The Prague Spring (1968)
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain the consequences of the Prague Spring.
Key learning points
- After Czechoslovakia became a Soviet satellite state, people faced economic challenges and limits on their freedom.
- From 1957, under the leadership of Antonin Novotny, standards of living declined and calls for reform increased.
- Alexander Dubcek became leader in January 1968 and introduced a series of reforms known as the Prague Spring.
- Brezhnev was concerned that the Prague Spring would weaken communism and Czechoslovakia would leave the Warsaw Pact.
- In August 1968, a Soviet-led invasion removed Dubcek from power and ended the Prague Spring.
Keywords
Consumer goods - items purchased by individuals for their personal use and enjoyment
Secret police - government agencies that operate in secrecy to enforce political control; they often use covert methods to monitor, intimidate and eliminate perceived threats
Hard-line - strict and uncompromising
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
Common misconception
Alexander Dubcek was not a committed communist.
Dubcek was a committed communist. The purpose of the Prague Spring reforms was to preserve communist rule in Czechoslovakia and win support for communism by removing its worst features (e.g., censorship, secret police etc.)
Teacher tip
Ask students to draw a graph illustrating the key events from Dubcek becoming Czech leader to the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia showing how each of the key events increased or decreased tension between the Soviet Union and Czechoslovakia.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which keyword describes an act or means of sealing off a place to prevent goods or people from entering or leaving?
Q2.Which keyword describes the practice of pursuing a dangerous policy to the threshold of confrontation?
Q3.Why did the USSR build missile bases in Cuba?
Q4.Complete the sentence with the correct order of names: The success of the US blockade strengthened __________ reputation and weakened __________ position as leader.
Q5.For how many days did ExComm meet for?
Q6.Match the group in ExComm to their advice to Kennedy during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Invade Cuba, bomb the missile bases or sink the Soviet ships.
Be cautious and avoid any action that could lead to war.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Write the missing word. Czechoslovakia's economy prioritised heavy industry over the production of goods.
Q2.Match each leader with the correct description of them.
leader of the USSR
leader of Czechoslovakia after 1968
leader of Czechoslovakia before 1968
Q3.What name is given to the period in early 1968 when Dubcek introduced reforms in Czechoslovakia?
Q4.Which keyword describes government agencies that operate in secrecy to enforce political control who often use covert methods to monitor, intimidate and eliminate perceived threats?
Q5.Starting with the earliest, sort the following events into chronological order.
Q6.How long did Dubcek think political change, that would eventually create a democratic, multi-party state, would take in Czechoslovakia?
To help you plan your 11 history lesson on: The Prague Spring (1968), 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 (1968), 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 Period study: Superpower relations and the Cold War, 1941–91 unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.