Hello, my name's Mr. Williams and I'm going to be a history teacher today.

This lesson is part of a unit of lessons on Cold War crises between 1958 and 1970.

I'm really looking forward to teaching you today, so let's get started.

By the end of today's lesson, you'll be able to explain the consequences of the Prague Spring.

There are five keywords essential to understanding today's lesson.

They are 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; and 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.

Our lesson today will be split into three parts.

In this first part of the lesson, we'll be learning about why people in Czechoslovakia became increasingly unhappy with communist rule.

Czechoslovakia had been a satellite state of the Soviet Union since 1948 when Stalin had supported a coup that installed the pro-Soviet Communist.

Klement Gottwald is leader.

Life under communist rule was extremely difficult for the Czech people.

There were frequent shortages of consumer goods because the Czech economy was run for the benefit of the Soviet Union, which prioritised heavy industry, particularly the production of steel, machinery, and armaments.

In addition to economic challenges, people in communist Czechoslovakia experienced serious limitations on their personal freedoms. The government ruled by fear using a secret police force known as state security to keep control.

There was no freedom of speech and all forms of media were heavily censored.

Let's take a moment to check your understanding.

As a Soviet satellite state, which three of the following did the Czech economy prioritise for production? A, armaments.

B, consumer goods.

C, machinery.

D, steel.

Pause the video now and press Play when you're ready to see the correct answers.

Okay, very well done If you said A, armaments; C, machinery; and D, steel.

As a Soviet satellite state, the Czech economy prioritised heavy industry and did not prioritise the manufacturer of consumer goods.

Let's do another quick check.

What was the name of the Czechoslovakian secret police? Was it A, State Department; B, State Guardians, or C, State Security? Pause the video now and press Play when you're ready to see the correct answer.

Very well done if you said that the correct answer is C, State Security.

Antonín Novotný became leader of Czechoslovakia in 1957.

He was a hard-line communist who opposed reform and his government was very unpopular.

By the 1960s, the Czechoslovakian economy was in serious decline.

Novotný's new economic plan, which he introduced in 1965 to improve the economy failed because it led to a surplus of consumer goods that few people could afford.

As living standards declined, Novotný became even more unpopular.

People began to demand greater freedom.

And in 1966, thousands of students took to the streets of the Czech capital, Prague, demanding political reforms, freedom of speech, and an end to censorship.

Let's check our understanding.

True or false.

From 1965, Novotný's popularity increased.

Pause the video now and press Play when you're ready to see the correct answer.

Okay, well done if you said that was false, but we need to be able to justify that response.

So on the screen are two justifications.

A says Novotný's popularity decreased because his new economic plan failed and living standards fell, and B says Novotný's popularity decreased even though his new economic plan improved living standards.

Which of those justifications is correct? Pause the video now and press Play when you're ready to see the correct answer.

Okay.

Very well done if you said that the correct justification was A, Novotný's popularity decreased because his new economic plan failed and living standards in Czechoslovakia fell.

We're now ready for the first practise task of today's lesson, and it's split into two parts.

In this first part, I want you to briefly explain some of the challenges people in Czechoslovakia faced under communist rule.

You should write one paragraph and you should aim to use the following words in your answer: Consumer goods, heavy industry, secret police and freedom of speech.

Pause the video now.

Have a go at this question and press Play when you're ready to see a model answer.

Okay, very well done for all of your hard work on that question.

You are asked to briefly explain some of the challenges people in Czechoslovakia faced under communist rule.

And your answer may include: Under communist rule, people in Czechoslovakia faced economic hardships such as regular shortages of consumer goods.

This was because the Soviet Union controlled the Czech economy and prioritised heavy industry.

In addition, people in Czechoslovakia faced severe limits on their personal freedoms, including their freedom of speech.

The communist government ruled through fear using a secret police force known as state security.

Very well done for your efforts on that task and well done if your paragraph looks similar to the one that we've just gone through.

For the second part of this first practise task, I want you to briefly explain why thousands of students protested against Novotný's government in Prague in 1966.

You should write one paragraph and aim to use the following words in your answer: New economic plan, living standards, reforms, freedom of speech, and censorship.

Pause the video now.

Have a go at the question and press Play when you're ready to go through a model paragraph.

Okay, very well done for all of your efforts on that question.

You were asked to briefly explain why thousands of students protested against Novotný's government in Prague in 1966.

And your answer may include: Thousands of students took to the streets in Prague in 1966 to protest against Novotný's government 'cause they were angry about falling living standards caused by the failure of Novotný's new economic plan.

They were also angry about a lack of freedom and demanded reforms including greater freedom of speech and an end to censorship.

Really well done for your efforts on that first practise task.

And well done if your second paragraph looks similar to the one that we've just gone through.

We are now ready to move on to the second part of today's lesson.

And in the second part of the lesson, we're going to be learning about how Alexander Dubček became the leader of Czechoslovakia, and we're going to be learning about a series of reforms he introduced, which became known as the Prague Spring.

In October 1967.

Alexander Dubček challenged Novotný's leadership at a meeting of the Central Committee of the Communist Party.

Dubček was a communist, but he was in favour of greater freedom for individuals.

He believed that Czech people should be able to express their views freely and even speak out against Communist Party decisions they did not like without fear of being punished by the authorities.

Additionally, Dubček still believed that the government should control important industries and economic planning, but increasingly he had begun to support a role for private businesses in the economy.

In December, Dubček invited the Soviet leader, Leonid Brezhnev, who had replaced Khrushchev as leader of the Soviet Union in 1964 to visit Prague.

When Brezhnev realised how little support Novotný had in Czechoslovakia, he withheld his support.

And by the beginning of 1968, Novotný had fallen from power.

In January 1968, with Brezhnev's backing, Dubček replaced Novotný as First Secretary of the Communist Party in Czechoslovakia, the top position in the country's Communist Party.

In March, Novotný resigned as president of Czechoslovakia and was replaced by General Ludvík Svoboda, a popular war hero who supported Dubček's idea for reform.

Let's take a moment to check your understanding.

In January 1968, Dubček ceased Power by Force.

Is this true or false? Pause the video and press Play when you're ready to see the correct answer.

Okay, well done if you said that was false, but as ever, we need to be able to justify our answer.

So on the screen, a two justifications.

A says Dubček defeated Novotný in a democratic election to become leader of Czechoslovakia and B, Dubček replaced Novotný as leader with the support of Soviet leader, Brezhnev.

Which of these justifications is correct? Pause the video now and press Play when you're ready to see the right answer.

Okay, very well done if you said that the second justification was correct, Dubček replaced Novotný as leader of Czechoslovakia with the support of the Soviet leader, Brezhnev.

In the spring of 1968, Dubček introduced a series of reforms that have become known as the Prague Spring.

The reforms introduced during the Prague Spring included a 10-year programme for political change that eventually aimed to create a democratic multi-party state.

Dubček wanted to give the Czech people a greater say in the running of their country, but recognised that this would take time.

Greater freedom for the Czech people, including free speech and the ending of press censorship.

By March 1968, uncensored articles about political and social problems were being printed in Czech newspapers, Czech radio and television held communist party officials to account and interviewed them about problems such as corruption, a reduction in the powers of the state security secret police, which would no longer have the authority to imprison people without trial, an increase in rights for trade union members, and the creation of works councils that would improve conditions for workers in factories, and an increase in trade with the west, particularly West Germany, and a relaxation of travel restrictions that made it easier for Czech people to travel abroad.

Dubček remained a dedicated communist, but he believed these reforms were necessary to ensure the survival of the communist government.

in Czechoslovakia.

Many Czech referred to Dubček's Prague Spring reforms as socialism with a human face.

Let's take a moment to check your understanding.

Dubček wanted to Czechoslovakia to quickly become more democratic.

Is this true or false? Pause the video now and press Play when you're ready to see the correct answer.

Okay, very well done if you said that was false, but let's see if you can justify your answer.

Justification A says he wanted Czechoslovakia to become more democratic, but you knew this would take time.

He proposed 10 years.

Justification B says he was opposed to greater democracy in Czechoslovakia and did not want to make changes.

Which of these justifications is correct? Pause the video now and press Play when you're ready to see the correct answer.

Okay, very well done if you selected justification A, Dubček did want Czechoslovakia to become more democratic, but he knew it would take time and proposed a 10-year programme of reform.

Well done if you got that correct.

Let's do another quick check of your understanding.

Sam has said that the Prague Spring reforms gave people in Czechoslovakia more freedom.

I want you to identify at least two specific examples that Sam could use to support their point.

Pause the video now and press Play when you're ready to see some ideas.

Okay.

You were asked to identify specific examples that Sam could use to support their point that the Prague Spring reforms gave people in Czechoslovakia more freedom.

Your answer may include the following: People had greater freedom of speech, press censorship was ended, travel restrictions were relaxed to make it easier to travel abroad.

Very well done if your answer covered those points.

You are now ready to attempt the second practise task of today's lesson.

Aisha and Andeep have come to different views about the purpose of Dubček's Prague Spring reforms. Aisha has argued the purpose of Dubček's Prague Spring reforms was to undermine communist rule in Czechoslovakia, whereas Andeep has said the purpose of Dubček's reforms was to preserve communist rule in Czechoslovakia by removing its worst features.

Who do you think is correct? Explain your answer with reference to specific reforms. Pause the video now attempt this question and press Play when you're ready to go through a model response.

Okay, very well done for all of your hard work on that second practise task.

You were asked whether you agreed with Aisha or Andeep concerning the Prague Spring reforms, and you might have said something like this.

I think Andeep is correct.

Dubček was a communist and wanted to preserve communist rule in Czechoslovakia, but he believed that this was only possible by removing Communism's worst features.

For example, as part of the Prague Spring reforms, Dubček ended censorship and reduced the power of the secret police.

By introducing socialism with a human face, Dubček hoped to win support for the communist government.

Very well done if you rate something similar as part of your answer.

We are now ready to move to the third and final part of today's lesson.

We're going to be learning about the reaction to the Prague Spring reforms in Czechoslovakia and the reaction from the USSR and other Warsaw Pact countries.

The Prague Spring encouraged opponents of communism and led some to demand more radical reform.

For example, in June 1968, a journalist called Ludvík Vaculík published a manifesto called "Two Thousand Words" that called for Democratic reforms and greater freedom of speech.

In the same month, the Social Democratic Party was established.

The Social Democratic Party was in favour of greater political freedom, economic reform, and social justice within the framework of socialism and aimed to provide an alternative to the ruling Communist Party.

While Dubček's reforms were popular with many Czechs, they were met with suspicion in the Soviet Union.

Brezhnev was particularly concerned because Czechoslovakia is one of the most important countries in the Warsaw Pact.

One reason for Czechoslovakia's importance to the Warsaw Pact was its industry which was the most developed of all member states.

Another reason for Czechoslovakia's importance was its central location in Eastern Europe, which gave it a high level of strategic importance.

Brezhnev was worried that Czechoslovakia might leave the Warsaw Pact and potentially even join NATO.

If this happened, the Warsaw Pact would be split in two and NATO would have a member state that shared a border with the Soviet Union itself.

Brezhnev could not allow this to happen.

Let's take a moment to check your understanding.

On the screen of three statements and they're all incorrect.

I want you to identify the mistake in each statement and correct it.

Pause the video now and press Play when you're ready to see the corrected statements.

Okay.

To check your understanding, you are asked to identify and correct the mistakes in each of the three statements.

Let's go through the corrected statements now.

Number one should read the Prague Spring encouraged opponents of communism.

Number two, in his manifesto, "Two Thousand Words," Ludvik Vaculik called for greater freedom of speech.

And number three should read the Social Democratic Party was in favour of more political freedom and economic reform.

Very well done if you identified and corrected all of those mistakes.

Let's do another check of your understanding.

There's a question on the screen that I want you to discuss with a partner.

Why was Czechoslovakia such an important member of the Warsaw Pact? I want you to identify at least two reasons.

Pause the video now.

Discuss the question with a partner and press Play when you're ready to see a model response.

Okay, welcome back.

I hope that conversation was useful.

You were asked to discuss with a partner why Czechoslovakia were such an important member of the Warsaw Pact.

And you might have said the following: One, Czechoslovakia's Central location meant it had a high level of strategic importance for the Warsaw Pact, and two, Czechoslovakia had the most developed industry of all members of the Warsaw Pact.

Very well done if you covered those points in your conversation with your partner.

Let's do another quick check.

Again, I want you to discuss this question with a partner.

Why is Brezhnev so concerned about the possibility of Czechoslovakia joining NATO? Pause the video now.

Discuss the question with your partner and press Play when you're ready to see a model response.

Okay, welcome back.

You were asked to discuss with a partner why Brezhnev was so concerned about the possibility of Czechoslovakia joining NATO, and you might have said something like this.

If Czechoslovakia left the Warsaw Pact and joined NATO, the Warsaw Pact would be divided into two and NATO would have a member state that shared a border with the Soviet Union.

Brezhnev believed that this would threaten the security of the Soviet Union.

Well done if you covered those points in your conversation with your partner.

Dubček's reforms caused alarm in other Warsaw Pact countries.

Communist leaders such as Walter Ulbricht, the leader of East Germany, and Władysław Gomułka, the leader of Poland, were concerned that the new ideas emerging in Czechoslovakia might lead to cause for reform in their countries, and they put pressure on Brezhnev to take action.

In June 1968, Brezhnev ordered Warsaw Pact troops to carry out manoeuvres in Czechoslovakia to threaten Dubček.

On the 3rd of August, Dubček met with Brezhnev and Warsaw Pact leaders and attempted to provide reassurance by declaring his commitment to communism.

However, the following week, Dubček hosted a visit by Yugoslavia's communist leader Josip Tito.

While Tito was a communist, Yugoslavia was not a member of the Warsaw Pact, and Tito was regarded with great suspicion in the Soviet Union.

Tito's visit increased that Czechoslovakia might leave the Warsaw Pact.

And on the 20th of August, 1968, a force of 500,000 soldiers from Warsaw Pact countries invaded Czechoslovakia and ended the Prague Spring.

Dubček was arrested, taken to Moscow, and forced to reverse his reforms. In 1969, he was replaced as leader of Czechoslovakia by Gustav Husák, a hard-line communist who is totally loyal to the Soviet Union.

Let's take a moment to check your understanding.

The events on the screen are in the incorrect order.

I want you to arrange them in the correct chronological order.

Pause the video now and press Play when you're ready to see the correct answer.

Okay, well done for your efforts there.

You are asked to arrange the events in the correct chronological order and the correct order is as follows: Warsaw Pact leaders put pressure on Brezhnev to take action in response to Dubček's reforms, Warsaw Pact troops carried out manoeuvres in Czechoslovakia, Dubček met with Brezhnev and other Warsaw Pact leaders and declared his commitment to communism, Dubček hosted a visit from Tito, the leader of Yugoslavia, the Soviet Union led an invasion of Czechoslovakia, and then Dubček was replaced as leader of Czechoslovakia by Husák.

Very well done if you got that correct.

You are now ready to attempt the final practise task of today's lesson.

I want you to explain two consequences of the Prague Spring.

You should identify two consequences, and then you should write one paragraph per consequence and explain how the Prague Spring led to each.

Pause the video now and press Play when you're ready to go through a model answer.

Okay, well done for all of your hard work on that final practise task.

You were asked to explain two consequences of the Prague Spring.

For your first paragraph, you could have written something like this.

One consequence of the Prague Spring was that it led to some people in Czechoslovakia calling for more radical reforms. Dubček's reforms were popular, but some people wanted him to go further.

For example, the journalist Ludvik Vaculik wrote a manifesto calling for more democratic reforms and greater freedom of speech.

The Prague Spring also led to the establishment of the Social Democratic Party who are in favour of more economic reforms and greater political freedom.

Very well done if your first paragraph reads something like this one.

For your second paragraph, you could have written something like this.

Another consequence of the Prague Spring was that it led to the invasion of Czechoslovakia.

In August 1968, the Soviet Union led an invasion of Czechoslovakia by 500,000 Warsaw Pact troops.

The purpose of this invasion was to end the Prague Spring as Brezhnev felt it threat in the USSR security.

As a result of the invasion, Dubček was arrested and taken to Moscow where he was forced to reverse his reforms. Dubček was then replaced by Gustav Husák, a hard-line communist who is loyal to Moscow.

Brilliant effort on that final task and well done if your second paragraph looks something like the model answer that we've just gone through.

We're at the end of our lesson now, so it's a good opportunity for us to stop and review our key learning points.

Since Czechoslovakia became a communist satellite state of the Soviet Union in 1948, people face limits on their freedom and economic problems such as a shortage of consumer goods.

Under the unpopular leadership of Antonin Novotný, calls for reform increased as living standards declined.

Alexander Dubček replaced Novotný as Czech leader in January 1968 and introduced a programme of reforms known as the Prague Spring.

Brezhnev was concerned that Dubček's reforms would weaken communism and lead to Czechoslovakia, leaving the Warsaw Pact.

Under pressure from other Warsaw Pact members, Brezhnev ordered an invasion of Czechoslovakia in August 1968 to end the Prague Spring.

Well done for all of your efforts in today's lesson.

You've worked really hard, and I look forward to teaching you again in the future.