Prague Spring

Who was Soviet leader in 1968?

• Lenin, Vladimir

• Khrushchev, Nikita

• Brezhnev, Lenoid

• Stalin, Josef

What was the capital of Czechoslovakia and where the uprising originated?

• Bucharest

• Warsaw

• Prague

• Budapest

He was the ‘hardline’ Communist leader of Czechoslovakia from 1957 to 1968.

• Lenoid Brezhnev

• Antonin Novotny

• Alexander Dubcek

• Josef Stalin

Answer explanation

Novotný did not bring in reforms, despite Khrushchev's de-Stalinisation policy

By the 1960s, the Czech economy was struggling and the standard of living was dropping.

When the leader of the USSR, Brezhnev, visited Czechoslovakia in December 1967, he withdrew his support for Novotný because he was so unpopular.

Who replaced Antonin Novotny as leader of Czechoslovakia in Jan 1968?

• Eric Honnicker

• Imre Nagy

• Alexander Dubcek

• Janos Kadar

Reasons why there was unrest in Czechoslovakia in 1968?

• High unemployment + weak economy

• Government repression

• Censorship + No freedom of speech

Answer explanation

By the 1960s there was growing discontent mainly due to inflation , food shortages and falling living standards, despite the fact that Czechoslovakia had the strongest industry in the Eastern bloc.

The workers remained in poor housing and had the most basic of lifestyles.

Why did Brezhnev replace Novotny with Dubcek?

• In the hope that this would reduce discontent.

• He was close friends with Dubcek

• The USA put pressure on him to make the switch

• Novotny asked him to

What changes did Dubcek introduce?

• Legalised political opposition parties

• Relaxation of government censorship

• Greater freedom of speech

• Curtailing powers of the secret police

• Easing of travel restrictions

In what ways did Dubcek remain ‘loyal’ to the Eastern bloc?

• He would join NATO

• He would not follow an independent foreign policy

• The Czechs would remain in the Warsaw Pact

• He would maintain the Czech alliance with the USSR

Dubcek said he wanted to introduce……

• Full on democracy

• Social order

• Communism with a human face

• Perestroika and glasnost

Answer explanation

That meant keeping the socialist model of government but guaranteeing a better delivery of goods, services and freedoms to the Czech people.

Why were other communist Eastern bloc leaders concerned about Dubcek’s reforms?

• They represented a return to Stalinism

• They were a threat to communism

• They would lead to Western military intervention in Eastern bloc affairs

• They would be under pressure to do the same in their country

Tags

Prague Spring