Rebuilding Japan SS7H3C EXPLAIN THE ROLE OF THE UNITED STATES IN THE REBUILDING OF JAPAN AFTER WWII.

Rebuilding JapanSS7H3C

EXPLAIN THE ROLE OF THE UNITED STATES IN THE REBUILDING OF JAPAN AFTER WWII

Background Information Japan did not like European influence in the region and wanted them to know that a “new era” had begun

Japan had almost no natural resources and needed them to survive and prosper

Emperor was a Shinto god Shintoism was considered superior to other

philosophies or religions of the world.

Shintoism in Japan• Shinto became the state religion of Japan

• A deity of Shinto was created in the Emperor of Japan

• Military began seeing the Emperor as a god

• Shintoism and emperor worship was incorporated into the schools, and encouraged to be a part of everyday life

• They thought that the Emperor was a deity helped to promote the growth of the Japanese empire

• This belief played a major role in Japan’s efforts in WWII.

Background Information Japan begins to attack countries in

East Asia Including China (Manchuria)

Invades Other East Asian countries:

ThailandPhilippinesGuamBurma (Myanmar)BorneoHong KongManila

World War II Limited to the European Theatre until

Pearl Harbor Allies: U.S., France, U.K., Soviet Union Axis: Germany, Italy, Japan

World War IIJapan declares war on

the U.S. by bombing the naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on December 7, 1941. America then declares war on Japan and enters WWII.

World War IIJapan attacked Pearl

Harbor and the Pacific Rim War began

Japan would not surrender and fought to the death Kamikaze pilots became a

standard for the Japanese military

The Bombing of Japan Japan extremely weak after repeated battles, but continues fighting

Attack on the USS Indianapolis by Japan (881 men died) was the deciding factor for US to use the Atomic Bomb

US decides to end the war The U.S. drops atomic bombs on

Japanese cities Hiroshima and Nagasaki, ending WWII August 6, 1945 Hiroshima, Japan was bombed

August 9, 1945 Nagasaki, Japan was bombed

The Enola Gay was the B29 Bomber that dropped the first Atomic Bomb.

Hiroshima Nagasaki

Video clip: Japan surrenders

Japan Surrenders 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.

The U.S. Occupation of Japan After WWII, Japan was placed under

international control of the Allies. 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.

Why did the U.S. help rebuild 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 US products to Japan’s market

The U.S. Occupation of JapanMacArthur

helps rebuild Japan and focuses on three areas:SocialPoliticalEconomic

How did the U.S. help rebuild Japan?Social Reforms:

Changed SchoolsRebuilt homesProvided SuppliesCitizens had to turn in weaponsOutlawed Martial ArtsEnglish as a second language

Political Reforms:Government is no longer based

on ShintoismJapan becomes a constitutional

MonarchyParliamentary democracyEmperor is now a ceremonial

leaderCan no longer declare warNo militaryEveryone can vote

How did the U.S. help rebuild Japan?

How did the U.S. help rebuild Japan?Economic Reforms:

Changed economy from command to mixed/market

Improve infrastructureProvided loansRebuilt factoriesInvest in human and capital resources

In Summary…

Reforms

POLITICALNew

Constitution

ConstitutionalMonarchy

ECONOMICImprove

Infrastructure

Market Economy

Invest in Human andCapital Resources

SOCIALEnglish as

2nd language

Japan adopts US culture

The End of U.S. Occupation

US ends their occupation of Japan in 1952.

Japan is granted membership into the United Nations in 1957.

Japan TodayU. S. financial support, along

with the Japanese values of hard work lead to a period of great economic growth for Japan.

The Tokyo Labor College was one of the many

institutions created after the war in order to

promote more equitable economic development than had existed before

• Japan represented a new market for American goods and services.

• This helped improve both country’s economies.

Japan Today 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.

Let’s Review!1. What U.S. General was put in charge of rebuilding Japan after WWII?

2. What role did the U.S. play in rebuilding Japan after World War II?

a. Helped Japan re-establish their emperor as leader with absolute power.

b. Helped rebuild Japan’s army.

c. Required Japan to pay war damages.

d. Developed a plan to help Japan’s economy recover and re-wrote their constitution.

3. What type of government did the U.S. set up in Japan following WWII?

Let’s Review!4. What type of role did the emperor of Japan have in the new government? 

5. What new changes were written into Japan’s new constitution?

a. Only men were allowed to vote.

b. The emperor was no longer part of the government.

c. Japan was not allowed to declare war on another country.

d. Japan must maintain a strong military.

From 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.

EXPLAIN THE ROLE OF THE

UNITED STATESIN THE

REBUILDINGOF JAPAN

AFTERWORLD WAR II

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.

Japan is granted membership into the United Nations five years after a seven

year U.S. occupation.

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.

U. S. financial support, along with the Japanese values of hard work lead to a period of

great economic growth for Japan.

The U.S. drops atomic bombs on Japanese cities Hiroshima and Nagasaki,

ending WWII.

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.

After WWII, Japan was placed under international

control of the Allies through the Supreme Commander,

General Douglas MacArthur.

19452009

19551945

19471952

1941