Origins of the Cold War: Yalta Conference

1. What month and year did the Yalta Conference place?      
The Yalta Conference took place in February 1945.




2. While the conference was taking place who were the Allies (Big Three) still fighting? Be specific. (Consider as well, what hadn't taken place yet that you've already studied.)        
 The big three allies still fighting in the time of the Yalta Conference were The United States, France and Great Britian and their leaders Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin.

 

3. Why was Roosevelt anxious to make concessions to Stalin concerning the fate of postwar Germany?        
 Roosevelt was anxious to make concessions to Stalin because he wanted to create the United Nations before World War Two ended he wanted a democratic world.


 

4. What decisions did Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin make at the Yalta Conference?      
 The decisions that Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin made were that the U.S gets the Soviets to promise to declare war against Japan 90 days after the Germans were defeated. They also agreed on the basics for the United Nations. Also they decided on that Germany would temporarily be divided into four zones. Lastly Stalin promised fee elections in Poland and Eastern Europe.

Mobilizing for Defense

1. How did the American response to the Japanese raid on Pearl Harbor differ from Japanese expectations?        The Americans response to the Japanese raid on Pearl Harbor differed from the Japanese expectations because the Japanese thought that once the Americans experienced the Japanese power that they would shrink into further conflict. But instead the Americans filled with rage and not fear they wanted to start to attack the Japanese.  2. What difficulties did women and minorities face in the wartime work force?          Difficulties that women and minorities faced in the wartime work force was that they tried to make the WAAC which was that women would serve in noncombat positions. Even though hundreds of women signed up for this duty it was denied and the women served as nurses, ambulance drivers, radio operators, electricions and pilots. 3. Why did President Roosevelt create the OSRD, and what did it do?              President Roosevelt created the OSRD because it brought scientists into war effort. It showed improvement in sonar and radar. 4. What basic problems were the OPA and WPB created to solve?              The basic problems that the OPA and the WPB were able to get money to buy the items that they needed to win the war. 5. What type of items were rationed and why were they limited?           The types of items that were rationed were rationed books with coupons inside them, and also gas ration they were limited because the country could not afford to buy a lot of it they had to put all of their money towards the war. 6. What is the message of the World War II poster on this assignment's blog posting? Why was this message important?     The message of the World War two poster is a man driving alone with Hitler sitting next to him. This message conveyed to people that when they did not carpool with other people and save gas they were helping Hitler win the war by wasting their gas

War in the Pacific

1. In what ways were the American victory at Midway and the Japanese triumph at Pearl Harbor alike?    The American victory at Midway and the Japanese triumph at Pearl Harbor were alike because they both bombed each other from the sky also they both attacked and ruined each others aircraft carriers, cruisers and planes 2. Why was the Battle of Leyte Gulf so crucial to the Allies?         The Battle of Leyte Gulf was so crucial to the Allies because the Japanese would not surrender because they chose death over surrendering. This made it crucial to the Allies because it was easier for them to beat the Japanese and take there land. 3. Why was Okinawa a significant island in the war in the Pacific?        Okinawa was a significant island in the war in the pacific because it was another victory for the Allies and they were getting closer and closer to the Japanese Islands. 4. What was the Manhattan Project? And who was J. Robert Oppenheimer?            The Manhattan Project was the making of the atomic bomb. J. Robert Oppenheimer is the American scientist who made the bomb. 5. Why was Roosevelt anxious to make concessions to Stalin concerning the fate of postwar Germany?        Roosevelt was anxious to make the concessions to Stalin concerning the fate of postwar Germany because he wanted to make sure that if the Japanese decided to attack Japan again that the Soviet Union would stand by America and Britain and he also wanted his approval of a world peace keeping organization called the United Nations. 6. What decisions did Roosevelt, Churchill, and Stalin make at the Yalta Conference?          The decisions that Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin made at the Yalta Conference was that Roosevelt convinced Churchill to agree to dividing the Germany into four zones one for America one for the Soviet Union one for France and one for Britain. Also Stalin promised free and unfettered elections in Poland and other Soviet-occupied European countries. Lastly Stalin also agreed to join the war against Japan and to participate in the international conference that would make the United Nations become an reality. 7. At the trials, many Nazis defended themselves by saying they were only following orders. What does this rationale tell you about the German military? Why was it important to negate this justification?   This tells you that even many of the Nazis themselves were scared of Hitler and that they were brainwashed so much by Hitler that they believed that they were doing the right thing.