The Singing Revolution was a peaceful movement from 1987 to 1991 that led to the restoration of independence for Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania from the Soviet Union. This revolution was marked by mass singing demonstrations and protests that united the Baltic peoples in their push for freedom.
In Estonia, the movement began in 1987 with protests against Soviet plans for environmentally harmful phosphorite mining. Soon, patriotic songs became a symbol of resistance, with massive gatherings at places like the Tallinn Song Festival Grounds. In 1989, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania came together for the Baltic Way, a powerful demonstration where two million people formed a human chain stretching over 600 kilometers from Tallinn to Vilnius. This event was a clear, peaceful statement of their shared desire for independence.
All three Baltic nations participated in the Singing Revolution, led by different movements advocating for national sovereignty. In Estonia, groups like the Popular Front and National Independence Party pushed for freedom. Similar movements in Latvia and Lithuania echoed these efforts, mobilizing their populations for the same cause.
By 1991, as the Soviet Union weakened, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania declared their independence. In Estonia, this happened on 20 August, with Soviet attempts to intervene proving unsuccessful. The Singing Revolution, marked by its peaceful demonstrations and cultural unity, played a central role in restoring independence for all three Baltic states.