starter activity

Imagine you are the new US president Eisenhower in 1953. Does the
news of Stalins death come as a relief or does it send you into panic?

What impact did

Stalins death have
on the
international
LOs
community?
TBAT
explain positive & negative
effects of Stalins death on
international relations
TBAT explain the assessment of
different historians on the
beginnings of the Thaw

 Your task

Read p.73 of Phillips and list the general

effects of Stalins death on international
relations
Note down the reactions of the following:
Liberal historians (intentionalists)
Structuralists

How did Eisenhower react?

Svetlana described Stalin as being impotent in the face

of the system that had grown up around him like a huge
honeycomb Does the BBC article about his death support
or challenge this view?

Impact of Stalins death

Liberal historians (intentionalist)

emphasising role of individuals in
history see his death as beginning of
Thaw
Structuralist historians see cause of
Thaw in changing positions of
Politiburo and Army leaders

Sveltlana with Stalin, 1935

Eisenhower was
looking for a way
of reducing
government
spending by
implementing
New Look policy
towards East
Both sides had
established their
boundaries and
were looking for
new approaches
to foreign policy
Eisenhower, US President, 1953-61

 Extension task

Use the extracts provided and

highlight evidence of positive &
negative outcomes from Stalins
death from the point of view of
improving East West relations
Evidence of liberalism and
structuralism?
Stalins death
mask in Gori

Answer the questions 1-9 on Peaceful Coexistence

 Homework

Read p.75. Where did the phrase Peaceful

co-existence originate? What were some of
the factors which caused it?
Read p.75-8 and list the reasons why
peaceful co-existence emerged between the
two superpowers. Take notes under these
headings:
Consolidation of positions
Military & economic context
Death of Stalin
Beria
Malenkov

 Plenary

Reaction of ordinary Russians to

Stalins death
Reaction of leaders of party
Reaction of Eisenhower
Extension Explain the differences
between liberal, structuralist views
on Stalins death?
What phrase would
be used to describe
the new East-West
relations?