Khrushchev Depth Study

What is a satellite state?

A country that is officially independent but heavily influenced or controlled by another country, especially in areas of politics, economics and military.

What was the Virgin Land Scheme?

An agricultural policy to turn unfarmed lands in Kazakstan and Western Siberia into new farmland

What % of the budget rose to focus on the Virgin Land Scheme?

Rose from 3% to 13%

What was the total area sown by 1964? What was it in 1953?

Total area sown was 97 million hectares by 1964 an increase from 18 million hectares in 1953

How much did agricultural production rise by?

35.3%

How many million tonnes of grain was harvested in 1958?

135 million tonnes

What was the corn campaign?

An incentive to grow maize. Traditional Ukrainian farmers would grow maize to feed animals and grain would be produced in new land under the Virgin Land Scheme.

Why was the corn campaign a failure?

- Growing more corn and maize meant less hay, overall, animal feed dropped by 30% between 1958 and 1964

- Agriculture was inefficient especially compared to the US who produced 50% more corn per hectare

What was a key problem with the Virgin Land Scheme?

It was expensive and largely inefficient. An example of this is that Kazakstan is very dry and needed expensive fertilisers and irrigation systems

What % of the central committee were replaced under Khrushchev's early government reforms?

44% of members were replaced

What was military spending like under Khrushchev?

Stayed high due to the Cold War at 12% of GDP. It dropped to 9% in 1958 but then back up to 11% due to international tensions (Cuban missile crisis)

How much did consumer goods increase between 1959 and 1965?

The production of chemicals and consumer goods increased by 60% (this was 7.5% below target)

How much did fertiliser production increase?

Increased by 19 million tonnes (this was 3.5 million tonnes below target)

What economic reforms under Khrushchev were counterproductive?

- between 1958 and 1964 centralised planning was re introduced to help solve previous problems

- in February the central committee was split in two, one half responsible for agriculture the other for industry

- Khrushchev changed the targets of the planning in 1962 which made goals more ambitious

What happened to housing under Khrushchev?

Housing under Khrushchev doubled, low cost housing (prefabricated) were nicknamed Khrushchyovka. These were hugely impactful and changed the family lives of Russians.

What happened to the amount of teachers in the USSR?

Rose from 1.5 million to 2.2 million between 1953 and 1964

What happened to university fees?

University fees were abolished in 1956

What % of students finished secondary school by 1959?

75% of students

What type of education was pushed?

Polytechnic education not necessarily academic. Investment in education had doubled by 1956

What were the aims of the 1959 seven year plan?

- increase consumer goods at the expense of heavy industry

- targets that were set focused on quality and value of goods not on the quantity

When is abortion legalised?

1955

What happened to the health and welfare budget?

Doubled by 1959

What was free in Russia?

Free lunches in schools, offices and factories. Free public transport.

What happened to the infant mortality rate and death rate?

Infant mortality rate decreased by 54% and death rate decreases by 2 people per thousand.

What happened to democratisation of the party in 1961?

All members of the CPSU are given fixed terms of 16 years including all roles within the central committee

Do the Russians get pensions?

Yes, they get full pensions and healthcare rights

What happened to democratisation of the party in 1957?

Expansion of party membership to dilute central power occurred. Party membership rose from 6 million to 11 million. 5 autonomous territory are restored (the Chechens)

What terms are guaranteed under the criminal code of 1958?

Arbitrary terms in the law are removed (cannot be arrested for being an enemy of the people). The max length of a sentence was reduced to 10 years. Civilians could only be convicted by a property constituted court.

What was the rise in agricultural incomes?

200% rise in incomes by 1956 and 400% rise in incomes by 1964

How many people were freed from Gulags?

Initial concessions include 45,000 Ukrainian nationalists released. Tens of thousands of political prisoners released.

What was the policy of peaceful coexistence?

Khrushchev declared that a loosening of soviet control over satellite states would be mutually beneficial. We wanted to see countries with different social systems working together for mutual benefit

What are some examples of peaceful coexistence?

- July 1953 an armistice was signed better the warring sides in Korea, negotiated by Russia

- Austrian state treaty of 1955 saw the removal of allied troops from Austria

What are some of the limitations of peaceful coexistence?

- Hungarian uprising of 1956

- Poznan rising of 1956

- East German affairs of 1953

- Berlin Wall

- Paris peace conference is abandoned due to tensions between the US and the USSR on the 5th May 1960