Czechoslovakia 1968-69

• When did the Soviet Union establish communism in Czechoslovakia?

  In 1948
• Who supported the communist coup in Czechoslovakia?

  Stalin
• Who was the leader of Czechoslovakia after the establishment of communism?

  Klement Gottwald
• What was the economic strategy set by the communist government for satellite states?

  Five Year Plans
• What was a common issue with the Five Year Plans in Czechoslovakia?

  The targets were often unattainable
• How did the Soviet Union treat workers in Czechoslovakia?

  Poorly, leading to low standards of living
• What was the role of the secret police in Czechoslovakia?

  To monitor for dissent
• What freedoms were denied to the Czech people under Soviet control?

  Freedom of speech and protest
• What significant events occurred in Czechoslovakia during the 1940s and 1950s?

  Stalin ordered purges among military leaders, politicians, and religious groups
• What did the increasing number of student protests in 1966 indicate?

  The unpopularity of the government
• What was the Prague Spring?

  A period of reform in Czechoslovakia starting in April 1968
• What did the Czech government release starting in April 1968?

  A series of reforms to improve the lives of the Czech public
• What does the term 'spring' refer to in the context of the Prague Spring?

  A period of mass protest and political reform
• Who was elected as First Secretary of the Czech Communist Party in 1968?

  Alexander Dubcek
• What was Dubcek's responsibility as First Secretary?

  Leading the Czech government
• What did Dubcek need to achieve while remaining loyal to the Soviet Union?

  Improve the Czech government's efficiency and popularity
• What was Dubcek's vision for communism?

  Implementing communism in a way that did not make people's lives miserable
• What phrase did Dubcek popularize during the Prague Spring?

  'Socialism with a human face'
• What did Dubcek want the Czech public to enjoy in a communist state?

  The ability to express their opinion and raise concerns without punishment
• How did the Czech public react to Dubcek's reforms?

  Positively
• How did the Soviet Union respond to Dubcek's reforms?

  They did not like the reforms
• Who ousted Khrushchev as the leader of the Soviet Union?

  Brezhnev
• What was Brezhnev's attitude towards reform compared to Khrushchev?

  Brezhnev was not as open to reform
• Why was Brezhnev concerned about Dubcek's commitment to the Warsaw Pact?

  He feared it would encourage other satellite states to reform
• What was the state of Soviet control over Eastern Europe in the 1960s compared to the 1940s?

  It was not as strong
• What actions did Dubcek take that Brezhnev viewed as aggressive?

  Inviting Ceausescu and Tito for talks
• What was Brezhnev's reaction to Dubcek's refusal to reverse the Prague Spring reforms?

  It forced a reaction from Brezhnev
• Why did Brezhnev feel he needed to take urgent action against Dubcek?

  He believed Dubcek's actions weakened Soviet dominance over Eastern Europe
• What was Brezhnev's leadership style compared to Khrushchev's?

  Brezhnev had an authoritarian style of rule
• What was the impact of the Soviet reaction to the Prague Spring on Cold War relations?

  It shocked the West and escalated tensions
• How did the USA respond to the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia?

  They strongly protested
• What did the UN attempt to do in response to the Soviet invasion?

  Pass a formal verdict against the Soviet Union's actions
• What was the outcome of the UN's attempt to pass a motion against the Soviet Union?

  The Soviet Union blocked the motion
• What did the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia prove about the USA's willingness to act?

  That the USA would not take military action against the Soviet Union
• What was the USA engaged in at the time of the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia?

  A costly war in Vietnam
• What was the process of forming closer relations with the Soviet Union after the Cuban Missile Crisis called?

  Détente
• How did the USA's unwillingness to protect the Czech people affect its reputation?

  It impacted their reputation across the West
• What was expected in an 8-mark exam question about the Soviet reaction to the Prague Spring?

  To write two paragraphs analyzing the importance of the event
• What should the first section of a narrative account about the Soviet reaction to the Prague Spring include?

  The reforms Dubcek attempted to introduce
• What linkage terms should be used in a narrative account of the Soviet reaction?

  Terms like 'as a consequence', 'this led to', or 'because'