Changes

For history before 1900 see [[Prague]]

For history before 1900 see [[Prague]]

===Nationalism===

===Nationalism===

The area was long part of the [[Austro Hungarian Empire]] until the Empire collapsed at the end of World War I and the new state was born with Tomáš Masaryk (1850-1937) the first president, serving 1918-1935. He was succeeded by his close ally Eduard Benes (1884-1948).

The area was long part of the [[Austro-Hungarian Empire]] until the Empire collapsed at the end of World War I and the new state was born with [[T.G. Masaryk|Tomáš Masaryk]] (1850-1937) the first president, serving 1918-1935. He was succeeded by his close ally [[Benes|Eduard Benes]] (1884-1948).

The roots of Czech nationalism go back to the 19th century, when philologists and educators, influenced by [[Romanticism]], promoted the Czech language and pride in the Czech nation.  Nationalism became a mass movement in the last half of the 19th century.  Taking advantage of the opportunities for limited participation in political life available under Austrian rule, Czech leaders such as historian František Palacký  (1798-1878), founded numerous patriotic, self-help organizations that provided a chance for many of their compatriots to participate in communal life even prior to independence.  At first Palacky supported Austro-Slavism and worked for a reorganized, federalized, and Slavic-dominated Austrian Empire to protect Slavs against Russian and German threats. The failure of the Revolution of 1848, however, crushed his hopes for Austro-Slavism. Palacky then turned gradually toward Russia and Russian-led Pan-Slavism. An advocate of democratic reform and Czech autonomy within Austria-Hungary, Masaryk was twice elected (1891, 1907) to the Austrian parliament.  In 1900 he founded the Progressive (or Realist) party.  With the outbreak of World War I, however, Masaryk began working for Czech independence in union with Slovakia.  With colleagues Eduard Benes and Milan Stefanik, he visited several Western nations and won support from influential publicists.<ref>  Z. A. B. Zeman,  ''The Masaryks:  The Making of Czechoslovakia'' (1976)</ref>   

The roots of Czech nationalism go back to the 19th century, when philologists and educators, influenced by [[Romanticism]], promoted the Czech language and pride in the Czech nation.  Nationalism became a mass movement in the last half of the 19th century.  Taking advantage of the opportunities for limited participation in political life available under Austrian rule, Czech leaders such as historian František Palacký  (1798-1878), founded numerous patriotic, self-help organizations that provided a chance for many of their compatriots to participate in communal life even prior to independence.  At first Palacky supported Austro-Slavism and worked for a reorganized, federalized, and Slavic-dominated Austrian Empire to protect Slavs against Russian and German threats. The failure of the Revolution of 1848, however, crushed his hopes for Austro-Slavism. Palacky then turned gradually toward Russia and Russian-led Pan-Slavism. An advocate of democratic reform and Czech autonomy within Austria-Hungary, Masaryk was twice elected (1891, 1907) to the Austrian parliament.  In 1900 he founded the Progressive (or Realist) party.  With the outbreak of World War I, however, Masaryk began working for Czech independence in union with Slovakia.  With colleagues Eduard Benes and Milan Stefanik, he visited several Western nations and won support from influential publicists.<ref>  Z. A. B. Zeman,  ''The Masaryks:  The Making of Czechoslovakia'' (1976)</ref>   

Bohemia and Moravia, under Austrian rule, were Czech-speaking major industrial centers, while Slovakia, which was part of Hungary, was an undeveloped agrarian region.  Conditions were much better for the development of a mass national movement in the Czech lands than in Slovakia. Nevertheless the two movements realized they were too small to go it alone, so they joined to create the new country.   

Bohemia and Moravia, under Austrian rule, were Czech-speaking major industrial centers, while Slovakia, which was part of Hungary, was an undeveloped agrarian region.  Conditions were much better for the development of a mass national movement in the Czech lands than in Slovakia. Nevertheless the two movements realized they were too small to go it alone, so they joined to create the new country.   

While the Czechs were second only to the Germans of the Habsburg Empire in social, economic, and cultural development, they were second class subjects and had little voice. Bohemian Germans (later called Sudeten Germans) opposed Czech and Slovak nationalism and looked to Imperial Germany for leadership. Pan-Slavism emerged, as some Czechs and Slovaks turned to Russia, but most preferred the easy-going Catholic Habsburgs in Vienna to the autocratic Orthodox Romanovs in St. Petersburg. No revolution was in the making when World War I broke out in 1914. Nationalism came under the leadership of Thomas G. Masaryk and his supporters in France and the United States. The Allies only reluctantly promised an independent new nation in 1917 after failing to sever the Habsburg Empire from its powerful ally, Germany.  

While the Czechs were second only to the Germans of the Habsburg Empire in social, economic, and cultural development, they were second class subjects and had little voice. Bohemian Germans (later called Sudeten Germans) opposed Czech and Slovak nationalism and looked to Imperial Germany for leadership. Pan-Slavism emerged, as some Czechs and Slovaks turned to Russia, but most preferred the easy-going Catholic Habsburgs in Vienna to the autocratic Orthodox Romanovs in St. Petersburg. No revolution was in the making when World War I broke out in 1914. Nationalism came under the leadership of Thomas G. Masaryk and his supporters in France and the United States. The Allies only reluctantly promised an independent new nation in 1917 after failing to sever the Habsburg Empire from its powerful ally, Germany.

 

===Interwar===

===Interwar===

The period between the two world wars saw the flowering of democracy in Czechoslovakia.  Of all the new states established in central Europe after 1918, only Czechoslovakia preserved a democratic government until it was ended by outside forces. The persistence of democracy in part reflected the fact that the preconditions for maintaining democracy were better in Czechoslovakia than elsewhere in the region.  Thus, despite regional disparities, its level of development was much higher than that of neighboring states.  The population was by and large literate, and contained fewer alienated groups.  The impact of these conditions was augmented by political values of Czechoslovakia's leaders and the policies they adopted.  Under [[Tomas Masaryk]] Czech and Slovak politicians promoted progressive social and economic conditions that served to diffuse discontent.

The period between the two world wars saw the flowering of democracy in Czechoslovakia.  Of all the new states established in central Europe after 1918, only Czechoslovakia preserved a democratic government until it was ended by outside forces. The persistence of democracy in part reflected the fact that the preconditions for maintaining democracy were better in Czechoslovakia than elsewhere in the region.  Thus, despite regional disparities, its level of development was much higher than that of neighboring states.  The population was by and large literate, and contained fewer alienated groups.  The impact of these conditions was augmented by political values of Czechoslovakia's leaders and the policies they adopted.  Under [[Tomas Masaryk]] Czech and Slovak politicians promoted progressive social and economic conditions that served to diffuse discontent.