Prague Spring

Question 1

What is it?

Answer 1

A period of increased political freedom where people began to criticise communism in Czechoslovakia.

Question 2

Causes

Answer 2

USSR had affected Czechoslovakia in a negative way after World War Two
• Czechoslovakia’s economy and living standards had declined
• Any opposition to Communism was crushed
• Communist rule had become very unpopular

Question 3

Causes (2)

Answer 3

Czechoslovakia’s new ruler Alexander Dubcek wanted to make reforms.
He was a communist and supporter of the Warsaw Pact but wanted to make communism better and easier to live under.
He wanted to give more power to Czechoslovakia than USSR.

Question 4

Brezhnev’s response

Answer 4

Brezhnev could not allow the reforms as any weakness in control over the satellite states of Eastern Europe could mean the breaking up of the Warsaw pact.
• Czechoslovakia cannot be allowed to have more control as then Poland, Hungary, Romania etc…
• Brezhnev failed to convince Dubcek to stop through diplomacy
• In August 1968 the USSR sent tanks to Prague and Dubcek was arrested.
• Czechoslovakia returned to being under strict Soviet control

Question 5

Consequences

Answer 5

The Brezhnev doctrine was established - USSR claimed the right to invade any Eastern European country that was threatening the security of the whole of Eastern Europe.
• The USA condemned the invasion but did nothing to stop it because the USA feared a war against USSR
• Western European communist parties horrified about a communist country invading another communist country. Declared themselves independent from the Soviet Communist Party.