Prague Spring

Question 1

When was the Prague spring?

Answer 1

1968

Question 2

Who introduced the changes?

Answer 2

Dubcek

Question 3

Why did the Czechs want change?

Answer 3

• Novotny was a tyrannical leader.

- They were living in poverty.

Question 4

What did Dubcek want?

Answer 4

• Greater political freedom, including freedom of speech and no press censorship.
• Democratic elections.
• He still wanted communism, but a better communism.
• “Socialism with a human face”

Question 5

How did the soviets respond?

Answer 5

• Kremlin demand that reforms end.
• Czechoslovakia is warned about threatening communism.
• Moscow and 5 other Warsaw Pact countries invade.
• Protests start, Dubcek is arrested and soviet forces open fire.
• Soviet army takes control of Czechoslovakia a day after the invasion starts.

Question 6

Responses after soviets take control.

Answer 6

• USA doesn’t get involved
• Czechs condemn the soviets.
• Dubcek is released and stops reforms.
• Fatalities on both sides after protests.
• Soviet army remains in Czechoslovakia until end on the Cold War

Question 7

Key points of the Brezhnev doctrine (1968)

Answer 7

• Soviets had the right to invade
• Any country who threatened the Warsaw Pact should be invaded
• Warns all other satellite states.
• Dubceks actions were a threat to communism.
• The invasion was justified.

Question 8

Consequences of the Czechoslovakia crisis for superpower relations:

Answer 8

• Temporarily worsened relations, USA protested against the soviets actions but stayed passive.
• They agreed not to get involved in each other’s battles e.g. Vietnam.

Question 9

Consequences of Czechoslovakia crisis on the world.

Answer 9

• Czech becomes a strict communist country again.
• Western communist parties were outraged and left the soviets.
• China were outraged, and joined alliances with non soviet countries (Yugoslavia and Romania)
• Soviets lost influence over communism.