4 EXPLAINING CAUSE AND EFFECT After Japan surrendered, how did the United States, Britain, France, and the Soviet Union come together to punish German and Japanese leaders for war crimes?

1. **Context of the Surrender** After Japan surrendered, World War II had ended, and the Allied powers—specifically the United States, Britain, France, and the Soviet Union—recognized that a new international order was needed to address the atrocities committed during the war. 2. **Establishing a Unified Principle** The victory of the Allies led to the idea that those responsible for war crimes should be held accountable. This was based on the cause that the horrendous acts committed by German and Japanese leaders during the war demanded a unified response and that the rule of law needed to be upheld internationally. 3. **Creation of International Tribunals** To punish German and Japanese leaders, the four nations came together to organize international military tribunals: - The **Nuremberg Trials** were established for prosecuting major German war criminals. - The **Tokyo Trials** (officially the International Military Tribunal for the Far East) were convened to try Japanese leaders accused of war crimes. These tribunals were founded on the principle that even heads of state and military leaders could be held accountable under international law. 4. **Cause and Effect Relationship** - **Cause:** The suffering and devastation caused by the war, along with the detailed documentation of wartime atrocities, created a strong demand for justice and accountability. - **Effect:** In response, the Allied powers set up legal processes that became historical precedents for international criminal law. These trials not only punished the guilty but also helped to establish the principle that war crimes and crimes against humanity are subject to international scrutiny and legal consequences. 5. **Long-term Impact** The actions taken led to long-lasting effects in the field of international law. They established a framework for subsequent tribunals and courts, influencing later institutions like the International Criminal Court. This cooperation among the Allies demonstrated a commitment to collective security and the idea that international law should govern even the actions of nations at war.