Origins of the Cold War: Yalta Conference

1. Choose two points of agreement from the list and explain why they were significant for the future peace of Europe.      

First Point:     

  The Big Three agreed to join the United Nations Organization and this group would go on to try to maintain peaceful relations between countries.  This was important for the future peace of Europe because, with the leadership and joining by the Big Three, this group would help ensure peace in between countries, including countries in Europe.

Second Point: 
  The agreement that the Big Three would track down war criminals involved in concentration and death camps was significant for the future peace of Europe.  This is because it was one way to ensure that Britain and the Soviet Union stayed allies, so there would at least be peace between those two countries.  Also, this would keep such camps from being started or attempted in other countries.  This would hopefully decrease the anti-Semitism that could wreck the peace in Europe.


2. Read Sources 2 - 11 on pages 320 and 321. What is your overall impression of the Yalta Conference based on these sources?        
  Based on these sources, although they were allies, America, the USSR, and Britain never really trusted each other.  The Soviet Union always felt as if Britain and America were trying to steal its money and would not let it take over more countries and land.  Meanwhile, Britain and America were afraid that the Soviet Union would end democracies and so they did not want it to expand.  Also, America was nervous that Britain would be pro-Soviet Union.  This was the more serious part of the Big Three not trusting each other.  There were lighter parts, such as Churchill and Stalin teasing each other, but underneath the alliance there was no trust.