khrushchev

who competed for power after stalin died

Malenkov, Beria and Molotov

how did khrushchev remove Beria as a rival

executed him in 1953 after being accused of abusing power

how did khrushchev remove malenkov

he was forced out as premier

how did khrushchev remove the anti-party group

molotov and others tried to remove KH

who was the main leader in 1958

khrushchev

how did Khrushchev critisize stalins rule

in the secret speech in 1956

what did he say in the secret speech

he said stalin used terror and created a ‘cult of personality’

what were the effects of this speech

• some political prisoners were released

• less censorship

• slightly less fear in society

what was a some key features of the government

• the ussr remained a one party state controlled by the communist party of the soviet union

• no free elections

• the politburo made major decision

• local party officials controlled regions

• khrushchev tried to decentralise industry by creating regional economic councilswhat

what were the ideologies of the government

based on communism from karl marx and lenin

what were the goals of these ideologies?

• classless society

• state ownership of industry

• equality among workers

• khrushchev promised the ussr would take of the USA economically

was there any fear or threats to authority

even thought terror decreased, the regime still feared opposition

what were examples of threats

• worker protests

• disagreements inside the communist party

• satellite states rebelling

example~: Hungarian revolution of 1956- soviet army crushed the uprising

what aspects of terror were there under the government

• terror was much lower than under stalin

• many prisoners released from gulag labour camos

• secret police power reduced (now the KGB)

however

• political dissent still punished

• media still censored

what were living standards like under khrushchev?

he improved daily life:

• more consumer goods (tv, fridges)

• higher wages

• more housing

what were the problems with living standards

• shortages of goods still common

• economic planning often inefficient

what were the industrial developments

• focus shifted slightly from heavy industry to consumer goods

• some industrial growth continued

• khrushchev reorganised industry into regional councils

what were the problems with industrial development

• confusion and inefficiency

• production targets sometimes unrealistic

what did khrushchev do about agriculture

he prioritized farming

what was the virgin lands campaign in 1954

• new farmland opened in Kazakhstan and Siberia

• early success but long term problems

• such as soil erosion and poor harvest later

what were the other ideas of the virgin lands campaign

corn campaign inspired by US farming,

mixed results

by early 1960s the ussr even important grain

what was taxation like

• some tax reductions for peasants

• farmers allowed private plots, which increased food production

• argicultural taxes lowered to encourage farming

what were social changes like

• less fear compared with stalin

• some prisoners released

• more cultural freedom

• but ussr still controlled society heavuily

education under khrushchev

• khrushchev expanded technical and scientific education

• focus on engineering and science

• school reforms tried to combine work and education

reason: compete with USA in technology

what was welfare like under khrushchev

• pensions increased

• more social spending

• healthcare expanded

goal: improve everyday life to prove communism worked

what were living standards and quality of life like under stalin

improvements:

• big housing programme - millions of apartments built

• basic goods became more available

problems:

• apartments often small and poorly built

• food shortages sometimes happened

women life under khrushchev

• women already had legal equality from earlier soviet policies

• under khrushchev:

• women widely worked in industry and farming

• education opportunities expanded

but

• many women still had double burden

what were churches like under khrushchev

religion was discouraged and khrushchev started an anti-religious campaign

• many churches closed

• religion criticised in propaganda

but religion never disappeared completely

what were cultural changes under khrushchev

ethnic minorities:

• some minorities previously deported under stalin were allowed to return home

• however, russian culture still dominated

artists, writers and musicians

this period is sometimes called the ‘Khrushchev thaw’

more freedom:

• writers and artists could criticise some aspects of stalinism

example:

• aleksandr published works about labour camps

but freedom had limits:

• government still censored criticism of communism

what were khrushchevs overall succeses

• reduced terror after stalin

• improved housing and living standards

• some cultural freedom

what were his failures

• agricultural problems

• economic inefficiency

• political system still authoritarian