Yalta Conference
A meeting of the US, the UK and the Soviet Union to discuss the postwar reorganization of Europe
Real World Example
The Yalta Conference, held in February 1945, was crucial because it shaped the post-World War II order and laid the groundwork for the Cold War. Leaders Franklin D. Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and Joseph Stalin discussed how to manage war-torn Europe, including dividing Germany into zones and setting up the United Nations. This conference highlighted tensions between the democratic West and the communist East, a divide that influenced global politics for decades. Today, the legacy of these decisions affects international relations and alliances, like NATO and the European Union, which influence global trade and security. For an average person, these alliances impact travel, economic stability, and even the types of products available in stores.