Yalta and potadam
Para 2
After the surrender of Germnay in May 1945, the allies met once again in the potsdam conference in July 1945 in order to finalise the principles of the post war peace. Roosevelt had died suddenly , and truman replaced him as the president. chruchill had also been replaced by atlee after losing the election. this increased tensins ebtween the US and ussr as roosevelt had been more sympathetic towrads stalin whereas truman, roosevelt's replacement, was a strong anti-commuust and didnt trust stalin. Stalin's behaviour in Poland had already caused a great amount of tension. Stalin had agreed to democratic elections being held in newly liberated countries including poland. however, stalin has set up a communst govenrment in poland agaisnt thew wishes of the posh people. Communist now held key positions in the polish government rasing suspicions from the western allies. The tensions were only raised further when Truman "generally bossed the whole meetng" after revealing the the us had successfully tested a new secret weapon in the form of an atomic bomb on the 16th of july 1945. the bomb fave usa a signiicant advantage over the other countries and it also meant that truman no long er needed Stalin;s help in Japan.
para 3
Although both conferences increased tensions between the US and USSR which contributed to the start of the cold war, the main cause of the cold war was the ideological differences between the 2 countries. The ideological differences were always present between the Soviet Union and United States, however, the conferences brought them to light. The biggest difference between the 2 countries is the different forms of government. USA is a capitalist country meaning all factors of production are owned by private individuals or firms who run them for their own profit. There are free elections, more than one political party, freedom of speech and movement and there is minimal government interference in people's lives. USSR is a communist country meaning all factors of production are owned by the state for the good of the people. Almost opposite to capitalism, there is usually only one-party state, there is strong censorship and the government controls most aspects of the peoples' lives. There was a mutual mistrust between USA and USSR due to these opposing views on government. USA believed that communism was nothing but "abolition of private property" while USSR believed that "The Soviet people [were] better off materially and richer spiritually" with a communist government. The aims both countries wanted to obtain during the conferences, therefore, were also conflicting. Russia wanted to spread communism and keep Germany weak while USA wanted to spread democracy and help Germany to produce its own goods and food again in order to take part in world trade. It was inevitable that these ideological differences would lead to tensions between the 2 countries, causing the Cold War.
para 1
The Yalta conference was held between the 4th and 11th of February 1945, in the city of Yalta in the Russian Crimean between the 3 chief Allied leaders to plan the final defeat and occupation of Nazi Germany. Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin each "came to Yalta with an agenda". The only aspect uniting them was their hatred towards Germany. How to deal with the defeated or liberated countries of Eastern Europe was the main problem discussed at the conference. The leaders agreed to require Germany's unconditional surrender and to set up in the conquered nation four zones of occupation to be run by their three countries and France. Stalin also agreed to permit free elections in newly liberated countries in Eastern Europe and to enter the Asian war against Japan. In turn, he was promised the return of lands lost to Japan in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905. The Yalta conference contributed to the start of the Cold war by creating tension between the United States and the Soviet Union. The negotiations were very much in Stalin's favour as Roosevelt wanted the USSR's help in the pacific as well as for Stalin to agree to go to war with Japan. These negotiations left the Soviet Union "a danger to the free world." All 3 parties left the conference dissatisfied, increasing the tensions between the US and USSR. The Potsdam conference occurred shortly after the Yalta conference and added to the increase in tensions that eventually prompted the Cold War.
