Essay On Khrushchev

The Secret Speech

Throughout the 1940s and 50s, Stalin cut down countless lives with no remorse for anyone. In light of these atrocities, Nikita Khrushchev decided to take a stand. In February 1956, Khrushchev gave his famous secret speech during the 20th Congress of the Soviet Communist Party. In the speech he denounced Stalin and “exposed the Stalinist Terror and Cult of Personality” (Eidelman 1). Khrushchev’s speech was widespread all throughout the USSR with every person receiving a rendition. After Khrushchev’s address, he gained fame and popularity with the people. This led to him becoming the leader of the Soviet Union. Under Khrushchev, the USSR prioritized becoming a world power, like the United States. The biggest changes to the Soviet

During his time he “played a pivotal role in shaping Russian foreign policy during the Cold War era”(). His leadership was vastly different from his violent predecessor, Joseph Stalin. Stalin was a cold blooded murderer, and surrounded himself with a “cult of personality”(). After Krushchev’s famous speech in 1956, he “pursued a policy of de-Stalinization”(). Khrushchev went even further than de-Stalinization as he attempted “peaceful coexistence with the West”(), started “thawing tensions from the Cold War”(), and brought the Soviets from an “isolationist country to a global

Foreign policies implemented under Khrushchev turned the once tough and cold country to a world power that began to peacefully coexist with the Western World. Krushchev advocated for reducing tensions with the United States and “actively engaged in diplomatic efforts to ease the confrontational stance between the two superpowers”(). This approach led to the famous “1959 visit by Khrushchev to the United States and contributed to a temporary thaw in the Cold War”(), which reduced the risk of nuclear conflict. One of Khrushchev's most notable actions was denouncing the excesses of his predecessor, Joseph Stalin, and implementing a policy of de-Stalinization. This policy aimed to dismantle the cult of personality surrounding Stalin, liberalize aspects of Soviet society, and promote a more relaxed political atmosphere. It had a profound impact on Russia by allowing for greater freedom of expression and cultural