In January of 1968, a season of reformation had begun to blossom in a country located in the Iron Curtain's shadow. This movement in Czechoslovakia where government leaders pushed for greater freedom for its citizens came to be known as Prague Spring.

Following the events of World War II, the Soviet Union effectively held control of several countries through economic agreements. The signing of the Warsaw Pact between Czechoslovakia, Poland, Hungary, Romania, and other communist governments only bound them more tightly together as military allies.

Despite remaining stable for many years, leadership that would significantly impact Czechoslovakia's future eventually took charge. A man named Alexander Dubček became the leader of the country's Communist Party, and he pushed for "socialism with a human face."

Dubček was born in present-day Slovakia on November 27, 1921. He was educated in Central Asia, only returning to Czechoslovakia during World War II where he joined the Communist Party and opposed Nazi occupation. He rose through the ranks, eventually replacing Antonín Novotný in 1968 as party leader. Under Dubček, wide-spread government censorship of the press ended, the protection of civil rights was ensured, and there was a push to bring more democracy to the country.

One of the most important documents produced from this time was the "Two Thousand Words" manifesto. It was published in June, soon after greater freedom was given to the press, and written by Ludvik Vaculik, an author and staunch opponent of communism. It urged citizens to demand that Czechoslovakia be transformed into a fully democratic nation instead of merely altering the communist government.

But this period of reform was short-lived. Soviet leaders feared that despite Dubček's promises that such changes inside the country would not affect other Warsaw Pact nations, it would begin a movement that would cause the Eastern Bloc to crumble. The harsh criticism published in the manifesto only fueled the belief that the reforms must be brought to an end.

Soviet tanks quickly invaded Czechoslovakia in August of that same year, injuring many civilians. Alexander Dubček and his allies would be brought to Moscow to be questioned for their insubordination. Upon their return, they were slowly demoted out of the public eye and replaced by more traditional communist leaders.

It wouldn't be until 1989 during the Velvet Revolution that Czechoslovakia would finally shed its communist government. Prague Spring is known as one of the most important events in the Czech Republic's recent history, as it began a movement for greater democracy and personal freedoms that would take over twenty years to come to fruition.

Written by Erin Schachtner