How has Japan’s past shaped its present?

1. Japanese History How has Japan’s past shaped its present? With your Empress, Ms. Fenton

2. Imperialism • Definition~ The gaining of power in other countries by taking control of the government and economy. • Reason: the need for raw materials. • Coal • Iron • oil • Japanese believed they were the master race in Asia • Began to conquer to secure natural resources

3. Imperialism • 1910~ Japan took over Korea. • 1931~ Japan took over ManchuriaJapan’s invasion of Manchuria soured relations with the U.S. • Successful takeovers brought glory to the Japanese army. • The army was stronger than the government by the 1930’s.

4. Japanese Aggression 1937~ Japan took over China 300k killed in Nanjing in 6 weeks. Great war crimes and atrocities were committed.

5. Sensing-thinking How did the increase in industry set the stage for the Japanese becoming imperialists?

6. Problems with the United States • Invasion of Manchuria soured relations btwn. Japan & U.S. • Japanese economy depended on importation of U.S. raw materials • U.S. banned exports of iron & steel • The United States cut off trade with Japan • U.S. issues an embargo on oil • U.S. insisted Japan end the war w. China • The Japanese supported Germany~Hitler • The Japanese refused to stop supporting the Nazis.

7. World War II and Japanese Involvement December 7, 1941 Japan surprise attacked Pearl Harbor, Hawaii Sunday, 12-7-41 7:32 a.m.

8. The Japanese Empire

9. The United States declares war on Japan December 8, 1941 President Franklin D. Roosevelt By Dec. 11th: U.S. at war w/ all the Axis nations World War II and Japanese Involvement

10. Invasion v. The Bomb • July ’45: Allies issued an ultimatum to accept peace and terms; Japan refused to agree to an unconditional surrender • Invasion seen as too risky – extensive loss of life expected (1 million) • Desire for a quick end to the war since war in Europe was now over (May ‘45) • Truman made decision to drop the Atomic Bomb, also seen as a way of intimidating the Soviets • Aug. 6th – Hiroshima, no response • Aug. 9th – Nagasaki • 200,000 died in both cities during attacks. Many more will die in the following months due to radiation • Aug. 14th – Japanese forces surrendered • September 2, 1945 – Signing the official surrender document (V-J Day) • World War II now officially over

11. The A Bomb August 6, 1945 The United States drops the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. August 9, 1945 The second atomic bomb is dropped on Nagasaki. This killed almost 200,000 people August 14, 1945 Japan surrenders

12. WWII's effect on Japan • Many Japanese people were killed • Cities were destroyed by bombs. • Factories were destroyed • Railroads were destroyed • Roads were ruined • Many people were left homeless and starving.

13. Costs of War • Total military and civilian dead – 60 million, USSR suffered the worst casualties • Total spent - $4 trillion • Peace Settlements @ Yalta & Potsdam • Loss of territory by all Axis nations • Germany: divided into 4 zones of occupation, and later split into 2 countries, East Germany dominated by Soviets, West Germany by the U.S. • North Korea was held by the Soviets; South Korea by the U.S. • Japan became an occupied country by U.S. • U.S. decided to help rebuild Europe in order to alleviate tensions, Marshall Plan (USSR refused $ b/c they didn’t want the influence of U.S.) • War Crimes Trials • Nuremburg War Crimes Trials: German war criminals from Nazi regime tried for treatment of 11 mil. Holocaust victims • Japanese War Crimes Trials: 720 leaders executed for crimes against humanity • United Nations established to prevent conflicts

14. After Japan’ssurrender in September 1945, the country was reduced to rubble. Industries and farms were destroyed, the government was in shambles, the people were demoralized, and the emperor had been exposed as an ordinary mortal rather than the god the Japanese people had believed him to be. The American commander of the occupation forces was General Douglas MacArthur. He was given the job of putting Japan back on its feet, in a way that would guarantee that Japan would not pose a military threat to other countries in the future. General MacArthur wanted Japan to have a democratic government, but he also appreciated the important place the Japanese emperor occupied in the Japanese culture. He decided Japan would be a constitutional monarchy. He wrote a constitution for the country, still referred to as The MacArthur Constitution that created a two-house parliament called a Diet.

15. The emperor remained as a symbol of the country. The Japanese people were granted universal suffrage, and everyone over the age of 20 was allowed to vote for members of the Diet. The new constitution designed by MacArthur 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. The Japanese signed all peace treaties ending the war and pledged to pay war reparations (damages) to the countries they had harmed during World War II. American troops were allowed to remain in Japan, and the Japanese were not permitted to rebuild their military in any major way.

16. Post World War II • The United States wanted to turn Japan into an ally. • The United States gave millions of dollars to rebuild factories. • Sent teams of experts to teach the Japanese the United States ways of doing things. • Helped the economy by not allowing Japan to rebuild their army - 1% of GDP • Promisedto protect Japan in case of attack.

17. How Japan helped themselves after World War II • Restricted flow of foreign made goods into Japan. This encouraged and made the Japanese buy their own products. • Promoted the sale of Japanese products outside of Japan. • The Japanese workers were paid less. Products were therefore less expensive and Japan made larger profits.