The Prague Spring in 1958 Flashcards
Why were citizens in Czechoslovakia annoyed?
I.No freedoms
II.Poor living conditions
III.Declining economy
What kind of Communism did Alexander Dubcek want for Czechoslovakia?
More ‘relaxed’, more freedoms for the people, more contact with the West
What reforms were part of Dubcek’s ‘Prague Spring’?
I.Free trials
II.More political freedom
III.Free travel
IV.Free press
Why was the Soviet leader, Brezhnev, worried about these reforms?
They might bring down communism across Eastern Europe
What eventually happened on 20th August, 1968?
The USSR and Warsaw pact invaded
What were the Czech army ordered to do while the Warsaw Pact troops invaded?
Not resist
What was the Brezhnev Doctrine that was developed because of events in Czechoslovakia?
To use force to stop any country that was acting in a way that might cause communism to fall
How did other countries in the Warsaw Pact (Romania and Yugoslavia) respond to events in Prague?
Were very nervous and didn’t want to support them
How did Poland and East Germany respond?
They asked the USSR for support – cracked down on opposition
Why was the USA in a difficult position to take meaningful action against the USSR (two reasons)?
Their economy was in bad condition
It was in the USSR sphere of influence
