Khruschev

Question 1

What were Khrushchev’s major political reforms immediately after taking power?

Answer 1

He pursued de-Stalinisation, attacked Stalin’s crimes in the 1956 Secret Speech, and attempted democratisation

Question 2

How did Khrushchev reorganise political authority?

Answer 2

He introduced term limits, expanded party membership, and tried to reduce the dominance of the central bureaucracy.

Question 2

How did Khrushchev treat party elites and rivals?

Answer 2

He removed and replaced many elites and acted unpredictably, leading to major internal conflict such as the 1957 Anti-Party Group attempting to remove him.

Question 3

What was a major continuity under Khrushchev despite reforms?

Answer 3

Continued one-party dominance, censorship and political resistance from conservatives.

Question 4

What was one defining political change under Khrushchev?

Answer 4

Decentralisation — giving greater powers to republican governments and regional bodies.

Question 5

What major economic restructuring did Khrushchev introduce in 1957?

Answer 5

He transferred 11,000 enterprises from central ministries to republican control and created regional economic councils (sovnarkhozy).

Question 6

What was Khrushchev’s major agricultural initiative?

Answer 6

The Virgin Lands Campaign, alongside an obsession with corn production.

Question 7

What agricultural successes did Khrushchev initially have?

Answer 7

Agriculture saw 33% growth between 1954–1958.

Question 8

What agricultural failures occurred later under Khrushchev?

Answer 8

Crisis hit by 1963–1964, forcing the USSR to import food from Canada and the U.S..

Question 9

How did Khrushchev’s industrial strategy differ from Stalin’s?

Answer 9

He emphasised consumer goods more than heavy industry (a change), though he still invested heavily in modernisation.

Question 10

What was Khrushchev’s signature cultural reform?

Answer 10

The Thaw—greater artistic freedom, reduced censorship, and the publication of One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich.

Question 10

What remained a continuity in the Soviet economy under Khrushchev?

Answer 10

The centrally planned economy persisted despite decentralisation efforts.

Question 11

How did Khrushchev change everyday life for Soviet citizens?

Answer 11

He introduced major housing development, doubling the housing stock from 1955–64.

Question 11

How did society react to Khrushchev’s agricultural failures?

Answer 11

Food shortages triggered unrest, most notably the Novocherkassk protests (1962).

Question 12

What was Khrushchev’s relationship with the intelligentsia?

Answer 12

Often conflicted; he clashed with artists and intellectuals even during the Thaw.

Question 13

What continuity existed socially under Khrushchev despite reforms?

Answer 13

Continued suppression of religion and persistent censorship even with periods of relaxation.

Question 13

How did Khrushchev differ from Stalin internationally?

Answer 13

More willing to negotiate, attend summits, and pull back (e.g., removing missiles from Cuba), but also provoked confrontations.

Question 14

What major foreign crises occurred under Khrushchev?

Answer 14

The Hungarian Uprising (1956), the Berlin Crisis, and the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Question 14

What was Khrushchev’s declared foreign policy doctrine?

Answer 14

Peaceful coexistence with the West.

Question 15

Why did Khrushchev face criticism for his foreign policy?

Answer 15

His behaviour was seen as erratic, causing crises and later the Sino-Soviet split.

Question 16

What was the significance of Khrushchev’s space programme investments?

Answer 16

Massive investment in space race and nuclear technology (e.g., Sputnik, ICBMs) demonstrated Soviet modernity and prestige.

Question 17

Where did Khrushchev introduce the biggest political change?

Answer 17

De-Stalinisation, decentralisation, term limits, increased party membership, greater openness.

Question 18

What was the biggest economic change under Khrushchev?

Answer 18

Decentralisation (11,000 enterprises transferred) and early agricultural expansion.

Question 18

What was the main political continuity under Khrushchev?

Answer 18

One-party rule, censorship, and strong resistance from conservative elites.

Question 19

What was the main social continuity?

Answer 19

Ongoing censorship, repression of religion, and harsh treatment of unrest.

Question 19

What was the main economic continuity?

Answer 19

Persistent central planning and repeated agricultural failures.

Question 20

What was the main social change under Khrushchev?

Answer 20

he Thaw, increased cultural freedom, huge housing expansion.

Question 20

What was the biggest foreign policy continuity?

Answer 20

Continued reliance on military power, aggressive posturing, and intervention in satellite states (Hungary).

Question 21

What was the biggest foreign policy change?

Answer 21

Peaceful coexistence and attempts at negotiation and summit diplomacy.

Question 22

Economic aims

Answer 22

improve standard of living, reduce corruption, to address issues with centralisation

Question 23

Political aims

Answer 23

de-stalisation problems caused by stalin not the party, wants party to have a human face for the people, to reduce corruption, to reduce centralised control of party elites, would be to give more freedom to local party bosses

Question 24

Social aims

Answer 24

to give limited increase in freedom, arts, reduce censorship (still cannot criticise the party), treatment of dissidents, education, lifting the terror, believes must fund education for all and education is one of his biggest success, education is the key for a communist society and its fair, under stalin there was inconsistency for education, Khrushchev is not continuing the purges and bloodshed however cannot go against the party

Question 25

Economic successes

Answer 25

improved the standard of living for rural workers, brings in incentives, extends 5 year plans to 7 and switches from heavy industry to consumer products, part of living standard is housing, to address issues with centralisation, final year he separates the hammer and sickle, wants different sectors not just 1 big one, very high rates of growth in agriculture 33% 54-58, industry annual growth 5%, virgin lands programme opened up 42 million hectares of new arable land, launch of sputnik

Question 26

Social success

Answer 26

more artistic freedom, less censorship, education, improved living standards, minimum wage introduced, increased social services spending by 8% in 1956-65, housing stock doubled between 55-64 (often very poor quality), improved educational opportunities for workers and peasants - abolished school and tuition fees in 1958

Question 27

Political reforms

Answer 27

Democratisation campaign intended to curb power of the bureaucracy and transfer responsibility for governance directly to the people Applied term limits to leading party functionaries Expanded party membership from 6.9 million to 11 million members between 54 and 64 (60% registered as workers and peasants) Decentralisation - transfer of 11,000 enterprises from central to republican control by 1955 Establishment of regional economic councils in 1957 each comprehensive authority over economic development, problem is no one has initiative, in a peace time economy a command economy is hard These policies together with de-stalinisation, increased opposition to Khrushchev within the party and state - attempt to topple him failed and his enemies (many stalinsit lieutenants) were ousted from their positions (Anti-party group)

Question 28

Economic failures

Answer 28

Limited improvement in standard of living for rural workers; 7 year plans and poor consumer good productivity vs US Lack of housing - key to improving standard of living Failures of initiatives in agriculture from virgin lands etc. food crisis & importants grain from west 1963 and 64, domestically economic disaster, books are looking bad Economic cost of technology/space race and nuclear arms race Economic cost of supporting states / developing world

Question 29

Social failures

Answer 29

artists still persecuted (not executed); religious policies, anti religious campaigns, closure of orthodox churches turned into libraries, schools etc.

Question 30

Political failures

Answer 30

reduce part elites control and corruption led to opposition to K; attempt to separate hammer and sickle - coup 1964