Deterioration of the American

Deterioration of the American-Soviet Relationship Essay after World War IIDeteriorationof the American-Soviet Relationship after World War IIAmerican and Soviet relations deterioratedin the decade following World War II. The three factors that had the mosteffect on that relationship were the agreements made at the Yalta Conference,the Korean War, and McCarthyism. The agreements of the Yalta Conferencebegan the deterioration of the American-Soviet relationship. Some of thedecisions taken at Yalta pertained to Europe. The most critical of thesehad to do with the liberated nations of eastern Europe. Roosevelt and Churchillrejected Stalins proposal that they accept the Lublin government in Poland. Instead, the three leaders agreed on a reorganization of the Polishgovernment to include leaders from abroad- this provisional governmentto be pledged to the holding of free and unfettered elections as soonas possible. After the war, the Soviet Union set up a puppet governmentin Poland and the free elections promised them never surfaced. For liberatedEurope in general, the conference promised interim governmental authoritiesbroadly representative of all democratic elements in the population andpledged to the earliest possible establishment through free elections ofgovernments responsive to the will of the people. Stalin agreed to thatconcession thinking that the libe4rated European nations would see theSoviet Union as their saviors and create their own communist governments. McCarthyism was running rampant in the United States and had a profound effect on the American-Soviet relationship. The Korean war transformed McCarthys crusade form an eccentric sideshow into a popular movement. If communist were killing American boys in Korea, why should communists be given the benefit of the doubt in the United States. People trusted the Soviets less then they ever did. The Rosenbergs were caught stealing nuclear secrets. Many influential people were accused of begin communists simply because they had different opinions. Because of McCarthyism, Congress passed the McCarran Internal Security Act which established a Subversive Activities Control Board to follow communist activities in the United States. After the jailing of many supposed Communists, how could people trust their neighbors or friends. Everyone was suspected of being a communist and many were brought up on charges. The hysteria spread like wildfire. It caught on in every town and city. The communists w ere against everything America was based on and since the Soviet Union was a communist country, they couldnt be trusted or ever given the benefit of the doubt. Attempting to Cheat Fate EssayIn Conclusion, the Yalta Conference agreements, the Korean War, and McCarthyism helped to deteriorate the American-Soviet relationship in the 1950s.