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American policy after World War II
How did changes that the us made affect japan’s economy after world war ii
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gross domestic product – the total value of services and goods that were produced within the nation’s borders by the people in a course of one year, which excludes the income earned from abroad 1. Why did the United States help Japan rebuild its economy after World War Two? After World War II, the United States was focused on helping Japan rebuild its economy in order to promote Western democratic principles. By breaking up the zaibatsu, the United States believed that it prevented political authoritarianism since the giant business cartels were viewed as undemocratic and impeded competition. Furthermore, promoting independent labor unions were also a way for the United States to weaken the state’s control over the economy. In a way, it gave …show more content…
These five-year plans were meant to stimulate the growth and development of certain industries, exports, and infrastructures. Moreover, land reform program was instituted so that land from large landowners could be sold to tenants in order to encourage food production. As a result, the programs and reforms were proven successful due to the increasing economic growth rate and competitiveness with Japan in the export markets. On the other hand, South Korea transformed itself politically from the transition to an anti-Communist government under autocratic President Syngman Rhee that relied on the wealthy landlord class. From Rhee’s regime, South Korea suffered from government corruption, police brutality, and illicit elections, but it soon changed with the demonstrations that forced his retirement. Under General Chung Hee Park, a new constitution was created, but was still under autocratic rule until his assassination, which transitioned to a democratic rule. However, South Korea soon became an autocratic rule till national elections were held in response to the increasing opposition of the
During the Great Depression, America’s economy was merely destroyed. Because less money was available, industrialization dropped, factories were losing, and the number of unemployment increased. Later, during World War II most of the countries were destroyed, however, America’s economy was able to grow. Due to the mobilization of America, The victory gardens, the rationing, and the urge to produce more to fight better, America’s production increased in order to support its military. Also, different types of industry that wasn’t available before the war started to develop during the war. So, employment started to increase, thereby increasing the economy. Moreover, it was able to fund other countries with weapons and products necessary for the war, and in alliances America was mainly the provider. After the war, when the Americans’ soldiers came back, with a huge number of factories and high number of people ready to work, production flourished. Thus, America started to recover economically and become more powerful. World War II transformed America’s economy from a depressed
After World War II began in 1939, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt announced the neutrality of the United States. Many people in the United States thought that their country should stay out of the war. The people wanted the Allied Forces to have the victory. President Roosevelt also wanted an Allied victory because an Axis victory might endanger democracies everywhere. The United States equipped nations fighting the Axis with ships, tanks, aircraft, and other war materials. The Axis did not like this. Japan wanted to take over China, but China refused. China was led by Chiang Kai-Shek at the time. Japan wanted the United States to stop sending China supplies, but the United States refused. The United States opposed the expansion of Japan in Asia, so they cut off important exports to Japan.
This investigation will examine ways in which the US economy improved during the second World War and what caused these improvements. World War Two was a turning point for the American economy from the end of the Great Depression to the start of an economic boom. The reasons for this economic improvement are still debated today. This investigation will look at the economic indicators before, during, and after the war. It will also consider the two main arguments for the cause of the sudden economic growth and determine which one seems most probable.
Beginning in the early seventeenth century, Japan went from being one of the driving forces of technological and military power in the modern world to becoming outdated, old due to a lack of technological innovation. From this Japan was able to outlast the hard times, becoming once again becoming technological powerhouse. This was because, as stated in the book, “The Lexus and the Olive Tree” by author Thomas L. Friedman, they were able to find a happy median between the Lexus and the olive tree, in other words, new ideas and technology, while still maintaining traditional values of culture and race, both politically and socially. Japan was able to rebound, and regain political, social and economic stability and prosper in each after decades of internal conflict and turmoil because they, unlike similar contemporary non-western civilizations, focused on balancing new reforms with older, more historical governmental traditions.
In 1869 the Tokugawa shogunta was bought down and Meiji restoration began. Japan was under great change. Meiji Japan began to industrialize. This was due to the western countries that have already industrialized. It was through private investment and enterprise that Japan began this process. The backbone of industrialization was the zaibatsu. Zaibatsu were industrial and financial conglomerates. They were given government support including benefits from government subsidies and sell-off of government factories. The first of these zaibatsu were Mitsui, Mitsubishi, Sumitomo, and Yasuda. Growth of industrialization began slowly. In the beginning they still depended largely on United States and Europe for most specialized and worldly machinery and manufactured goods.
Now anger was steaming in Japan and they were devising a plan that would cripple America forcing them to get involved in foreign affairs. Yomamoto the military leader for Japan, devised a plan in 1940 to devastate America by taking out Pearl Harbor. The last straw for Japan was when FDR cut off all supplies to Japan this is when Japan devised their plans to take out the U.S. Navy. In 1939 Roosevelt ended the 1911 commercial treaty. In 1940 he signed the export control act that stopped all goods from going to Japan. In July of 1941 Roosevelt froze all of the assets of Japan in the United States. All of these crucial moves made by the United States should have prepared them to expect an attack by the Japanese.
In conclusion, Japan went through many transitions from the mid 1800’s to the early 1900’s. Transitions such as Transformations of Japanese Politics, to Meiji Economics, to Building a Modern Social Structure, and influence of Western Style. Through all changes Japan became a better established country. The Meiji government had made very resourceful and useful decisions that had benefitted Japan and it’s
The intent of the United States’ occupation of Japan was to neutralize the threat of another war, to nourish the Japanese economy back to health, and to provide a stable democratic government for the defeated nation. With General Douglas MacArthur acting as the supreme commander in charge of the occupation, Japan changed drastically. Special attention was paid to the areas of military, economy, and government. The effects of the United States’ occupation of Japan were profound almost beyond reckoning, and have had enormous impacts on modern Japanese society as well as on almost every other society in the modern world and throughout the course of history.
World War II began in 1939. America declared isolationism to avoid any association concerning the war (Foner, 845). Big businesses however, did not stick to the idea of anti-entanglement. Henry Ford, of Ford Motor Company did business with Germany, by allowing Germany to employ slave labor to Ford Plants (Foner, 845). Shipments of American trucks, planes, and oil were sent to Japan (Foner, 845). However, the government attempted to stay neutral. In 1941, Japan led an airstrike on Pearl Harbor, American soil, and America then declared war on Japan. With the mobilizing efforts taking place in America, President Roosevelt took order to turn America into a country ready for war. Roosevelt created federal agencies to regulate various wartime expenses (Foner, 852). With these agencies, 3 million federal jobs were created, which drastically decreased the unemployment rate (Foner, 852). The Roosevelt administration also demanded industries to reassemble for wartime production (Foner, 852). With the numerous amount of manufacturing goods being produced for the war, the gross national product rose from $91 billion to $219 billion (Foner, 852). As people became employed, labor union memberships skyrocketed. Unions became greatly established during the war. While many men were deployed to fight in the war, women picked up the jobs that men left behind. While women worked, they
World War II is considered by many to be the single most significant event of the 20’th century. The outcome of that war defines the modern world. World War II led to the tragic death of a huge population of people across the globe. What led to the loss of so many lives? What led the nations of the world to tread down the path of war? This analysis tries to answer those questions in terms of autonomy and responsibility, and focuses on Japan. Japan was a major player in the war. As an aggressor of the war Japan had entered into military action before the European war had started and was not defeated by the Allied powers until VE Day. Several factors came together to Create war between the United States and Japan that led to the fateful bombing of Pearl Harbor. They were: the imperialist foreign policy of Japan, the invasions of Manchuria and of China, the signing of the Tri-Partite Pact.
World War II which happened from 1939 to 1945 was the largest armed conflict in human history. It spanned over six continents and caused over fifty million deaths inclusive of both civilians and military personnel (Brinkley). The second war gave life to new problems. One major result of World War II was the start of the Great Depression. The depression brought Hitler to the zenith and helped the democracy of Germany and Europe. It was also instrumental in propelling Japan into conquest (Roberts). World War II also ended America’s isolation from the rest of the world which resulted in the formation of the United Nations (Brinkley). The war began when Nazi Germany attacked Poland in September 1939. Even then the United States had stood their grounds and decided not to intervene. Eventually, they did when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, in December of 1941. The start of World War II led to many unthinkable events. Many lives were lost and more importantly Japanese Americans were subjected to living in internment camps. Japan joined forces with the Allied powers but, played a small role in fighting German forces in East Asia. After a Paris Peace conference of 1919, Japan’s aim of making peace was shunned by Britain, Australia and the United States. World War II was by far the most horrific tragedy of its time and signified the end of a brutal and bloody war over democracy.
Next, aspects of the evolving Japanese labor market, such as the types of industries in the economy, the demographics of the Japanese population, and the adapted work-related policies, contributed to Japan’s economic revival. One of the most influential changes that occurred in postwar Japan was the introduction of the keiretsu. The keiretsu had many similarities with the prewar zaibatsu, although they did not have the same oligopolistic (a few large firms in an industry) powers that the zaibatsu had. Because they had a lot of power, they were able to invest in the latest technology and, as a result, involve themselves in various manufacturing industries (Allinson 104). Because the keiretsu could afford new technologies, their production
Commodore Matthew Perry, the American expediter forced the Japanese to sign a treaty that reopens trading ports with the rest of the world, and declare the European’s superiority. The treaties were one-sided and only benefited the Westerners. Introduction of basic human rights and religious freedom was written under the treaty however, and was the first step in Japan’s modernization. Perhaps it was the menacing development of America that led to Japan’s advancement. Japan’s wealth and economy skyrocketed after the development of its strong banking system, and its infrastructure was built by the people who studied under Japan’s education system. “The rickshaw and the bicycle; the rodent-proof warehouse; elementary sanitation; better seeds and more fertilizer; the kerosene and then the electric lamp; a simple power loom; the gas engine in the fishing boats; the divorce of personal from business accounts; the principle of limited liability.” The Meiji period indeed was Japan’s race to catch up with the west. This was proven in 1895 during the Russo-Japanese war where Japan was able humiliate both Japan and Russia. The vast influx of western cultures impacted many aspects of Japanese life. Since the foundation had already been laid out for Japan, it was able to achieve modernization in a fraction of the time Europe
GDP measures the total value of all goods and services produced within that territory during a specified period. GDP is used to measure a country’s wealth. Basic’s of life, food, etc. shelter and clothing is not likely available to most people in poorer countries. The.
The American military occupation of Japan was the driving reason for all of the changes in postwar Japan. Its first task, determined even before the surrender was to disarm Japan and to remove the wartime leaders from their influential government positions. This was part of America’s plan to demilitarize and democratize. The goal was to purge the government, media, and education system of war criminals. Once this was accomplished, the American focus shifted to reform. The American plan for reform was based on the idea that Japanese aggression had developed because of fundamental faults in the government, (not, as the Japanese said, from a temporary deviation from the course set during the Meiji period) and that these faults had to be corrected before Japan could ever become a respected member of the developed world. Democratization was what America wanted.