The Czech Republic and Slovakia are separate countries today. Earlier, these countries were a single entity under the name Czechoslovakia.
In the year 1918, Bohemia united with its neighbours Slovakia to form an independent republic. An oppressive communist government ruled Czechoslovakia from 1948. The situation changed dramatically when Alexander Dubcek became the leader. He lifted the censorship on media and liberalized the country. This period of reformation is known as ‘Prague Spring’, but it did not last long. The Soviet Union invaded the country in 1968.
The country held a democratic election in 1989. Both the Czechs and Slovakians had different interests as a result of which Czechoslovakia was split into two independent countries. This peaceful separation is often known as the ‘Velvet Divorce’! The countries still share close ties with each other.
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