The Rebuilding of Japan

1. The Rebuilding of Japan Essential Questions: What led to the destruction of the majority of Japan’s cities during World War II? Why did the United States feel it was necessary for Japan to be rebuilt after World War II?

2. World War II Japan was part of the Axis powers with Germany and Italy. Invaded China and conquered large amounts of land in SE Asia and throughout the Pacific. Great Britain and France declared war on Japan early in the war. Both European nations lost territories (colonies) to the Japanese. Japan was in need of resources including oil and rubber. Both of these resources could be attained on and around the islands in the Pacific and Southeast Asia.

3. Japanese troops entering China

4. The Japanese Empire

5. World War II The Japanese felt the United States, who was not in the war, was a threat to the Japanese Empire’s domination of Asia and the Pacific. Attacked US Navy and Air Corps at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The United States declared war against Japan the next day. War raged between Japan and the United States from December of 1941 to August 1945. Hundreds of thousands of men were killed during the fighting.

6. World War II The United States’ government feared an invasion of Japan would cost the lives of hundreds of thousands of American soldiers. The decision to use a new destructive weapon, the nuclear bomb, was made by President Harry Truman in the summer of 1945. Two bombs were dropped days apart on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The Japanese government formally surrendered to US forces within days of the bombing of Nagasaki.

7. Japanese surrender to US on board the USS Missouri

8. The crew of the Enola Gay

9. Destruction in Hiroshima

10. Destruction in Nagasaki

11. Human Casualties of the Atomic Bomb

12. After World War II The country was in ruins and most of Japan’s major cities lay in ashes. Japan was occupied by the United States’ military for nearly 7 years after the end of the war. As a condition of the surrender, the Emperor of Japan had to abdicate his title and a new democratic government was formed. Representatives of the United States government drafted a new constitution for the Japanese people. Conditions included equal rights for all Japanese people and the disarmament of Japan’s military.

13. After World War II The United States’ government made the decision to rebuild Japan and hundreds of millions of dollars were allocated to rebuild the infrastructure of Japan and to make improvements to existing structures. The United States hoped to rebuild Japan to make them an ally. The United States believed rebuilding Japan would help keep the Soviet Union from gaining control of the region.

14. After World War II The following things had to be addressed by those responsible for the rebuilding of Japan. Japan’s infrastructure Protection for Japan’s people A new constitution and the formation of a new democratic government Social services, such as education and healthcare The construction of residential and commercial areas

15. The US Withdraws from Japan After a seven year occupation, the US military withdraws from Japan in 1952. The US military continues to maintain military bases in Japan and the islands are home to thousands of American military personnel. Japan’s economy grew tremendously after the war. Within three decades, Japan had one of the most lucrative economies in the world. Japan had the 2nd strongest economy in the world until last year when Japan lost its place to China.