Issues with Japan Flashcards
What were the two cities bombed by the USA in 1945?
Hiroshima + Nagasaki
How many civilians and soldiers were killed in Hiroshima?
3450 soldiers
70,000-146,000 civilians
How many civilians and soldiers were killed in Nagasaki?
250 soldiers
39,000-80,000 civilians
What are the possible reasons that Truman authorised the bombings? (3 examples)
To threaten the USSR with US ‘Atomic Monopoly’
To show both military and political dominance over the world
To prevent millions of lives lost in a potential invasion of Japan
When did Japan surrender? And what did Emperor Hirohito describe the power of the US as?
August 15, 1945
‘A new and most cruel bomb.’
What was the one condition Japan wanted for their surrender? Did the US agree?
That Emperor Hirohito remained Emperor - as a figurehead
The US agreed - keeping Hirohito’s status but occupied Japan with US troops
After Japanese surrender, who was given dictatorial power over Japan?
General Douglas MacArthur
How many soldiers occupied Japan? And for how long?
350,000 US troops occupied Japan from 1945-52
What was MacArthur’s main aim with occupying Japan?
To transform Japan from a militaristic state to a modern democracy
Between 1949 and 1952, what new laws/rulings were put into place in Japan? (3 examples)
Communists were banned from government posts
Article 9 of the Japanese constitution renounced war as a policy
A democracy was established with votes for women included
After the fall of China and the Korean War, what did Japan’s utility shift to?
An economic power that could balance the newly communist China
A military base for US operations due to it’s proximity to Korea
By 1952, the US withdrew their occupation of Japan - why?
The Japanese economy and industry was rebuilt due to military spending during the Korean War
