ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

History of Czechoslovak nationality

Czechoslovakia was a country that existed from 1918 to 1993. It was made up of two main groups of people - the Czechs and the Slovaks. The Czechs and Slovaks had their own unique languages, cultures, and customs, but they lived together in one country.

Before Czechoslovakia existed, the Czechs and Slovaks were ruled by the Austro-Hungarian Empire. After World War I, the empire was broken up and Czechoslovakia was formed as a new country. This was a big deal because it meant that the Czechs and Slovaks could govern themselves and make their own decisions.

In the beginning, there was a lot of enthusiasm for the new country, and the Czechs and Slovaks worked together to build a strong nation. They developed a new constitution, established a democratic government, and built up their economy.

However, over time there were tensions between the Czechs and Slovaks. The Czechs were more industrialized and had a stronger economy, while the Slovaks were more rural and felt like they were being left behind. This led to calls for more autonomy for the Slovak region within Czechoslovakia.

In 1968, there was a movement for greater political and social freedom in Czechoslovakia, which became known as the Prague Spring. This movement was led by Czechs who wanted to liberalize the Communist government that ruled the country. However, the Soviet Union, which was the dominant power in Eastern Europe at the time, saw these reforms as a threat and invaded Czechoslovakia.

In the 1980s, there were more protests in Czechoslovakia against the Communist government, and eventually, the government was overthrown in a peaceful revolution in 1989.

After the fall of communism, there was a growing demand for Slovak autonomy within Czechoslovakia. In 1992, the government agreed to hold a referendum on whether to split the country into two separate nations - the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

The referendum passed, and on January 1, 1993, Czechoslovakia ceased to exist and was replaced by the Czech Republic and Slovakia as two independent countries.

Today, the Czechs and Slovaks have their own governments, economies, and cultures, but they still share a lot of history and traditions. The Czechoslovak nationality is now more of a historical symbol than a political reality.