations with the United States. However, increased censorship and political control by the Communist Party was not part of his reforms.

Political violence and armed conflict in the first and last decades of the twentieth century resulted from disputes over the status of Bosnia. This region had a complex history of ethnic and religious tensions, which eventually led to conflict. The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo in 1914, which sparked World War I, was a significant event in the region's history. Additionally, the breakup of Yugoslavia in the 1990s resulted in a brutal war in Bosnia, as different ethnic groups fought for control and independence.