Japan Flashcards
When did the US drop the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki and how many people died?
6th August 1945 - Hiroshima - around 90-146 thousand died
9th August - Nagasaki - around 39-80 thousand died
Why did Truman have to convince the US that he was worthy of President?
He was originally the vice president of Roosevelt, therefore didn’t have a public mandate.
What was the impact of Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbour in 1941?
Around 2 and a half thousand died, including 68 civilians, 8 battleships were destroyed
What was the impact of American soldiers from the Japanese Prisoner Of War camps?
Underfed, manual labour
27,000 imprisoned and around 11,000 died
Significant permanent mental illness impact for the survivors
What was the impact of the Kamikaze pilots (who drove bomb-filled planes into allies planes and battleships)?
Around 7000 naval personnel killed and 3000 Japanese pilots killed.
What are 3 reasons for the USA’s fear of communism (i.e. USSR) spreading in south east Asia at the end of WW2?
- As japan was removed as imperial power, there was a power vacuum created, which could make countries more vulnerable to USSR communism.
- USSR was already spreading communism in Eastern Europe in east Germany, Romania and Albania.
- 80% of south east Asia was in poverty, and due to the Marxist ideas of sharing and equality, many peasants would have appealed to USSR communism.
What are the 3 main policies in the 1940s that the USA use in Asia to prevent the spread of communism?
- Atomic bomb (August 1945)
- Kennan’s Long Telegram (February 1946) LOOK AT THIS
- Model states
When and what was the impact of the Yalta conference?
February 1945 - Britain, USA and USSR decide to defeat Germany with help from USA and USSR troops.
When and what was the impact of the Potsdam conference?
July 1945 - Stalin’s proposal of a 4 power trusteeship in Korea (after japan was defeated) is rejected by Truman, who wants to prevent to USSR communist expansion.
When and what was Kennan’s Long Telegram?
What significance does this telegram hold?
February 1946
Discussed how the USSR was unable to coexist with the west and that they’d use force to those who opposed the expansion of USSR communism.
Influenced ‘Truman doctrine’ speech in march 1947, where his declared his commitment to the policy of containment.
What are the 3 categories which makes a successful US model state?
- Capitalist Democracy
- Capitalist economy
- Pro USA/anti communist
Japan - became a US model state in 1946
What were the 3 successes and 2 limitations of japan’s democracy?
What’s the rating out of 10?
Successes:
- CONSTITUTION - established in may 1947 - allowed basic human rights, freedom to religion (Shinto), gender equality etc.
- LIBERAL PARTY - Japanese were content with democracy as the liberal party was voted in 1946.
- EMPEROR HIROHITO - desanctified and not removed, to maintain the Japanese patriotism.
Limitations:
- MACARTHUR - Treated General MacArthur as a God figure, due to Japanese culture around Hirohito
- REVRSE COURSE POLICY - when the communist party received 3 million votes in 1949, the USA prioritised the policy of containment over democracy, by arresting communist voters and forbidding industrial strikes.
7/10
What were the 3 successes and 1 limitation of Japan’s capitalist economy?
Successes:
- BOOMING ECONOMY - in 1949, the USA fixed exchange rates to boost exports.
- COMPETITION-BASED ECONOMY (CAPITALIST) - monopoly privileges ended in 1947, which opened a more competition based economy, to increase prices.
- LAND REFORM - between 1947-1950, landlord’s privileges were taken away to allow peasants to generate profit from their own land (and deter from communism).
Limitation:
- Other south East Asian countries (who resented japan’s previous imperial power) viewed japan as a threat with their US support.
What were the 3 successes and 1 limitation of the establishment of japan as a pro-USA/anti communist nation?
Successes:
- ISLAND MILITARY BASES - USA established island military bases e.g. in Okinawa
- DISARMAMENT AND REARMAMENT - when japan was established as a model state, conscription ended. Then in the Korean War in 1950, Japan was rearmed to aid the US against communist North Korea - provided 130,000 troops by 1954.
- WAR CRIME TRIALS - photography of the execution of prime minister Tojo (under Hirohito) was forbidden in December 1948, to save the Japanese from embarrassment.
Limitations:
- Other south East Asian countries (who resented japan’s previous imperial power) viewed japan as a threat with their US support (therefore could be drawn to communism).
