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Causes of the 1956 Hungarian revolution
Causes of the 1956 Hungarian revolution
Causes of the 1956 Hungarian revolution
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Comparing the Events in Hungary in 1956 and Czechoslovakia in 1968
Both of these events covered the same basic outline; a revolt, reforms
in the country and the USSR’s reaction to these modifications. However
in both cases the situation differed with many similarities and
differences.
Both events started with the same cause, dissatisfaction with
Communism and the restrictions that came with it. Both countries were
bitter about losing their freedom of speech and lived in fear of the
secret police, yet in Hungary this was present on a bigger scale. In
both countries current leaders were forced to resign and received no
support from the USSR. In Hungary this event was repeated as the
leader proceeding Rakosi was no better and public demonstrations
caused a change in government yet again.
Similarly both new leaders proved capable desiring reforms in the
country. In Hungary however, reforms were demanded on a different
level, as the Hungarians had no desire in keeping Communism and
staying in the Warsaw Pact. Nagy’s government wanted free elections,
impartial courts and farmland restored to private ownership. They
wanted the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Hungary and as I mentioned
their withdrawal from the Warsaw Pact, as well as to become neutral in
the Cold War. The new American President, Eisenhower, was actually
prepared to support new independent Hungary.
In Czechoslovakia however, current leader Dubcek, new the outcomes of
the Hungarian revolt and so did not want to make the same mistakes. He
specifically told the Soviet leader Brezhnev, that the Czechs have no
intention in leaving the Warsaw Pact as the Hungarians did but less
censorship, more freedom of speech and a reduction in the secret
police. As more and more changes took place there was even talk of
allowing another political party to be set up as a rival to the
Communists, the Social Democrats Party.
In both cases the Soviet response wasn’t a positive one, but different
actions were taken. In Hungary Khrushchev was ready to accept some of
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Hungary experienced not only Soviet occupation, but also political oppression and economic decline. Many were critical of Hungary’s problems due to Soviet control, especially political oppression. Hungary developed into a communist state under the severe, dictatorial rule of Mátyás Rákosi. During Rákosi’s control, the Security Police began a series of eliminations, starting with...
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