Question

Explain the reason the Yalta Conference is considered the beginning of the Cold War(2 points) Responses Harry Truman received false Soviet promises for free elections in Poland. Harry Truman received false Soviet promises for free elections in Poland. It led to direct fighting between the US and USSR It led to direct fighting between the US and USSR It formally led to a permanent divide between Poland and Soviet Union It formally led to a permanent divide between Poland and Soviet Union Joseph Stalin expanded communist control over East Europe

Answer 1

The Yalta Conference is often considered the beginning of the Cold War for several reasons:

1. Joseph Stalin's Expansion of Communism: At Yalta, Joseph Stalin made agreements that would enable the Soviet Union to expand its influence over Eastern Europe. Despite assurances for democratic elections and self-determination, he installed communist governments in several countries, undermining trust between the US and the Soviet Union and foreshadowing the division of Europe into East and West.

2. False Promises and Mistrust: President Harry Truman, who succeeded Franklin D. Roosevelt, received assurances from Stalin regarding free elections in Poland and other Eastern European nations. However, these promises were not fulfilled, leading to a growing sense of mistrust and disillusionment in US-Soviet relations. This fundamentally set the stage for the ideological and geopolitical conflict that characterized the Cold War.

These points highlight the seeds of contention that emerged from the Yalta Conference, contributing to the start of the longstanding rivalry between the US and the Soviet Union.