CZECHOSLOVAKIA : THE PRAGUE SPRING

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Prague Spring- causes, effects, events.
Alina A
Mind Map by Alina A, updated more than 1 year ago
Alina A
Created by Alina A over 9 years ago
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Resource summary

CZECHOSLOVAKIA : THE PRAGUE SPRING
  1. EVENTS IN 1968
    1. 1. No riots or demonstrations but (1967) students and writers complained about lack of freedom, and the poor Czechoslovak economy.
      1. 2. Novotny, the Czechoslovak president, asks Brezhnev for help
        1. Brezhnev does not support him
        2. 3. Novotny falls from power
          1. On 5 January 1968, Dubcek takes over as leader of the Communist Party (KSC).
          2. 4. In April 1968, Dubcek announces an Action Plan
            1. A new model of socialism
              1. It removed state controls over industry and allowed freedom of speech
            2. 5. For 4 months (the Prague Spring), there was freedom in Czechoslovakia
              1. But then the revolution began to run out of control
                1. Dubcek announced that he was still committed to democratic communism
              2. 6. Meeting in Bratislava on 3 August 1968 - Brezhnev read a letter from some Czechoslovakian Communists asking for help
                1. He announced the Brezhnev Doctrine - the USSR would not allow any Eastern European country to reject Communism
                  1. When forces that are hostile to socialism try to turn the development of some socialist country towards capitalism, it becomes not only a problem of the country concerned, but a common problem and concern of all socialist countries
                2. 7.. 20 August 1968, 500,000 Warsaw Pact troops invade Czechoslovakia
                  1. Dubcek and three other leaders were arrested and sent to Moscow
                  2. 8. The Czechoslovakians did not fight the Russians - instead, they stood in front of the tanks, and put flowers in the soldiers' hair
                    1. Jan Palach burned himself to death in protest
                    2. 9. Brezhnev put in Gustav Husak, a supporter of Russia, as leader of the KSC
                    3. CAUSES
                      1. 1. Policy of détente encouraged the uprising
                        1. Détente : general easing of the geo-political tensions between the Soviet Union and the United States
                          1. - a foreign policy of U.S. presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford as a "thawing out" or "un-freezing"
                          2. Romania also broke free of Russian control - was improving relations with the West
                          3. 2. Czechs hated Russian control
                            1. Because Russian control of the economy had made Czechoslovakia poor
                              1. Too much censorship and lack of freedom
                            2. EFFECTS
                              1. 1. Czechoslovakia returned to communist control
                                1. Half the leadership of the KSC, along with many directors (especially publishing companies) were sacked
                                  1. + 47 anti-communists were arrested
                                2. 2. Russia stayed in control behind the Iron Curtain
                                  1. Brezhnev Doctrine stated that Iron Curtain countries would not be allowed to abandon communism
                                    1. "even if it meant a third world war"
                                  2. 3. Increase of the Cold War
                                    1. People in the West were horrified and so were many communist countries
                                      1. ie. Romania and Yugoslavia
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