Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia

1989

The Velvet Revolution, or Gentle Revolution, was a non violent transition of power from communism to democracy in what was then Czechoslovakia. 1989 brought a domino effect of Revolutions —- it was said by Timothy Garton Ash that “In Poland the transition lasted ten years, in Hungary ten months, in Czechoslovakia ten days.” Those ten days fell between November 17 and 27, 1989. During this time, students and other protesters formed the Civic Forum, which organized strikes and negotiated with officials. On November 28, the Communist Party relinquished it’s power and soon after, Václav Havel, playwright, poet, essayist, and philosopher, was elected the first president of a democratic Czechoslovakia. Today, November 17 is celebrated as a national holiday commemorating the end of communism.