Occupation+of+Japan,+1945

Home Small War Project Assignment Small Wars Topics

Occupation of Japan 1945-1952: ||  ||
 * [[image:buchholtzsidoramericanstudies/World_Map_Japan.gif width="328" height="172"]]
 * || Insert Photo of Key Event ||

Tasks I: Explain the nature and scope of the conflict.-- Due Friday, November 18th
 * •When** did the conflict begin and end?
 * •Who** were the belligerents?
 * •What** was the problem or issue?
 * •Why** was military action necessary?
 * •Why** was the United States’ interested in the conflict?
 * •How** was the problem resolved?

The Occupation of Japan lasted from 1945 to 1952. The Allied forces (mainly the United States) were "against" the Japan ways. Japan had created many war crimes in World War II that were "unforgivable" and showing the world that they were a militaristic nation. The Allies did not like that, and after Japan's lost in teh war, they decided to occupy it. Military was necessary because of the new laws being enforced and because this was a way to punish and put Japan in its place. The United States was expecially interested in occupying Japan because the Cold War was just starting to break out. Since Japan had just lost and gotten rid of one "political view", the U.S. wanted to nation build and make sure the Soviet Union didn't bring communism in. To solve the problems Japan created for itself, the Allies occupied Japan with military and created the Potsdam Declaration (the declaration simply stated to goals that the Allies would be enforcing in Japan). According to Saito, "the declaration called for the loss of territory, the elimintaion of militarism, the disbandment of the Japanese armed forces, the punishment of war criminals, and the creation of democracy (Saito 1)." The General Headquarters in Tokyo for this mission (including Douglas MacArthur) took particular interest in "democratization adn demilitarization provisions in the new constitution (Saito 2)." Naoki, Saito. "Occupation of Japan after the War: World War II." World at War: Understanding Conflict and Society//. ABC-CLIO, 2011. Web. 17 Nov. 2011. Excerpt from Foreword. //A History of Modern Japan//. By Richard Storry. Baltimore: n.p., 1960. || Draw your information from a minimum of **two** LC e-books and databases. Organize your response in an extended power paragraph. In an appositive phrase, establish the credibility of each source the first time you reference it. Internally cite sources and place the works cited at below the last paragraph for Task I.
 * < Barbour, Scott. //The History of Nations: Japan//. N.p.: n.p., n.d. N. pag. Print.

Task II: Analyze the U.S.’s involvement in the conflict.- Due Tuesday, November 22nd •In which one of Max Boot's categories, does this small war fit--punitive, protective, pacification, or profiteering? Justify the reasons that you selected one category over another. •Who were the most important decision-makers or leaders for belligerents and justify your choices with expert opinion? How did these leaders influence the progress and outcome of the war? •Who was the U.S. president and what were his reasons for involving the military in this conflict? •Was there precedent for the U.S. to participate in small wars of this nature? •Which presidential doctrine best fits the aim or goals of this small war?

This small war is an example of pacification. A main goal was demilitarization and the U.S. wanted to prevent Japan's militaristic views and ways. This way the U.S. would prevent conflict and and fighting amongst other countries (especially after WWII). In all sources found about this small war, General Douglas MacArthur (appointed SCAP) and his actions were described in great detail. He was the head of this mission so what he decided effected Japan and the outcome of the conflict. Don Nardo, who studied bibliographies and documentaries about Japan, wrote, "[MacArthur] held undisputed authority to approve or reject all ossupational policies and actions (Nardo 92)." Nardo even went on to describe MacArthur as a "dictator who could decide the course of Japan's future (92)." Because of MacArthur's influences and reformations, Japan's New Constitutionhad democratic changes. General MacArthur felt satisfied with it and even made an announcement to prove his greatfulness about the matter. In this speech, he said, "It is with a sense of deep satisfaction that I am able today to announce a decision of the emperor and the government of Japan to submit to the Japanese people a new and enlightened constitution which has my full approval (MacArthur)." On the other hand, President Harry Truman was not as involved. This occupation was during post WWII and the Cold War so Truman was very occupied other conflicts going on and the spread of communism. Truman was still updated and informed about the occupation but since there were other problems he was unable to focus his full attention of the conflict. The precedent that the U.S. used for the small war was partially just cause and had a probability of success. For just cause, the U.S. was creating a safer environment for the nations and protecting lives by preventing more wars that could come if Japan still had it's militaristic ways. In a way, there was only the U.S.'s side for the small war, so the probability of winning was 100%. Japan had already lost big time and the U.S. had complete militaristic and economic hold on the country. The Truman Doctrine goes along with this small war because it states that the U.S. would help any country resisting communism. Japan, just getting out of WWII and suffering a big loss needed a new direction for government and the small war helped resist communism. Excerpt from Foreword. //A History of Modern Japan//. By Richard Storry. Baltimore: n.p., 1960. ||
 * < Barbour, Scott. //The History of Nations: Japan//. N.p.: n.p., n.d. N. pag. Print.

Don Nardo. San Diego: n.p., 1995. 98. Print. World History Ser. ||
 * < MacArthur, Douglas. A New Hope for Japan. Japan. 6 Mar. 1946. //Modern Japan//. By

History Ser. || Draw your information from a minimum of **three** LC e-books and databases--at least one primary source and one expert opinion. Organize your response in one or two extended power paragraphs. In an appositive phrase, establish the credibility of the source the first time you reference it. Internally cite sources and place the works cited at below the last paragraph for Task II.
 * < Nardo, Don. //Modern Japan//. Ed. Lucent Books. San Diego: n.p., 1995. Print. World

TASK III: How did United States' Public view this conflict? Due Tuesday, Noevmber 29th •Explain why the conflict was controversial among Americans? •Describe at least two non-governmental perspectives on this conflict and identify which one was dominant. •Evaluate the importance of the publics' opinion on the duration and outcome of this small war

During the occupation of Japan there were many different feelings towards Japan. During the first few years of the occupation the feeling towards Japan was anger and hate, but at the end of the occupation feelings had changed drastically. At the beginning of the occupation just after the war had ended in 1945 many Americans hated Japan, according to Gallup’s surveys 13% of Americans voted to “kill off” Japan and 33% thought that Japan should be broken down as a political entity. As the occupation continued Americans attitude toward Japan slowly changed for the better. Japan needed 4 million new dwellings and people needed to be fed. MacArthur asked Washington for 3.5 million tons of food, so more and more Americans saw how bad of shape Japan was in and their attitude started to change as more got involved with the reconstruction of Japan. Then in 1947 MacArthur petitioned for the end of the occupation and a rapid conclusion to the peace treaty, he did this to improve his standings in the public’s eye after only two years of reconstruction. This attempt failed and the US was in Japan for another 5 years as they re-built Japan. As japans slowly recovered from the war more issues came up, like education. In 1951, 250 million textbooks were printed and distributed by the US, the public viewed Japan more as a wounded pet rather than an angry demon and the public was helping achieve many goals that would have been hard for Japan to complete on their own. The US rebuilt Japan from the ground up and provided much financial assistance, $2.2 billion (over $18 billion in 2010). When the US forces left Japan in 1952, we left it in much better shape than with what we started with.

Feraru, Arthur N. “Public Opinion Polls on Japan.” //Far Eastern Survey// 17 May 1950: 101-103. //JSTOR//. Web. 27 Nov. 2011. . “MacArthur, Douglas.” //eLibrary Curriculum Edition//. The Reader’s Companion to Military History, 1 Dec. 1996. Web. 29 Nov. 2011. . “Occupation of Japan.” //Encyclopaedia Britannica Online//. encyclopedia britannica, n.d. Web. 28 Nov. 2011. . Stewart, William H. “The American occupation of Japan 65 years ago.” //Saipan Tribune//. N.p., 14 Sept. 2010. Web. 1 Dec. 2011. . Wright, John Swenson. “U.S.-JAPAN DIPLOMATIC AND SECURITY RELATIONS POST-1945:.” //Colombia international affairsonline//. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Nov. 2011. [].

Draw your information from a minimum of **three** LC e-books and databases--at least **one** primary source and **one** expert opinion. Organize your response in one or two extended power paragraphs. In an appositive phrase, establish the credibility of the source the first time you reference it. Internally cite sources and place the works cited at below the last paragraph for Task III.

Task IV: Did the U.S. achieve its goals? -- Due Friday, December 2nd •How did the conflict end and how was success measured? •How did the outcome affect the U.S. standing with the American public, its allies, belligerents, and enemies? •Were the U.S. decision makers and military leaders praised or vilified?

After the occupation of Japan the United States had drastically changed Japan. The government had an extreme change from an empire to a constitutional monarchy, the entire country was demilitarized, and many social changes came about. When the allied forces arrived in Japan in September of 1945 General Douglas MacArthur wrote in his journal, “I have to rebuild a country that has been destroyed by war” and when we left Japan in 1951 and 52, we believed we had rebuilt Japan. We left Japan in a vulnerable situation, they had no military to defend themselves and they were dealing with a brand new government and social code. The 1952 U.S. - Japan Security Treaty helped Japan defend itself but nowhere in the treaty was there a definite statement that the U.S. would come to Japans aid if it were needed, this was probably due to U.S. forces being in Japan for 7 years and we were tired of intervening in Japan (Wright 15). Another major change to Japan was we had changed their schooling system, the old schooling system before 1945 was based on “Gymnasium” a German teaching program. After 1945 schooling was changed to be similar to schools in America, with middle and high schools even though high school was not required. The U.S. public viewed the occupation as a success because when we left the government had been changed, schooling was much better, and Japan had been rebuilt literally, like in Nagasaki and Hiroshima. After the occupation ended Douglas MacArthur was viewed as a hero in the public eye and went on to fight the North Koreans. Overall the occupation was considered a success and Japan has grown to be a powerful nation today.

Kramer, Hans Martin. //Paedagogica Historica//. //Ebsco Host//. EBSCO industries, June 2007. Web. 4 Dec. 2011. .

“MacArthur, Douglas.” //eLibrary Curriculum Edition//. ProQuest LLC, 1 Dec. 1996. Web. 4 Dec. 2011. <http://elibrary.bigchalk.com/‌elibweb/‌curriculum/‌do/‌document?set=search&dictionaryClick=on&secondaryNav=&groupid=1&requestid=lib_standard&resultid=1&edition=&ts=9543B520D8EF00FE8B8062750C675C7D_1323061474225&start=1&publicationId=&urn=urn%3Abigchalk%3AUS%3BBCLib%3Bdocument%3B127319302>.

“Occupation of Japan.” //Wikipedia//. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 4 Dec. 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/‌wiki/‌Occupation_of_Japan#Outcomes_of_the_occupation>.

Ripsman, Norrin M. “Working Papers.” //CIAO//. N.p., July 1997. Web. 4 Dec. 2011. <https://www.ciaonet.org/‌wps/‌rin01/>.

Wright, John Swenson. “U.S.-JAPAN DIPLOMATIC AND SECURITY RELATIONS POST-1945:.” //CIAO//. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Dec. 2011. <http://www.ciaonet.org/‌wps/‌evm01/‌swj01.pdf>.

Draw your information from a minimum of **three** LC e-books and databases--at least **one** primary source and **two** expert opinions. Organize your response in one or two extended power paragraphs. In an appositive phrase, establish the credibility of the source the first time you reference it. Internally cite sources and place the works cited at below the last paragraph for Task III.

<span style="display: block; font-family: georgia,serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">** Rubric for Small War Wiki: **•Answers to project questions are accurate and complete. •Information and expert opinion are selected from the **required** LC resources and are cited accurately with the credibility precisely stated. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: georgia,serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">·Maps, banners and photos are caption and cited. •Project questions are answered fully in extended power paragraphs.spelling •Writing is edited for spelling, punctuation and grammatical errors. *Works cited follow each task