Khrushchev as leader: character; ideology and aims; style of leadership; political and legal reforms: the Secret Speech and de-Stalinisation within the USSR; changes to party organisation
Khrushchev led the USSR from 1953 and broke sharply with Stalin's brutal methods. He attacked Stalin's legacy publicly, released political prisoners, and restructured how the Communist Party operated.
Real World
In February 1956, Khrushchev's 'Secret Speech' to the 20th Party Congress denounced Stalin's cult of personality and mass purges; when a transcript leaked to the West via Polish intelligence, it triggered uprisings in Poland and Hungary within months.
Exam Focus
Distinguish de-Stalinisation's limits — the party system, one-party rule, and collectivisation were untouched — to show precise analytical thinking.
Essay Framework
Use PEEL to structure every paragraph. Tap each step for guidance and an example.
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