Rebuilding Japan after World War II

1
Rebuilding Japan after World War II

• Americas post war ally

2
Devastation

• Japan was devastated at the conclusion of World
  War II
• All major cities except Kyoto were destroyed
• The entire infrastructure of Japan needed
  rebuilding

3
Occupation of Japan

• 1945- 1952 Allied powers occupy Japan (mostly
  U.S. forces)
• General MacArthur first Supreme Commander
• The goal was to establish a democratic government
  in Japan

To the Pacific basin has come the vista of a new
emancipated world. Today, freedom is on the
offensive, democracy is on the march. --Gen.
Douglas MacArthur September 2, 1945
4
Changes for Japan

• The Allied (U.S.) forces implemented the
  following major changes
• New constitution
• Lost all territory
• Land reform
• Demilitarization

5
New Constitution

• New Constitution went into effect in 1947
  Constitutional Monarchy
• Emperor lost all his political and military power
• Figurehead a symbol of the state
• Universal suffrage
• Human rights achieved

6
The End of Colonialism

• Japan lost all of its territory that it had
  acquired after 1894
• Japan no longer occupied Korea or China
• Dispute over the Kurile Islands
• Tension with Russia

7
Land Reform

• Concentration of power was dissolved
• Land ownership was redistributed
• End of the Zaibatsu
• Business conglomerate that controlled Japans
  economy ever since the Meiji period

8
Demilitarization

• Demilitarization Japans war machine was
  dismantled (no more military)
• War criminals were tried
• Self Defence Force (1954) in place of a full
  standing military
• Allied occupation ends in 1952

9
Economic Growth

• Japan experienced vast economic growth in the
  post war years
• Increase in living standards
• Stable government
• Korean War
• Rise in Industry

10
Industry over agriculture

• Japanese industry flourishes in the post war era,
  less emphasis on agriculture
• Electronics
• Automobiles

11
Response

• Answer the following on a sheet of paper
• (1) Why would the Allied powers want to establish
  a democracy in Japan?
• (2) How could a democratic Japan benefit the U.S.
  economy?
• (3) Why do you think Japan focused on industry
  instead of agriculture? (Hint Think about
  geography)
• (4) Make a list of all the products made in Japan
  you can think of and explain how they have
  impacted your life