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UNIT 6: ASIA
SS7H3c
Explain the role of the United States in
the rebuilding of Japan after WWII
After WWII

The Japanese surrendered in September of
1945.
 Their country had been reduced to rubble.
 Industries and farms were destroyed.
 The government was in shambles and the
people were demoralized.
 The Emperor had been exposed as an
ordinary mortal rather than the god the
Japanese people had believed him to be.
Consequences and Reparations

The Japanese signed all peace treaties ending
the war and pledged to pay war reparations
(damages) to the countries they had harmed
during WWII.
 American troops were allowed to remain in
Japan.
 The Japanese were not permitted to rebuild
their army in any major way.
MacArthur

General Douglas MacArthur, the American
commander of the occupied forces, was given
the job of putting Japan back on its feet.
 He was expected to create a Japan that would
guarantee it would not pose a military threat to
other countries in the future.
 MacArthur wanted Japan to have a democratic
government, but he also appreciated the
important place the Japanese emperor
occupied in the Japanese culture.
Government Choices

MacArthur decided Japan would be a
constitutional monarchy.
 A constitutional monarchy is one where a
non-elected person such as a king or an
emperor act as head of state. An elected
official is head of government.
 He wrote a constitution for the country, still
referred to as The MacArthur Constitution,
that created a two –house parliament called a
Diet.
Japan’s Constitution

In Japan’s new constitution




The emperor remained as a symbol of the country.
The people were granted universal suffrage
Everyone over the age of 20 was allowed to vote for
member of the Diet
It also contained a Bill of Rights and
guaranteed basic freedoms.
 One clause in this constitution prevents Japan
from declaring war. They are allowed to fight
ONLY if they are attacked first.
Reasons for US Rebuilding Japan
• Stop the spread of communism throughout
Asia
• Promote democracy in the region by
reforming Japan’s monarchy into a
constitutional monarchy
• Improve Japan’s economy in order to
trade with Japan and sell U.S. products to
Japan’s market
JAPANESE CHANGES
REFORMS
POLITICAL
New
Constitution
ECONOMIC
Improve
Infrastructure
Constitutional
Monarchy
SOCIAL
English as
2nd language
Japan adopts
US culture
Market Economy
Emperor Stripped
of Power
Invest in Human and
Capital Resources
Women’s
Suffrage
1952 – US ENDS OCCUPATION OF
JAPAN
US ends their
occupation of
Japan in 1952.
Japan is granted
membership into
the United
Nations in 1957.
1955 – US REBUILDS JAPAN’S
ECONOMY
U. S. financial
support, along
with the
Japanese
values of hard
work lead to a
period of great
economic
growth for
Japan.
JAPAN
REPRESENTED A
NEW MARKET
FOR AMERICAN
GOODS AND
SERVICES
THIS HELPED
IMPROVE BOTH
COUNTRY’S
ECONOMIES
2010 – JAPAN IS A MODEL
NATION
Today, Japan has
one of the most
powerful
industrialized
economies in the
world. Like the U.S.,
Japan encourages a
market economy
which motivates
people to develop
new ideas and
expand businesses.
JAPAN TODAY –
A LEADER IN
INOVATIVE
TECHNOLOGY
Today Japan has one of the most powerful
industrialized economies in the world. Like the
U.S., Japan encourages a market economy which
motivates people to develop new ideas and
expand businesses.
1941
Japan declares war on the U.S. by
bombing the naval base at Pearl Harbor,
Hawaii. America then declares war on
Japan and enters WWII.
2009
1945
EXPLAIN THE
ROLE OF THE
UNITED STATES
IN THE
REBUILDING
OF JAPAN
AFTER
WORLD WAR II
U. S. financial support, along
with the Japanese values of
hard work lead to a period of
great economic growth for
Japan.
1955
The U.S. drops atomic
bombs on Japanese cities
Hiroshima and Nagasaki,
ending WWII.
1945
Japan is granted
membership into the
United Nations five
years after a seven
year U.S.
occupation.
1952
Political, economic,
and social reforms
were introduced, such
as a freely elected
Japanese Diet
(legislature) and
universal adult
suffrage (voting
rights). Japan
establishes a
constitutional
monarchy.
1947
After WWII, Japan was
placed under international
control of the Allies through
the Supreme Commander,
General Douglas MacArthur.
‘Dust to Dominance’
• Look at your performance
task (the Rebuilding of Japan
‘Dust to Dominance’ timeline
and story and collaborate
with a partner and try to tell
the story in your own words
in chronological order.