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?
I would say that Source 26 is a reasonable assessment of Stalin's aims based on the facts. This is because within the quote, "...not only is the Soviet Government not prepared to co-operate with any non-Communist controlled government in eastern Europe, but it is actively preparing to extend its hold over the remaining part of continental Europe...." the British Foreign Secretary is looking at what the USSR has chosen to do and is planning to do, he is looking at the facts and making a logical assumption that the Soviet Union plans to keep spreading communism over the world. He doesn't appear to hold too much prejudice, and he even admits that the USSR could potentially be successful in the quote, "The immensity of the aim should not betray us into believing that it cannot be achieved. Basically, source 26 was somewhat objective and just appeared to analyze the facts at hand rather than overreact due to prejudice.
2. Source 26 is a British source. Does it seem likely that similar documents were being produced by the American government?
Yes it seems likely that similar documents were being produced by the American government because both Britain and the U.S. at this point realized Stalin was in it to win it, and wasn't planning to back down against non-communist governments. So, reports such as this would most likely be being delivered often in both the United States and Britain to the cabinets.
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.
- Communists adapted a left-wing coalition government and exiled a non-communist leader in Poland. This non-communist leader would help enforce communism in Poland, and the coalition government would make it seem like the Soviet communists would run for elections, but then they'd just take over.
- Communists rid of of the monarchy in Romania and made a communist into Prime Minister there. This was a continuation of what the USSR had been doing to other countries in eastern Europe: eradicating any other government and implementing communism.
- Banned other parties after election in Czechoslovakia and made it a one-party state. This was another example of how the USSR would have "elections" where the left-wing coalition would win, and then just use that to take over the country and enforce communism. One the USSR made Czechoslovakia a one-party state, elections were no more, and communism was the dominant government.
Basically all three of these actions spread communism throughout eastern Europe and rid of any opposing governments that might've threatened their power.
1. Read Source 17 (p 68). At Yalta, Churchill and Roosevelt had agreed with Stalin that eastern Europe would be a Soviet ‘sphere of influence’. Do you think Source 17 is what they had in mind?
No, I don't think Source 17 is what they had in mind because it's a lot more drastic. It's a beginning to imposing communism throughout eastern Europe, and Churchill and Roosevelt certainly did not want the spread of communism, in fact, that's what they were trying to prevent.
2. Would they agree with Stalin’s views expressed in Sources 17 and 18? Explain your answer.
No, they would not agree with Stalin's views expressed in Sources 17 and 18. This is because Stalin's armies remaining in every territory they liberated in eastern Europe and taking Poland meant that communism was being spread and becoming more and more prominent. They didn't feel as if this was necessary, as Stalin did. Also, Stalin refers to an anti-communist government in Greece as something that he doubts about whether or not it is a truly representative government, and I'm sure that's also something Churchill and Roosevelt would disagree with.
3. Explain how each of the three developments described in the text might affect relationships at Potsdam.
Well, Stalin's armies occupying most of eastern Europe and imposing communism there would create even more hostility between Truman and Stalin, as Truman was already quite wary and suspicious of Stalin's actions in eastern Europe. Britain was additionally suspicious of Stalin. America's new president, Truman, was more anti-communist than Roosevelt was, so relations between him and Stalin were worse than relations between Stalin and Roosevelt were. The success of the U.S. in the development of the atomic bomb would create even more tension between the three men, as the other two knew that America now had an upper hand in weaponry advancement, and both Churchill and Stalin would be skeptical of how America was going to use this new technology.
1. Choose two points of agreement from the list and explain why they were significant for the future peace of Europe.
First Point: "They agreed that as countries were liberated from occupation by the German army, they would be allowed to hold free elections to choose the government they wanted." This point was significant for the future peace of Europe because it basically ensured the spread of democracy in Europe, attempting to prevent the rise of anymore dictators there in the future.
Second Point: "The Big Three all agreed to join the new United Nations Organization, which would aim to keep peace after the war." This point was significant for the future peace of Europe because it created a new way for the countries in Europe to negotiate and handle world problems, attempting to prevent future major disputes and causes for war.
2. Read Sources 2 - 11 on pages 320 and 321. What is your overall impression of the Yalta Conference based on these sources?
My overall impression of the Yalta Conference based on these sources is that from an outsider's perspective it appears that the Big Three had a genuine alliance and were working and collaborating well together, but from an insider's perspective it's obvious that each in the Big Three had some sort of contempt towards the others, and all were quite wary of one another. Russia appeared to be a threat, and Churchill wanted to prepare in case anything happened. Although Roosevelt must've been fairly objective, according to these sources. Basically, while the Yalta Conference had an inspiring and comforting front, tensions and skepticisms were still running wild between Stalin, Churchill and Roosevelt.
