Year 11 - History
The Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia (1968)
Period study: Superpower relations and the Cold War, 1941–91
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit pupils undergo a period study which tells a story about a period that shaped the world we live in today: the Cold War. They look at the key events, developments, people and stories that defined the relationship between the USA and the USSR in this period.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to explain the consequences of the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia.
Key Notes
- Brezhnev believed that Alexander Dubcek's Prague Spring reforms in Czechoslovakia were a threat to the Warsaw Pact.
- In August 1968, the USSR invaded Czechoslovakia and replaced Dubcek with Gustav Husak who reversed Dubcek's reforms.
- The Brezhnev Doctrine was used to justify the invasion, claiming it was necessary to protect the Warsaw Pact.
- The USA condemned the Soviet invasion but they did not intervene due to presidential elections and the war in Vietnam.
- The Soviet invasion damaged the USSR's relationship with other communist countries including China.
Vocabulary To Learn
- reform: a change introduced to improve something, often a system or law
- Warsaw Pact: a military alliance of Eastern European countries led by the Soviet Union during the Cold War; it was formed in 1955 in response to NATO
- doctrine: a set of beliefs or principles
- satellite state: a country that is dominated by another country
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- All communist countries were members of the Warsaw Pact.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Summarise this historical learning in two key ideas.
Brezhnev believed that Alexander Dubcek's Prague Spring reforms in Czechoslovakia were a threat to the Warsaw Pact. In August 1968, the USSR invaded Czechoslovakia and replaced Dubcek with Gustav Husak who reversed Dubcek's reforms.
2. Define this history term and explain why it matters in this topic. 'reform'
a change introduced to improve something, often a system or law.
3. Correct this common history misconception using evidence language.
Mistake: All communist countries were members of the Warsaw Pact. Correction: The Warsaw Pact was primarily a European military alliance so non-European communist countries like China and Cuba were not members. Some European countries like Yugoslavia were never members while others joined and then left like Albania in 1968.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Berlin, 1958-61: increased tensions Study Guide
- Berlin, 1961-63: the Berlin Wall Study Guide
- Causes of tension between the USA and USSR by 1945 Study Guide
- Cold War crises, 1958-70 Study Guide
- Détente and SALT I Study Guide
- Gorbachev's 'new thinking' Study Guide
- Reagan and the 'Second Cold War' Study Guide
- Soviet influence over Eastern Europe by 1948 Study Guide
- The Berlin Crisis (1948) Study Guide
- The Cold War arms race Study Guide
- The collapse of the Soviet Union Study Guide
- The Cuban Missile Crisis (1962) Study Guide
- The Cuban Revolution and the Bay of Pigs Invasion Study Guide
- The end of the Cold War, 1970-91 Study Guide
- The fall of the Berlin Wall Study Guide
- The Helsinki Accords and SALT II Study Guide
- The Hungarian Uprising (1956) Study Guide
- The impact of the atomic bomb on US-Soviet relations Study Guide
- The origins of the Cold War (1941-58) Study Guide
- The Prague Spring (1968) Study Guide
- The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan Study Guide
- The Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan Study Guide
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