Khrushchev's Attempts to Reform Government

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Khrushchev's Reforms

Following the Secret Speech, Khrushchev began a campaign of reform in reaction to Stalin's rule.

The impact of the speech

One of Khrushchev's claims during the 20th Congress was that the party was too monolithic - only one set of views was allowed.
- Stalin and Lenin had hated 'deviationists', so few expressed any criticism of official policy.
The secret speech created a new climate of criticism.
- Portraits and busts of Stalin were destroyed. Some now called Stalin an 'enemy of the people.'
There were regional differences: in Georgia, Stalin's home, four days of protests shook Tbilisi, the capital.

Practical steps

Khrushchev sent troops to deal with the protests in Tbilisi.
- Twenty died and 60 injured.
- Khrushchev did not want the impact of his speech to get out of control.
Khrushchev released thousands of gulag political prisoners.

Khrushchev's weaknesses

Although Khrushchev was trying to 'de-Stalinise' (if not liberalise) the USSR, his position was not entirely secure.
June 1957: Malenkov, Molotov, Voroshilov and Bulganin attempted to overthrow Khrushchev.
- Khrushchev was able to use his base support in the party to win a vote against the rebels.
The secret speech had not given Khrushchev the popularity he had hoped for.

National minorities

Khrushchev's criticism of Stalin made groups who were unhappy with Soviet rule feel they could rebel.
In the satellite Soviet states, such as Hungary and Poland, this created a particular challenge.
- Neither country wanted a communist government.
1956: Khrushchev used military force to put down protests in Hungary.
- This led to 20,000 Hungarian and 1,500 Soviet casualties.
- In doing so, he re-affirmed his position as a 'Stalinist'.

Khrushchev's political legacy

A portrait of Stalin hung in Khrushchev's office long after the speech.
- This showed where his ultimate political loyalties lay.
There were still elements of his rule which were more liberal.
- For example, he allowed the publication of One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich (Alexander Solzhenitsyn), which was critical of the regime.
Having raised the hopes of reformers in East and West alike, many thought the Cold War was thawing.

Cold War legacy

The West was more confident in dealing with the USSR under Khrushchev.
But in practice, the biggest Cold War crises in Berlin and Cuba came under Khrushchev's rule.

1Communist Government in the USSR, 1917-85

1.1Establishing Communist Party Control, 1917-24

1.1.1The Creation of a One-Party State

1.1.2Government under Lenin

1.1.3Centralisation of Power

1.1.4End of Topic Test - Establishing Control

1.1.5A-A* (AO3/4) - Establishing Control

1.2Stalin in Power, 1928-53

1.2.1The Elimination of Opponents

1.2.2The Purges of the 1930s

1.2.3End of Topic Test - The Elimination of Opponents

1.2.4Stalin's Power Over the Communist Party

1.2.5Stalin's Power During & After the Communist Party

1.2.6End of Topic Test - Power Over the Communist Party

1.2.7A-A* (AO3/4) - Stalin in Power

1.3Government, 1953-85

1.3.1Changes in Leaders' Control of the State

1.3.2Khrushchev's Attempts to Reform Government

1.3.3End of Topic Test - Government 1953-85

1.3.4Stability & Stagnation, 1964-85

1.3.5End of Topic Test - Stability & Stagnation

1.3.6A-A* (AO3/4) - Government 1953 - 85

2Industrial & Agricultural Changes

2.1Towards a Command Economy

2.1.1Nationalisation of Industry, Communism & the NEP

2.1.2End of Topic Test - Towards a Command Economy

2.2Industry & Agriculture in the Stalin Era

2.2.1Five Year Plans & Industrial Change

2.2.2Five Year Plans & Industrial Change 2

2.2.3End of Topic Test - Five Year Plans

2.2.4Agricultural Collectivisation & its Impact

2.2.5Recovery from War after 1945

2.2.6End of Topic Test - Collectivisation & Recovery

2.3Changes in Industry & Agriculture, 1953-85

2.3.1Light Industry, Chemicals & Consumer Goods

2.3.2Investment in Agriculture & Virgin Lands

2.3.3Attempts at Reform after 1964

2.3.4End of Topic Test - Industry & Agriculture

2.3.5A-A* (AO3/4) - Industry & Agriculture

3Control of the People, 1917-85

3.1Media, Propaganda & Religion

3.1.1State Control of Mass Media & Propaganda

3.1.2Attacks on Religious Beliefs & Practices

3.1.3Attacks on Religious Beliefs & Practices 2

3.1.4End of Topic Test - Media, Propaganda & Religion

3.1.5Cults: Stalin, Khrushchev, Brezhnev

3.1.6A-A*/ - Media, Propaganda & Religion

3.2The Secret Police

3.2.1Attacks on Opponents of the Government

3.2.2The Roles of Yagoda, Yezhov & Beria

3.2.3Andropov & Late Opposition to Soviet Rule

3.2.4End of Topic Test - Secret Police

3.3The State & Cultural Change

3.3.1Proletkult, Avant-Garde & Socialist Realism

3.3.2Nonconformity from the 1950s

3.3.3End of Topic Test - State & Cultural Change

3.3.4A-A* (AO3/4) - Control of the People

4Social Developments, 1917-35

4.1Social Security

4.1.1Full Employment Benefits

4.1.2Housing & Social Benefits

4.1.3Khrushchev, Brezhnev & Stable Society

4.1.4End of Topic Test - Social Security

4.2Women & Family

4.2.1Changing Status of Different Groups

4.2.2Changing Attitudes to Family

4.2.3Changing Attitudes to Family 2

4.2.4End of Topic Test - Women & Family

4.3Education & Young People

4.3.1Growth of Primary, Secondary & Higher Education

4.3.2Reduction of Illiteracy

4.3.3State Control of the Curriculum

4.3.4End of Topic Test - Education & Young People

4.3.5A-A* (AO3/4) - Social Developments

5Historical Interpretations

5.1What Explains the Fall of the USSR, 1985-91?

5.1.1Economic Weakness

5.1.2Attempts at Economic Reform

5.1.3Failure To Reform The Communist Party & Soviet Gov

5.1.4Impact of Reforms

5.1.5End of Topic Test - Economic Reform

5.1.6Impact of the Nationalist Resurgence

5.1.7Impact of the Nationalist Resurgence 2

5.1.8End of the USSR

5.1.9Gorbachev & Yeltsin's Responsibility

5.1.10End of Topic Test - Nationalist Resurgence

5.1.11A-A* (AO3/4) - Explaining the Fall of the USSR

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