Chapter 31: Japan and The Pacific Rim

1. Chapter 31: Japan and The Pacific Rim Katya Barrera Yvonne Martinez Leslye Campos Kristy Trevino Brenda Chapa Sofia Santizo Julian Hernandez Jim Torres

2. Japan’s Ongoing Development At first --->Japanese lag behind Western level • Development begins • Silk production in 1860 was about 16 million lbs then by 1929 it shot up to about 93 million • Agricultural productivity improved • Farmers introduced fertilizers and new equipment • Ex: Rice production more than doubled between 1880’s and 1930’s 2nd Industrial Phase in 1920’s • Zaibatsu sponsored expansion fields; shipbuilding and metallurgy • Relying with government bureaucracy • Use of electric power grew faster in Japan than anywhere else in the world (1920) • Education advanced rapidly • Immense population growth (restricted improvement in living conditions)

3. Political Crisis and Growing Militarism • Military even in more control • Military were looked up to by the people as “protectors” • Military even studied in separate and special schools  • 1920’s Japan experimented with a liberal political pattern • Did work a little but served for the military to realize that they wanted more power and not be restricted • Military officials beginning to make separate decisions about Munchuria • May 1932- Group of younger army officers attacked the key government and banking officers and murdered the prime minister • Did not take FULL state control but did frustrate the government with having some control • Another military coup attempt in 1936, but failed • By the end of 1938, Japan controlled a regional empire, including Manchuria, Korea, and Taiwan

4. Change in Other Pacific Rim Areas • Japan had firm control over Korea and had economic policies for them that did little to improve their economy •  They disrupted Korea's traditions and had replaced their Korean king with his son in 1908 and he was assassinated a year later which led to the abolishment of  monarchy • Japan sought to suppress Korean culture and promote the adoption of Japanese ways • Korean language news papers were banned • Korean teachers needed to wear Japanese uniforms, carry swords • Japanese money, language, weights and measures where introduced • Korean peasant where compelled to concentrate on rice production for export and the Korean youth were enrolled into the Japanese armies to help with expanding war effort • Singapore was a city that held a large population of the Chinese people that belonged to the British as they tried to build a naval base but was captured by the Japanese in World War II

5. New Divisions and the End of Empires • A decade after World War II, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia had gained independence • Taiwan was still ruled by Chiang Kai-shek, but Chinese was in hands of a powerful communist • Korea remained divided, but there was a lot of tension and American presence in South Korea kept its independence • Japan began to recover

6. Japanese Recovery • in 1945 Japan was a mess. the factories where destroyed and the people where in shock by the surrender from all the bombing that had been going on including the atomic devastation of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki. • like always, Japan was quick to rebound its economy but with the help of the United States. they intervened to try and help them rebuild their economy and place without any hint of military threat anywhere. an American occupation government led by General Douglas McArthur worked to tear down Japans wartime political structure. • in 1951 Japan signed a peace treaty with most of its wartime opponents. this led to; • military forces to be disbanded • police decentralization • many officials removed • and political prisoners released.

7. Recovery Continued…. • America had pressed to make a Democracy in Japan and even gave women the right to vote, encouraged labor unions and abolished shintoism as new economic reforms where introduced breaking up landed estate for the benefit of small farmers. • they helped the Japanese make a constitution that abolished military that was wartime and guaranteed civil liberties and the emperor was just a figure with no power now but the Japanese fit their own values in the constitution to preserve themselves. • the Japanese emphasized the importance of learning and education and tried to make the students prepared to enter the world of Japans economy. the students where prepared for their future role in the economy 'whether they like it or not" a state religion. 

8. Korea: Invention and War • In 1948, the United States helped make a Republic of Korea in the south, and the People’s Democratic Republic of Korea in the north supported by the Soviet. • Kim II-Sung in the north– a communist state • Syngman Rhee in the south– parliamentary institution, but maintained a strongly authoritarian form, and had American military presence • North Korea attacks South Korea in June 1950, trying to unify by force and starting the Korean war • North Korea is helped by allied forces, including the United States, and in 1953, peace is reached • North Korea did not change much, and even after the Soviet liberation, little change happened • IN 1954, a defense treaty was signed between South Korea and the U.S., and American military troops were reduced • Went from being authoritarian and then army officers took over control in 1961

9. Emerging Stability in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore • The U.S. gave economic support to Taiwan until the 1960s • Singapore gained independence as a free port in 1959 • Hong Kong returned to Chinese control in 1997

10. Japan’s Distinctive Political and Cultural Style • Only had one party, the Liberal Democratic Party, from 1955 onwards • Strong business, export expansion and economic growth • Government campaigned birth control and abortion, slowing down population growth • Poetry, paintings, tea ceremonies, and flower arrangements still continued • Films were about their history • Japanese painters and architects fused Japanese styles with Western styles

11. Japan’s Economic Surge • By 1983, the total national product was equal to the totals of China, Korea, Taiwan, India, Pakistan, Australia, and Brazil • Became one of the top two or three economic powers in the world • High quality goods, such as cars and electronics • High government support and expansion of education made it possible • Workers paired to where they fit best • ensured life time employment • low unemployment rate • early retirement age

12. Life in Japan • Women educated, but did not do much with their husbands and dedicated themselves to taking care of the kids and other domestic duties • Drinking was highly more accepted to relieve from university or job stress • Baseball, tennis, and golf became popular • Government encouraged use of chopsticks since many preferred knives and forks • Pollution became a huge problem by the 1960s • Corruption in the 1990s • Severe economic recession after a huge economic boom • Liberal democrats replaced

13. The Korean Miracle • Syngman Rhee (South Korea’s ruler) and other taken out of power by student demonstrations since 1960 • South Korea emphasized economic growth from 1950s onward • industrial firms created • by 1970s, Korea was competing successfully in cheap consumer goods, as well as steel and cars • Korea farther more successful in exporting steel and textile than Japan • Hyundai created by Chung Ju Yung, and by the 1980s, had 135,000 employees and 42 overseas offices • Population soared • By the 1980s, over 40 million people live in South Korea, and had the highest population density on earth • Soon, birth regulations were encouraged • Suffered bad pollution like Japan

14. Advances in Taiwan and the City States • Taiwan also experienced a high rate of economic development • Agricultural and industrial productivity increased • Money spent on education, and literacy rates and levels of technical training increased • Traditional medicinal practices kept, but combined with modern, more western strategies • Japan was the nation’s biggest trading partner • In 1978, Chiang Ching-kuo took power, and stressed authoritarian rule and political diversity was not encouraged • Lee Kuan Yew took over Singapore in 1959 for 3 decades, and established tight control over their citizens • caused low crime rates • Singapore world’s 4th largest port • Education and health improved • Hong Kong was also very active in the trading industry • Textiles and clothing formed 39% of total exports, along with heavy industry by the 1980s • A middle class emerged

15. Common Themes and New Problems • The Pacific Rim had more than economic growth and expansion in common • believed in hard work • Confucianism morality often used • relied on the government • “Little tigers” such as Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand had economic growth • In the final years of the 20th century, unemployment rose, bad economy • westerners thought this could be resolved if they turned more to a free market competition • Indonesia became democratic instead of authoritarian in 1998 • But in 1999, economic rates began to pick up again

16. Important people to Remember Leon Trotsky-  recruited able generals and masses of loyal conscripts Joseph Stalin- undisputed leader of the Soviet state, his victory brought triumph for party control over all branches of governments Lenin- set up a Communist International office to guide international revolutionary activity Peter the Great -continued the growth of absolutism and conquest Hitler- Nazi leader of fascist Germany, created a strongly centralized state in Germany, eliminated all rivals Nadezhda Mandelstantam- her husband was arrested, she dedicated her literary life to his memory while staying out of police purview by teaching English in obscure teachers' training institutes

17. Important People Continued : Nikita Khrushchev- attacked Stalinism for its concentration of power and arbitrary dictatorship Mikhail Gorbachev- conveyed a new and more Western style, dressing in more fashionable clothes, held open press conferences and allowing Soviet media to engage in active debate and to report on problems as well as successes  Boris Yeltsin- became the leading political figure, struggled to gain a political base Vladimir Putin- did not initially clarify Russia's political or economic directions

18. The Big Point • The Pacific Rim experienced a really big economic growth and many nations gained independence after World War II