I have to write a paper on why the soviets are to blame for the cold war (just the soviets-not anythings about why the us was to blame) and I keep reading about the yalta conference and that stalin refused to allow free elections in Eastern Europe.but i don't understand how it relates to the cold war. did it escalate tension or something?

See this thread:

http://www.jiskha.com/display.cgi?id=1243266198

Yes, the Yalta Conference and Stalin's refusal to allow free elections was a part of the reason for the Cold War. Check these sites for other reasons.

http://www.essortment.com/all/effectswhatcau_mmy.htm

http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/causes%20of%20the%20cold%20war.htm
(Broken Link Removed)
http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/coldwar.htm

Yes, the Yalta Conference and the issue of free elections in Eastern Europe are indeed factors that contributed to the escalation of tension during the Cold War. Allow me to explain further:

1. Understanding the Yalta Conference: The Yalta Conference was held in February 1945, towards the end of World War II, with the participation of the leaders of the three major Allied powers - the United States, the Soviet Union, and the United Kingdom. The conference aimed to plan the post-war reorganization of Europe and establish peace.

2. Agreements made at Yalta: At the Yalta Conference, key decisions were made regarding the partitioning of Germany, the creation of the United Nations, and the areas of influence in Eastern Europe. One important agreement was that Stalin, the leader of the Soviet Union, recognized the Polish government-in-exile and pledged to support free and democratic elections in Poland and other Eastern European countries after the war.

3. Failure to fulfill promises: Despite the promises made at Yalta, Stalin did not uphold his commitment to free and fair elections in Eastern Europe. Instead, he imposed Soviet-backed communist governments in these countries, effectively closing off political alternatives and undermining democratic processes. This led to the establishment of Soviet-controlled satellite states across Eastern Europe.

4. Impact on tension: The failure to allow free elections in Eastern Europe created a significant power imbalance in the post-war era, with the Soviet Union asserting its dominance over Eastern European countries. The Eastern European nations became buffer states or a protective ring for the Soviet Union, which caused concern for Western democracies, particularly the United States.

5. The onset of the Cold War: The establishment of Soviet-controlled communist regimes in Eastern Europe heightened tensions between the Soviet Union and the Western powers, primarily the United States. The perceived expansionist ambitions of the Soviet Union and the imposition of communist governments sparked fears of Soviet aggression and the spread of communism. This situation marked the beginning of the Cold War—a prolonged period of political, military, and ideological rivalry between the Soviet Union and the United States.

In summary, the failure of the Soviets to allow free elections in Eastern Europe, as initially agreed upon at the Yalta Conference, contributed to the perception of Soviet expansion and dominance. This heightened tensions between the Soviet Union and the West, acting as one of the catalysts for the Cold War.