KHRUSHCHEV Flashcards
Khrushchev’s two major changes made to Soviet government
Democratisation of the communist party
Decentralisation of control
Democratisation of the communist party- impact
1954 to 1964 membership of party increased from 6.9 million to 11 million
Comrade courts
New members- workers and peasants
How did Khrushchev give power to the people?
Revived ‘comrade courts’- ran by ordinary members of the party
Decentralisation of control
Khrushchev transferred power from the central government to the 15 republics
How did Khrushchev improve standard of living ?
1958 abolished education fees
Increased minimum wage
Students in higher education trebled
Examples of de-stalinisation (2)
Released prisoners from gulags
Renamed Stalingrad Vologograd
Economic successes
25% increase in procurement prices
Economic failures under Khrushchev
Agriculture still backward
Quantity > quality
Failure of the Virgin Lands campaign
Social reform successes
Doubled housing stock
Improved standard of living
Standard of living improvements
Doubled housing stocks
1958 abolition of student fees
Political impact of the Cold War (2)
Policy of co-existence
Iron curtain
Economic impact of the Cold War (2)
Sep 1947 Cominform set up
Cost of space race
Postive change to agriculture made by Khrushchev
Agriculture was made a higher priority at the 21st Party Congress
Downfalls in agriculture under Khrushchev
Virgin Lands
Meat and dairy prices increased- protests in Nobocherkassk
Set up ___ regional economic councils
105
Successes in industry under Khushchev (2)
Diesel trains added to railways and tracks electrified
USSR led in the space race
Co-existence with West under Khrushchev- successes
Became more peaceful than under Stalin
Met with Eisenhower
Failures regarding co-existence with the West
Ideological failures
Cold War strained relations
German foreign pol failures
Shaped by pressure
East Germany lived in pov
Ultimatum failed, Berlin Wall constructed
Failures foreign policy with Cuba
Cuban missie crisis- failed as Soviet ships backed down from USA’s naval blockade
Operation in which missiles were placed in Cuba
Operation Anadyr
Why was foreign policy with China under Khrushchev a failure ?
Failed to ally- childish behaviour eg shoe banging at UN
Khrushchev as autocratic/ repressive
Using the army to arrest Beria
KGB
Hungarian uprising- execution of Nagy
Sacrificing of ideology under Khrushchev
Decentralisation of the communist party into 15 republics
Communal living abandoned
Students in higher education….
Trebled unde Khrushchev
Successes in Khrushchev’s policy toward minorities and satellite states
Managed to gain support from Tito over the Hungarian uprising
Got the backing of other socialist states for his handling of the Hungarian crisis
Prevented West from taking control of Berlin
Took a strong position against China
Khrushchev taking a strong stance against China
Declined to provide China with military support for the Taiwan USA conflict
Government reform under Khrushchev to make the party more democratic/ move away from Stalinism
Fixed terms for senior communists- reduced individual power
Khrushchev’s prison reforms
1958 New Criminal Code
Made evidence essential for conviction
1958 New Criminal Code
Evidence essential for conviction
De-Stalinisation
Evidence of Khrushchev’s success in party reforms
His overthrow in 1964 was bloodless and proved that the party’s power was independent of the leader
Bloodless
Limitations of de-Stalinisation
Was still prepared to use violence eg Nagy
Punishment for the criticism of the party
1962 Party division
Split into industrial and agricultural divisions
Religion under Khrushchev
New moral code to promote atheism. Essentially replaced the Bible
What did Khrushchev do that suggested he used his power for selfish intentions- contributed to his fall?
Appointed his son-in-law as editor of Izvestia
May 1955 Austrian State Treaty
Showed that Khrushchev was willing to co-operate with the West
Railways under Khrushchev
Tracks electrified
Diesel trains added
Working day
1958 introduced 7hr working day
Limitations in working conditions under Khrushchev
1962 protests in Nobochovassk over wage cuts
Acres of land cultivated in the Virgin Lands scheme
96 million acres
Success in light industry under Khrushchev
25% increase in clothing
Limitations in light industry under Khrushchev
Neglected some sectors like footwear
Ending of Korean War and Indo-China War
Suggested that Khrushchev did deal with the Cold War effectively
Dealing with the West effectively
Attempt to negotiate the Berlin Crisis- Geneva w/ Eisenhower
How did relations with China worsen co-existence and communist relations?
Shattered unity of communism
Failure in Cold War w/ west
Provocative behaviour initiated Berlin Crisis
Not a break from de-Stalinisation
Intended to keep satellite states communist
1956 Polish riot
60 killed, 200 wounded
Good relationship w/ satellite states
Release of and negotiation with Gomulka (Poland)
1956 grain procurement %
Produced over 50% of harvest
Why did the new collective farms not work?
Not enough capital to invest in equipment
Evidence of Stalinist traditions coming to an end
Khrushchev’s fall in 1964 was bloodless
Similarities in reforms
Both Alexander and Khrushchev willingly reformed- liberal outlook, conscious of competition
Khrushchev’s and Alexander II’s reforms
Both the New Law Code and Alexander’s trial by jury could be overridden if necessary
Similarities in domestic policies
Both Alexander II Khrushchev decentralised by giving more power to local authorities
Positions held by both Khrushchev and Stalin
General Secretary
Khrushchev’s dealing of opposition
Demoted rather than executed- move away from Stalinism
The way Khrushchev presented himself
Echoed Lenin- humble farmer
__% increase in meat consumption
55%
How many Komsomol volunteers were there?
300,000
