Difference between revisions of "Czechoslovakia"
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Czechoslovakia was formed on October 28, 1918 after the [[First World War]]. In 1938-1939 the country was invaded and occupied by the [[Nazi]]s, but the official government still existed in exile. In the mid 1940's, the [[Communist]]s took control of the country. After the Second World War Stalin was powerful enough to steal a large chunk of the country for the communists - the (largely Christian) state of Ruthenia which he made part of Soviet Ukraine - where it remains to even now. In 1948 they seized complete control, and the country became a "[[people's democracy]]" and [[Stalinization]] began with a new constitution. On August 21, 1968 the [[Soviets]] and the [[Eastern Bloc]] countries invaded Czechoslovakia in response to a reform movement referred to as "[[Prague Spring]]" seeking to reform the Czechoslovak government on American principals of freedom of speech and religion. The country was a Soviet satellite state and had bad relations with the [[United States]]. In 1989, as the Soviet Union began to dissolve, Czechoslovakia staged the [[Velvet Revolution]] and became democratic again. On January 1, 1993 the country peacefully split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia. | Czechoslovakia was formed on October 28, 1918 after the [[First World War]]. In 1938-1939 the country was invaded and occupied by the [[Nazi]]s, but the official government still existed in exile. In the mid 1940's, the [[Communist]]s took control of the country. After the Second World War Stalin was powerful enough to steal a large chunk of the country for the communists - the (largely Christian) state of Ruthenia which he made part of Soviet Ukraine - where it remains to even now. In 1948 they seized complete control, and the country became a "[[people's democracy]]" and [[Stalinization]] began with a new constitution. On August 21, 1968 the [[Soviets]] and the [[Eastern Bloc]] countries invaded Czechoslovakia in response to a reform movement referred to as "[[Prague Spring]]" seeking to reform the Czechoslovak government on American principals of freedom of speech and religion. The country was a Soviet satellite state and had bad relations with the [[United States]]. In 1989, as the Soviet Union began to dissolve, Czechoslovakia staged the [[Velvet Revolution]] and became democratic again. On January 1, 1993 the country peacefully split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia. | ||
| + | ===Korbel=== | ||
| + | Josef Korbel (1909-77) was a diplomat of Jewish descent who served successively as Jan Masaryk's personal secretary, head of the broadcasting department of the Czech government-in-exile in London, youngest Czech ambassador at age 36 to postwar Yugoslavia, and chairman of the UN Commission on India and Pakistan which settled the Kashmir crisis. Exiled after the 1948 Communist coup d'etat, Korbel began a second distinguished career in academia, teaching at the University of Denver and publishing numerous works on political and diplomatic history and explaining the failures of Communism. His shaped two secretaries of state--his PhD student [[Condoleezaa Rice]] (b. 1954) and his daughter [[Madelaine Albright|Madelaine Korbel Albright]] (b. 1937) | ||
==Religion== | ==Religion== | ||
The land of Czechoslovakia contained many different religions affiliations. The main ones were: [[Roman Catholic Church]], [[Czechoslovak National Church]], [[Slovak Evangelical Church]], [[Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren]], and [[Uniate Church]]. The majority of inhabitants were Roman Catholic. There were also a small number of Jews. After the communist takeover religion was suppressed, even though the constitution allowed freedom of religion. Between 1948 and 1968, the number of catholic [[priests]] declined by half, and half the remaining clergy were over sixty years of age<ref>http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCID+cs0080)</ref>. The communist governments promoted [[atheism]] through the use of harassment and [[propaganda]], and they also promoted it in schools by ordering teachers to attack religion. | The land of Czechoslovakia contained many different religions affiliations. The main ones were: [[Roman Catholic Church]], [[Czechoslovak National Church]], [[Slovak Evangelical Church]], [[Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren]], and [[Uniate Church]]. The majority of inhabitants were Roman Catholic. There were also a small number of Jews. After the communist takeover religion was suppressed, even though the constitution allowed freedom of religion. Between 1948 and 1968, the number of catholic [[priests]] declined by half, and half the remaining clergy were over sixty years of age<ref>http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?frd/cstdy:@field(DOCID+cs0080)</ref>. The communist governments promoted [[atheism]] through the use of harassment and [[propaganda]], and they also promoted it in schools by ordering teachers to attack religion. | ||
| − | == | + | == Demography == |
In 1987 Czechs represented roughly 63 percent of population and Slovaks 31 percent. [[Hungarians]], [[Ukrainians]], [[Poles]], [[Germans]], and [[Gypsies]](Roma) were all minority groups. In 1986, the Czechoslovak government reported a population of 15,520,839 and a population growth rate of 0.3. The life expectancy in 1984 was sixty-seven years for men and seventy-four years for women. About 26 percent of the population was under the age of 15, and 17 percent was over the age of 60. There were 104 females for each 100 males. At the start of 1986, the population density was approximately 121 persons per square kilometer. The major cities and their estimated populations in January 1986 were: | In 1987 Czechs represented roughly 63 percent of population and Slovaks 31 percent. [[Hungarians]], [[Ukrainians]], [[Poles]], [[Germans]], and [[Gypsies]](Roma) were all minority groups. In 1986, the Czechoslovak government reported a population of 15,520,839 and a population growth rate of 0.3. The life expectancy in 1984 was sixty-seven years for men and seventy-four years for women. About 26 percent of the population was under the age of 15, and 17 percent was over the age of 60. There were 104 females for each 100 males. At the start of 1986, the population density was approximately 121 persons per square kilometer. The major cities and their estimated populations in January 1986 were: | ||
* [[Prague]], 1.2 million | * [[Prague]], 1.2 million | ||
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==Further reading== | ==Further reading== | ||
* Heimann, Mary. ''Czechoslovakia: The State That Failed'' (2009). the best scholarly history in English, but with a negative tone stressing maltreatment of minorities. | * Heimann, Mary. ''Czechoslovakia: The State That Failed'' (2009). the best scholarly history in English, but with a negative tone stressing maltreatment of minorities. | ||
| − | * Wheaton, Bernard; Zdenek Kavav. "The Velvet Revolution: Czechoslovakia, 1988-1991". | + | * Wheaton, Bernard; Zdenek Kavav. "The Velvet Revolution: Czechoslovakia, 1988-1991". (1992). |
| + | * Naimark, Norman, and Leonid Gibianskii, eds. ''The Establishment of Communist Regimes in Eastern Europe, 1944-1949'' (1997) [http://www.questia.com/library/book/the-establishment-of-communist-regimes-in-eastern-europe-1944-1949-by-leonid-gibianskii-norman-naimark.jsp online edition] | ||
| + | * [http://www.questia.com/library/history/european-history/eastern-europe/czechoslovakian-history.jsp online books and articles] | ||
| − | [http://www.lib.umich.edu/spec-coll/czech/ Soviet Invasion] | + | [http://www.lib.umich.edu/spec-coll/czech/ Soviet Invasion of 1968] |
[http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/cstoc.html Library of Congress Country Studies] Czechoslovakia in Public Domain | [http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/cstoc.html Library of Congress Country Studies] Czechoslovakia in Public Domain | ||
Revision as of 05:48, November 24, 2009
Czechoslovakia (Czech and Slovak: Československo) was a nation bordering East and West Germany, Poland, Austria and Hungary. It was later divided into the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic of central/eastern Europe. Its capital was Prague.
Former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright was born in Czechoslovakia.
Geography
Czechoslovakia contained 127,905 square kilometers. It was divided into three major areas: Bohemia, Moravia, and Slovakia. The main river in the country was the Danube, and the main mountain range was the Carpathians.
History
Czechoslovakia was formed on October 28, 1918 after the First World War. In 1938-1939 the country was invaded and occupied by the Nazis, but the official government still existed in exile. In the mid 1940's, the Communists took control of the country. After the Second World War Stalin was powerful enough to steal a large chunk of the country for the communists - the (largely Christian) state of Ruthenia which he made part of Soviet Ukraine - where it remains to even now. In 1948 they seized complete control, and the country became a "people's democracy" and Stalinization began with a new constitution. On August 21, 1968 the Soviets and the Eastern Bloc countries invaded Czechoslovakia in response to a reform movement referred to as "Prague Spring" seeking to reform the Czechoslovak government on American principals of freedom of speech and religion. The country was a Soviet satellite state and had bad relations with the United States. In 1989, as the Soviet Union began to dissolve, Czechoslovakia staged the Velvet Revolution and became democratic again. On January 1, 1993 the country peacefully split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
Korbel
Josef Korbel (1909-77) was a diplomat of Jewish descent who served successively as Jan Masaryk's personal secretary, head of the broadcasting department of the Czech government-in-exile in London, youngest Czech ambassador at age 36 to postwar Yugoslavia, and chairman of the UN Commission on India and Pakistan which settled the Kashmir crisis. Exiled after the 1948 Communist coup d'etat, Korbel began a second distinguished career in academia, teaching at the University of Denver and publishing numerous works on political and diplomatic history and explaining the failures of Communism. His shaped two secretaries of state--his PhD student Condoleezaa Rice (b. 1954) and his daughter Madelaine Korbel Albright (b. 1937)
Religion
The land of Czechoslovakia contained many different religions affiliations. The main ones were: Roman Catholic Church, Czechoslovak National Church, Slovak Evangelical Church, Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren, and Uniate Church. The majority of inhabitants were Roman Catholic. There were also a small number of Jews. After the communist takeover religion was suppressed, even though the constitution allowed freedom of religion. Between 1948 and 1968, the number of catholic priests declined by half, and half the remaining clergy were over sixty years of age[1]. The communist governments promoted atheism through the use of harassment and propaganda, and they also promoted it in schools by ordering teachers to attack religion.
Demography
In 1987 Czechs represented roughly 63 percent of population and Slovaks 31 percent. Hungarians, Ukrainians, Poles, Germans, and Gypsies(Roma) were all minority groups. In 1986, the Czechoslovak government reported a population of 15,520,839 and a population growth rate of 0.3. The life expectancy in 1984 was sixty-seven years for men and seventy-four years for women. About 26 percent of the population was under the age of 15, and 17 percent was over the age of 60. There were 104 females for each 100 males. At the start of 1986, the population density was approximately 121 persons per square kilometer. The major cities and their estimated populations in January 1986 were:
- Prague, 1.2 million
- Bratislava, 417,103
- Brünn, 385,684
- Ostrava, 327,791
- Kosice, 222,175
- Pilsen, 175,244
Czechoslovakia was essentially a society of small cities and towns, in which about 65 percent of the population are classified as urban dwellers[2]. The country had two official languages, both Czech and Slovak.
Further reading
- Heimann, Mary. Czechoslovakia: The State That Failed (2009). the best scholarly history in English, but with a negative tone stressing maltreatment of minorities.
- Wheaton, Bernard; Zdenek Kavav. "The Velvet Revolution: Czechoslovakia, 1988-1991". (1992).
- Naimark, Norman, and Leonid Gibianskii, eds. The Establishment of Communist Regimes in Eastern Europe, 1944-1949 (1997) online edition
- online books and articles
Library of Congress Country Studies Czechoslovakia in Public Domain
References
[[Category:European History]