End of WWII and Cold war America becomes a global power

The End of the War Both Germany and Japan fought until the bitter end Hitler committed suicide Japanese surrender after bombs are dropped

Yalta Conference Feb Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin meet Strategy planned for end of the war Agreed that Poland, Bulgaria and Romania would hold free elections Stalin refused to do this when the time cam Soviets occupied much of Eastern Europe Stalin agreed to help the US against Japan

Potsdam Conference July 1945 Big three have changed Truman for US, Atlee for Great Britain and Stalin for Soviet Union Germany divided into four zones of occupation: Soviet, American, British and French The city of Berlin was also divided

Potsdam Conference agreements New borders and free elections for Poland Stalin pledges support of US against Japan Soviets get rights to collect war damages from its portion of Germany Stalin refused free elections in Eastern Europe Truman left the conference believing that the Soviet Union was planning world conquest

Cold War What is it? Rivalry between the US and Soviet Union Lasted for 46 years Two superpowers never faced each other directly

The occupation of Germany Eventually the US, France and Great Britain combined their areas into West Germany held free elections there. The Soviets did not give up their control of East Germany and East Germany remained communist

Changes in World Power Western Europe no longer dominates the world Two new superpowers the US and Soviet Union, emerge US no longer isolationist claims a major role in World Affairs World Bank forms-agreed to expand trade and reduce tariffs: Gatt-General Agreement on tariffs and trade.

United Nations is formed April nations met in San Francisco to write the charter Two parts: The General Assembly made up of all member nations. The UN Security Council made up of the 5 major allies of WWII- The United States, Soviet Union, France, Britain and China

Accomplishments of UN Aided the move away from colonialism Helped create the Jewish state of Israel Mediated (solved) regional conflicts Provided food and other aid where it was needed in the world Wrote the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

War Criminals go on trial Geneva Convention- an international agreement governing the humane treatment of wounded soldiers and prisoners of war. The Germans and the Japanese had violated the Geneva convention during the war The Allies tried more than a thousand Japanese citizens for committing atrocities. Hundreds were condemned to death

War Criminals Nuremberg Trials- the trials where the Allies prosecuted the Nazis for war crimes. The Nazis claimed they were just following orders. The judges at Nuremberg did not accept their excuses, some of the Nazis were hanged some received long prison sentences.