1. US, British and USSR relations in 1945

• What was a major disagreement at Yalta regarding Germany?

  No agreement on reparations amount
• What was debated concerning Eastern Europe at Yalta?

  Extent of free elections
• What was the disagreement about Poland at Yalta?

  Type of government Poland should have
• What was debated regarding the UN at Yalta?

  Voting systems and security council operations
• What suspicions were indulged regarding the USSR at Yalta?

  Involvement in the Pacific, specifically Japan
• How did Stalin interpret free elections?

  Indignantly, leading to disagreements
• What were the Potsdam agreements focused on regarding Germany?

  Denazification, demilitarization, and democratization
• What was decided about Berlin in the Potsdam agreements?

  Berlin would remain divided
• What influence did the USSR have according to the Potsdam agreements?

  Influence over Eastern Europe
• What was agreed upon regarding Japan at Potsdam?

  Terms for Japan's unconditional surrender
• What did the USA inform Stalin about at Potsdam?

  Successful atomic bomb test
• What was reaffirmed in the Potsdam agreements?

  Yalta agreements on Europe and peace
• What was a key disagreement in Potsdam regarding Germany?

  No agreement on long-term reunification
• What concern did the West have about Eastern European governments?

  Amount of Soviet control and lack of free elections
• What was a concern regarding Soviet expansionism?

  Underlying concerns about Asia
• What information did the USA withhold regarding atomic bombs?

  Capabilities of the atomic bombs
• What was the fear regarding Soviet actions in Eastern Europe?

  Increasing divergence over political control
• What was a major fear during the tensions of this period?

  Fear of Soviet expansionism
• What did Truman claim about Eastern Europe?

  He liberated it but saw struggles
• What did Stalin want regarding capitalism?

  A buffer against capitalism
• What was a significant change in dynamics among the big three?

  Increased tensions and disagreements
• What was the West's concern in 1946 regarding the USSR?

  Spread of influence in the Middle East
• How did Stalin respond to Western threats?

  He backed down for a deal on oil
• What conclusion did Truman draw from Stalin's actions?

  Soviet claims should meet determined opposition
• What did Kennan's long telegram advocate?

  Use of a tough policy against the USSR
• How did Kennan describe the USSR?

  A dangerous and expansionist state
• What did Moscow respond to according to Kennan?

  Highly sensitive to the logic of force
• What was the impact of Churchill's iron curtain speech?

  Called for a stronger Anglo-American alliance
• How did Stalin react to Churchill's speech?

  Compared Churchill to Hitler
• What approach did Kennan advocate regarding Germany?

  Dividing Germany permanently into two
• What did Kennan underestimate in Soviet foreign policy?

  Flexibility in approach after 1945
• What was the situation of communist parties in France and Italy post-WW2?

  Gaining popularity due to economic crisis
• What worsened the economic crisis in Europe in 1946?

  Poor harvests and harsh winter