Pearson Edexcel · A-Level · History

    Course version: 9HI0 · Version from Sept 2015

    Government, 1953–85: changes in leaders’ control of the state across the…

    Full specification wording

    Communist government in the USSR, 1917–85: Government, 1953–85: changes in leaders’ control of the state across the period; Khrushchev’s attempts to reform government including de-Stalinisation; the return to stability under Brezhnev, 1964–82; growing political stagnation, 1982-85.

    After Stalin died in 1953, collective leadership gave way to Khrushchev's personal rule.

    Checked against the Pearson Edexcel 9HI0 specification (opens in a new tab) on .

    • Point 3 of 3
    • 4 key terms

    Study notes

    From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.

    The idea

    After Stalin died in 1953, collective leadership gave way to Khrushchev's personal rule. He tried to reform government by reducing the secret police's arbitrary power, separating party and state roles, and promoting de-Stalinisation: the 1956 Secret Speech condemned Stalin's crimes, and destalinisation removed his cult from public life. But reform destabilised the elite and his erratic style led to his removal in 1964. Brezhnev restored stability through collective leadership, cadres' security ('stability of cadres') and conservative appointments, but this bred gerontocracy and corruption. From 1982 to 1985, under Andropov and then Chernenko, ageing leaders and economic decline produced growing political stagnation, with little reform before Gorbachev.

    What earns the marks

    • Explains how leadership control changed from collective rule after 1953 to Khrushchev's personal dominance, then back to collective stability under Brezhnev.
    • Identifies Khrushchev's reforms: limiting secret police powers, party-state separation, and de-Stalinisation including the 1956 Secret Speech and removal of Stalin's cult.
    • Assesses the consequences of de-Stalinisation: elite insecurity, opposition, and contribution to Khrushchev's fall in 1964.
    • Explains Brezhnev's return to stability: 'stability of cadres', conservative appointments, and suppression of reform, 1964–82.
    • Analyses growing political stagnation, 1982–85: ageing leadership under Andropov and Chernenko, corruption, and economic decline.
    • Evaluates the extent of change across the whole period, comparing leaders' control and the limits of reform.

    Common mistakes and how to put them right

    • Treating de-Stalinisation as only a cultural thaw.

      Put it right: It also involved political reform, such as reducing terror and restructuring party-state relations.

    • Assuming Brezhnev's stability was purely positive.

      Put it right: It also meant stagnation, gerontocracy, and resistance to necessary reform.

    • Confusing Andropov and Chernenko's short terms.

      Put it right: Andropov (1982–84) tried limited anti-corruption measures, while Chernenko (1984–85) was largely inactive.

    • Overstating Khrushchev's success; correction: his reforms were partial and contributed to his removal in 1964.

    Exam tips

    • Plan essays around change and continuity in leaders' control, using specific dates and terms like de-Stalinisation and stability of cadres.
    • Use the 1953–85 timeframe to structure comparisons: Khrushchev's reform, Brezhnev's stability, and stagnation under Andropov and Chernenko.
    • Support arguments with precise evidence, such as the 1956 Secret Speech, the 1964 removal, and the ageing Politburo of the early 1980s.
    • Address the wording 'changes in leaders' control' by analysing how far each leader dominated the state apparatus.

    Try the lesson

    The start of the Communist government in the USSR, 1917–85: Government, 1953–85: changes in leaders’ control of the state across the period; Khrushchev’s attempts to reform government including de-Stalinisation; the return to stability under Brezhnev, 1964–82; growing political stagnation, 1982-85. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.

    Have a go first

    Which leader of the Soviet Union delivered the 'Secret Speech' attacking Stalin's crimes to the Twentieth Party Congress in 1956?

    Listen

    After Stalin died in 1953, collective leadership gave way to Khrushchev's personal rule. He tried to reform government by reducing the secret police's arbitrary power, separating party and state roles, and promoting de-Stalinisation: the 1956 Secret Speech condemned Stalin's crimes, and destalinisation removed his cult from public life. But reform destabilised the elite and his erratic style led to his removal in 1964. Brezhnev restored stability through collective leadership, cadres' security ('stability of cadres') and conservative appointments, but this bred gerontocracy and corruption. From 1982 to 1985, under Andropov and then Chernenko, ageing leaders and economic decline produced growing political stagnation, with little reform before Gorbachev. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Explains how leadership control changed from collective rule after 1953 to Khrushchev's personal dominance, then back to collective stability under Brezhnev. Identifies Khrushchev's reforms: limiting secret police powers, party-state separation, and de-Stalinisation including the 1956 Secret Speech and removal of Stalin's cult. Assesses the consequences of de-Stalinisation: elite insecurity, opposition, and contribution to Khrushchev's fall in 1964. Explains Brezhnev's return to stability: 'stability of cadres', conservative appointments, and suppression of reform, 1964–82. A common slip: Treating de-Stalinisation as only a cultural thaw. Instead, it also involved political reform, such as reducing terror and restructuring party-state relations. Exam tip: Plan essays around change and continuity in leaders' control, using specific dates and terms like de-Stalinisation and stability of cadres.

    See it

    A top-down flowchart. It begins with the node 'Stalin dies, 1953', which leads to 'Collective leadership'. That leads to 'Khrushchev's personal rule', which leads to 'Reform attempts: limit secret police, separate party and state, de-Stalinisation'. This node branches into two: one leads to '1956 Secret Speech condemns Stalin's crimes', and the other leads to 'Reform destabilises elite'. The latter leads to 'Khrushchev removed, 1964', which leads to 'Brezhnev: return to stability, 1964-82'. That leads to 'Stability of cadres and conservative appointments', which leads to 'Gerontocracy and corruption', which finally leads to 'Growing political stagnation, 1982-85 under Andropov and Chernenko'.
    A sequence showing how leaders' control of the Soviet state changed from collective leadership after Stalin's death in 1953, through Khrushchev's reforms and removal, to Brezhnev's stability and the stagnation of 1982–85.

    Put the events in order

    Put these events in the order they happened, earliest first.

    1. 1. Andropov began leading amid growing stagnation
    2. 2. Stalin died, ending his rule
    3. 3. Khrushchev removed from power
    4. 4. Secret Speech condemned Stalin's crimes

    Key words

    Say what each word means before you turn the card.

    De-Stalinisation

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    Stability and stagnation

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    Leadership and control

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    Reform and reaction

    Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.

    See every definition
    De-Stalinisation
    The 1956 Secret Speech condemned Stalin's crimes, and this process removed his cult from public life.
    Stability and stagnation
    Brezhnev restored stability through collective leadership and conservative appointments, but this bred gerontocracy and corruption, and from 1982 to 1985 ageing leaders and economic decline produced growing political stagnation.
    Leadership and control
    Collective leadership after 1953 gave way to Khrushchev's personal rule, then back to collective stability under Brezhnev.
    Reform and reaction
    Khrushchev tried to reform government by reducing the secret police's arbitrary power and separating party and state roles, but reform destabilised the elite and led to his removal in 1964.

    Label the diagram

    Some boxes have lost their names. Pick the right name for each number.

    The diagram again, with 3 boxes numbered instead of named. A top-down flowchart. It begins with the node 'Stalin dies, 1953', which leads to 'Collective leadership'. That leads to 'Khrushchev's personal rule', which leads to 'Reform attempts: limit secret police, separate party and state, de-Stalinisation'. This node branches into two: one leads to '1956 Secret Speech condemns Stalin's crimes', and the other leads to 'Reform destabilises elite'. The latter leads to 'Khrushchev removed, 1964', which leads to 'Brezhnev: return to stability, 1964-82'. That leads to 'Stability of cadres and conservative appointments', which leads to 'Gerontocracy and corruption', which finally leads to 'Growing political stagnation, 1982-85 under Andropov and Chernenko'.

    • 1Box 1

    • 2Box 2

    • 3Box 3

    0 of 3 labelled

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