Yalta and Potsdam
To what extent did the Yalta and Potsdam conferences contribute to the development of the Cold War in Europe?
Word Count: 3722
ABSTRACT
The Yalta and Potsdam conferences remain as one of the key sources when studying about Cold War and the alliance of the “Big Three.” The focus question of the essay asks, “To what extent did the Yalta and Potsdam conferences contribute to the development of Cold War in Europe?” The two conferences have significant relevance when trying to come to the conclusion as to why did the Cold War erupt?
To accurately understand the significance of the conferences, the personal interaction of the leaders, the decisions that were made and what was said is closely examined. Yalta marked the high point for the Big Three in the sense that the three were together in the belief that they were deciding the fate of the world. While Potsdam was more of a steep decline, marking the collapse of the Big Three. The change of Roosevelt to Truman in the second conference also greatly affected the alliance because Truman had different approach towards Stalin than Roosevelt did. The conferences that were suppose to decide the post-war world and ensure no future war only worsened the situation as the different visions for that post-war world collided with already heightened misconceptions.
The Yalta and Potsdam Conferences were not the reason for Cold War but were what kick-started the new kind of war that lasted for forty-six years. Indeed, its necessary to study the two conferences as they played an important role in deciding the future of the world during that period.
Abstract Word Count: 247
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………………………………............................4-5
What They Believed and the Post-War Aims………………………………………………………………………………..………5-6
Word Count: 3722
ABSTRACT
The Yalta and Potsdam conferences remain as one of the key sources when studying about Cold War and the alliance of the “Big Three.” The focus question of the essay asks, “To what extent did the Yalta and Potsdam conferences contribute to the development of Cold War in Europe?” The two conferences have significant relevance when trying to come to the conclusion as to why did the Cold War erupt?
To accurately understand the significance of the conferences, the personal interaction of the leaders, the decisions that were made and what was said is closely examined. Yalta marked the high point for the Big Three in the sense that the three were together in the belief that they were deciding the fate of the world. While Potsdam was more of a steep decline, marking the collapse of the Big Three. The change of Roosevelt to Truman in the second conference also greatly affected the alliance because Truman had different approach towards Stalin than Roosevelt did. The conferences that were suppose to decide the post-war world and ensure no future war only worsened the situation as the different visions for that post-war world collided with already heightened misconceptions.
The Yalta and Potsdam Conferences were not the reason for Cold War but were what kick-started the new kind of war that lasted for forty-six years. Indeed, its necessary to study the two conferences as they played an important role in deciding the future of the world during that period.
Abstract Word Count: 247
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………………………………............................4-5
What They Believed and the Post-War Aims………………………………………………………………………………..………5-6
Bibliography: 2 John D. Clare, “The Big Three during the War,” Greenfield History Site. 2002 < http://www.johndclare.net/cold_war4.htm> (2010).