Iron Curtain Separates Europe

1. What is your overall impression of Source 26 (p. 70) and use extracts from the source to support your view. (No fence sitting; you must choose one but not both)      

• a reasonable assessment of Stalin’s aims based on the facts
• an overreaction to Stalin’s actions based on fear of and prejudice towards the USSR?        
My impression of source 26 is that this is a reasonable assessment of Stalin's aims based on the facts. As the source states, "not only is the soviet government prepared to co-operate with any non- communist controlled government in eastern Europe"  I find this to be an accurate statement; based on this quote, it is obvious that Stalin wouldn't let the countries in Eastern Europe just have their own government, because that's not what Stalin stands for. What Stalin would really like is for the countries to be communist like his, that way he wouldn't have to deal with other government types that he's not a fan of. 
2. Source 26 is a British source. Does it seem likely that similar documents were being produced by the American government?      
Seeing as America and Britain were more so on the same page and closer bonded compared to the Soviet Union with either of them, it would make sense that America was producing similar documents like source 26. In addition, there's no doubt that these types of things were discussed amongst both America and Britain, which would also imply that documents like this were being produced in America too. 
3. Study Source 27 (p. 71) and make a list of three different actions that Communists took to achieve power in eastern Europe. Explain how each factor helped.     

One of three actions that Communists took to achieve power in eastern Europe was that communists became the biggest party in 1947 elections, as well as imprisoning opposition politicians. This was helpful in achieving power in eastern Europe because if communism was leading in power, then everyone would be more willing to listen to Stalin as well as his ideas. Another step the communists took in order to take control of eastern Europe was that the communists took over Albania right after the war, therefore helping them by giving them one more country and more land. Lastly, in 1945 in Romania a communist prime minister was elected and y 1947 the monarchy there was abolished. This was helpful because it turned the country into a communist country just like Soviet Russia as well as getting rid of the monarchy making the country only communist. 

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 all agreed to join the new United Nations Organisation, which would aim to

keep peace after the war." This is a very important point because the U.N. is basically know for keeping peace between countries. The fact that the Big Three joined is significant to the future peace in Europe because these countries would then more likely stay out of conflict with Europe in the future.

Second Point: "As Allied soldiers advanced through Germany, they were revealing the horrors of the Nazi

concentration camps. The Big Three agreed to hunt down and punish war criminals who were

responsible for the genocide." This was an important point to the future peace of Europe because this could imply that such horrors having been done, may not be done again, and Europe is almost being protected from it happening once again. 

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 resources my overall impression of the Yalta Conference is that everyone seemed to get along when they were at the actual conference but, most of the sources were writings after the conference. From these sources i feel as though everyone was sort of plotting against each other or Russia in general. For example, in Source 10, "Churchill ordered Montgomely to keep the German arms intact, in case they had to be used against the Russians." This is showing almost a secret plot against Russia.Then in source 4,"Stalin waved his hand over the Soviet Union and exclaimed, 'They [Roosevelt and Churchill] will never accept the idea that so great a space should be red, never, never!" This seems as though Stalin was trying to glorify his nation. 

America Enters World War II

1. What impact did the outbreak of war in Europe have on U.S. foreign and defense policy?   
The outbreak of war in Europe's impact on U.S. foreign and defense policy for one was the cost of national defense. As the reading states, "Roosevelt asked congress to increase spending for national defense" Another effect the war in Europe had on the U.S. was that congress passed the first military draft and millions of men were to be registered. Lastly, since Roosevelt was reelected, Roosevelt's policy of aiding Britain was put into action.
2. Why did Roosevelt take one “unneutral” step after another to assist Britain and the Soviet Union in 1941?    
Roosevelt took on unneutral step after another to assist Britain and The Soviet Union because Hitler had gone back on his agreement with Stalin and invaded Soviet Russia. Roosevelt said he agreed with Winston Churchill "who has said,'if Hitler Invaded Hell' The British would be prepared to work with the devil himself"
3. Why was the Atlantic Charter important?   
The Atlantic Charter was important because it was a joint declaration of war aims. According to the reading "Both countries pledged the following: collective security disarmament, self- determination, economic cooperation, and freedom of the sea" This was obviously important because each aim of war is defined as to what it is and what the "rules of war" are. This also became the basis of the U.N.
4. Why did the United States enter into an undeclared shooting war with Germany in fall 1941?   
The U.S entered into an undeclared shooting war with Germany because a U-boat torpedoed the a U.S. ship and 11 lives were lost. A few days later another U.S. ship was torpedoed by a U-Boat and therefore the United States had just reason to enter and undeclared shooting war with Germany.
5. How was oil a source of conflict between Japan and the United States?   
Oil was a source of conflict between Japan and the U.S. because Japan decided to take over French Military bases, because of this the U.S. cut off trade with Japan because this was an act of aggression. By the U.S. doing this, they cut off oil along with other goods with Japan, and Japan needed oil in order to thrive as a country.
6. What problem would the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor solve for Roosevelt? What new problems would it create?  
The attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese would solve the problem of isolationists. Prior to the attack they had not been in full support of America and the war effort, but after the attack on Pearl Harbour the isolationists supported America completely, and America having declared war on Japan. One problem this attack made for the U.S. is having to fight wars in both the Atlantic and the pacific ocean. Another problem caused by this attack was the fact that Germany and Italy declared war on the United States shortly after they declared war on Japan.