Summary Allied Occupation of Post-War Japan from : Detailed Overview
7 views 0 purchase
Course
Cold War (2R)
Institution
AQA
This document is a detailed summary of the allied occupation of Imperial Japan after their surrender in World War Two. The document includes the key events, details on economic, social, and political reforms, Japan's significance in the Cold War, and the motivation of individual actors in the progr...
Summary
- After the defeat of Japan which ended WW2, US-led military operations focused on
repairing and reconstructing Japan into a Westernised democracy with a strong
economy
- Around 1mil allied soldier led by General Douglas MacArthur (Supreme Commander for the Allied Powers)
who was appointed by Truman, enforced military, economic, social and political reform
- This was the only time Japan was occupied by a foreign power; except for the USSR who didn't want Soviet
soldiers under US command
- Emperor Hirohito was left on the throne, but a constitution was written, Japan was demilitarized, and
US-Japan Security Treaty + San Francisco Peace Treaty (both 1951) was signed before the US left
Initial Phase 45 - 47
This phase was to punish and reform Japan so they would never be a threat to world peace
- Before this began, there was a starving population due to the destruction of major cities and the ruling govt,
so MacArthur's main priority was to feed the starving populace by setting up food distribution
- MacArthur dismissed calls for Hirohito to be tried as a war criminal or be abdicated, as he understood how
deeply unpopular this would be with the Japanese people, but he denounced his “divinity”
- By Dec 1945, all Japanese military bases were disbanded and demobilised en masse
- All political prisoners were released (including communists) and the Japanese Communist Party was
legalised
- Shinto was abolished as the state religion, and its ultranationalist or militaristic teachings were banned
- SCAP passed the Trade Union Act, establishing the first trade union in Japan, and gave rights to worker
- SCAP issues the purging of wartime officers from public office - around 200,000 were removed
- The voting age was lowered and women gained the right to vote
- SCAP approved constitution replaced the old one in 1947, including Article 9 (renounced war and ability to
have a standing army) as well as strengthening the rights of democracy and Japan’s parliament
- SCAP pressured the dissolving of the “Zaibatsu” conglomerate to encourage a free market economy
- The Tokyo Tribunal took place, and although MacArthur granted some members immunity eg. the emperor
- There were educational and land reform
- There was also an emphasis on seizing reparations from Japan in compensation for WW2 and pearl
harbour
Reverse Course 47 - 49
Major shift in occupational policy in response to the cold war; the aim is to strengthen, rebuild, and remilitarise the state
- US Department of State official history: "this 'Reverse Course'...focused on strengthening, not punishing,
what would become a key Cold War ally."
- The reverse involved relaxing or even undoing reforms during the initial phase eg. remilitarisation
- Trade unions were weakened, nationalist leaders back in the office and anti-zaibatsu action scrapped
- Economic stability by US banker Joseph Dodge set draconian monetary/fiscal policies such as a balanced
budget and wage control and fixed the exchange rate
- The US urged Japan to join GATT (general agreement on tariffs and trade) to prevent trade with communist
china and strengthen ties with Western trade
- The US pressured Japan to remilitarize; SCAP established the Japanese National Defence Army, which
complied with Article 9 - Jul 1954 Self Defence force has 140,000 soldiers and $240mil from US +
agricultural surplus
- “Red Scare” in Japan after the “fall” of China and the prospect of the Korean War began the weakening of
leftism in Japan - SCAP began targeting communism so Japan would not fall to communism as well - this
laid the foundations for right-leaning, conservative thinking/govt in Japan that is still present today.
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller geeeee. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $6.44. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
