Unit 5 Reading Flashcards
What did both the East and West want?
The area from the Baltic to the Balkans because it would allow them to keep the other side in check
What started the Cold War
The Soviet Union occupying East Europe at the end of WWII
Yalta Conference
Conference between Britain, The United States, and The Soviet Union to discuss the post-war reorganization of Europe, especially Germany
What did FDR promise at the Yalta conference
Free elections in East Europe, which did not happen
Why did both the Untied States and Russia want Poland?
Russia - saw it as a ‘wall’ against possible invasion
United States - saw it as the outpost of European civilization holding back Asians who were going to overrun the continent
What did Stalin do in Poland?
Did not hold any of his promises, reorganized the government and did not hold free elections, brutally suppressed the people
What did Americans start to believe?
That standing up Stalin was as important as standing up to Hitler
What was Truman told to do when he took office?
To not do a thing about Poland and just accept Stalin
George Kennan
Opposed to the denazification of Germany because he thought the Germans would soon be joining the United States in opposition to Russia. Also believed the Russians would never be able to maintain East Europe
W. Averell Harriman
Rejected the do-nothing policy, believed that the Americans could do whatever they wanted because the Russians needed money
