The Prague Spring
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain the causes and events of the Prague Spring.
Key learning points
- There were many problems for people living under communist rule in Czechoslovakia.
- In the late 1960s, protests began to spread in Czechoslovakia.
- Alexander Dubček became leader of Czechoslovakia at the start of 1968.
- Dubček introduced liberalising reforms known as the Prague Spring.
- Dubček considered reform necessary to preserve communist rule.
Keywords
Satellite state - a country controlled by or depending on a more powerful country
Oppression - unfair treatment that limits people's freedom
Consumer goods - items purchased by individuals for their personal use and enjoyment
Socialism - a word sometimes used as an alternative to communism
Liberalised - to make laws and systems less strict
Common misconception
Dubček's reforms demonstrate that he was not a communist.
Dubček did want to liberalise politics and the economy in Czechoslovakia but he was still a communist. He considered these reforms necessary to ensure that a communist government could survive without being overthrown.
Teacher tip
Ask students to predict how the USSR was likely to react to the Prague Spring and to justify these predictions. This could be as simple a choice as support or oppose. Students may be encouraged to think about Brezhnev's attitude to Dubček and earlier events like the Hungarian Uprising.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Write the missing word. A country controlled by or depending on a more powerful country is known as a state.
Q2.Which of the following were Soviet-influenced communist countries at the start of the 1960s?
Q3.Which type of countries were members of the Warsaw Pact?
Q4.How did the USSR react to Imre Nagy's reforms in Hungary in 1956?
Q5.Write the missing word. The Truman Doctrine promised American support for countries resisting aggression.
Q6.Starting with the earliest, sort the following events into chronological order.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is oppression?
Q2.Write the missing word. Czechoslovakia's economy prioritised heavy industry over the production of goods.
Q3.Match each leader with the correct description of them.
leader of the USSR
leader of Czechoslovakia after 1968
leader of Czechoslovakia before 1968
Q4.What name is given to the period in early 1968 when Dubček introduced reforms in Czechoslovakia?
Q5.Which statement is most accurate?
Q6.Starting with the earliest, sort the following events into chronological order.
To help you plan your 11 history lesson on: The Prague Spring, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 history lesson on: The Prague Spring, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 history lessons from the Wider Depth Study - Conflict and tension between East and West, 1945–1972 unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.