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Study Sources B and C in the Sources Booklet - AQA - GCSE History - Question 2 - 2021 - Paper 1
Question 2
Study Sources B and C in the Sources Booklet. How useful are Sources B and C to an historian studying events in Czechoslovakia in 1968? Explain your answer using S... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Study Sources B and C in the Sources Booklet - AQA - GCSE History - Question 2 - 2021 - Paper 1
Step 1
Evaluate the usefulness of Source B
Answer
Source B is useful as it highlights the influence of other communist governments during the Prague Spring. It provides insights into how the Warsaw Pact countries pressured Dubcek to quash reformist movements in Czechoslovakia. The context reveals that leaders felt strained by the potential for reform to spread and undermine their own power, thus illustrating the wider implications of Soviet control in Eastern Europe.
Step 2
Evaluate the usefulness of Source C
Answer
Source C offers a compelling perspective from the West, showcasing the American critique of Soviet actions. It reveals concerns about human rights violations, as it depicts dissent against the Soviet justification for the invasion. This source helps historians understand the international response and sentiments toward the events in Czechoslovakia, emphasizing the clash between Eastern and Western ideologies.
Step 3
Contextual knowledge evaluation
Answer
In 1968, Czechoslovakia experienced a wave of reforms known as the Prague Spring led by Alexander Dubcek. These reforms aimed to create 'socialism with a human face.' However, the invasion by Warsaw Pact troops in August 1968 led to a violent crackdown on these reforms. This historical context supplements the evaluation of Sources B and C, showcasing the intense fear among communist leaders and the contrasting Western attitudes towards freedom and oppression.