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A level history: Cold War > US containment in Asia -> Reconstruction of post-war Japan and US-Japanese relations > Flashcards

US containment in Asia -> Reconstruction of post-war Japan and US-Japanese relations Flashcards

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1
Q

what event can be viewed as the first act of the Cold War in Japan?

A

Hiroshima was hit by the Atomic bomb on August 6th 1945

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2
Q

how many people died within the four months of the Hiroshima bombing?

A

146,000 died within four months of the bombing

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3
Q

what were the reasons for the US bombing of Hiroshima?

A
  • US displaying their strength to the USSR
  • Japan’s expansionism and attack on Pearl Harbour
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4
Q

what quotes describe atomic warfare and the Hiroshima bombing?

A
  • ‘atomic warfare is the gift that keeps giving’ -> has prolonged implications
  • ‘the last shock of WWII and the first shock of the Cold War’
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5
Q

how was Japan ‘opened-up’ to capitalism?

A
  • Commodore Matthew C. Perry opened Japanese ports to American trade
  • Japan forced to end isolationist foreign policy and becomes capitalist to avoid China’s fate
  • abolishes feudalism and servitude to allow business innovation to take place by colonising neighbours due to its lack of raw materials
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6
Q

which places did Japan take over in 1890s?

A
  • 1895: Japan took over Taiwan from China and exploited it
  • 1890s: Japan starts take over in Korea for its resources whilst also considering Manchuria
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7
Q

what previous conflict did Japan have with Russia?

A
  • interest in Taiwan and Manchuria brought Japan in conflict with old established white Russians
  • Russo-Japanese War: 1904-1906
  • Russia took all of Korea and a chunk of Manchuria
  • emergence of Japan pleases Britain as they can contain their old enemy of Russia
  • alliance between Britain and Japan last until 1931
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8
Q

How did the Wallstreet Crash in America affect the rest of the world?

A
  • Oct 1929: rest of world economy crashes
  • Japan was first country to react in military fashion against this
  • 1931: invades the rest of Manchuria
  • 1937: Japanese invade northern and coastal China -> stemming from bad blood between China and Japan
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9
Q

what places did Japan take over from December 1941 to May 1942?

A
  • Dec 1941-May 1942: Japanese take Burma, Malaysia, Hong Kong from the British, Philippines from Americans
  • Japanese humiliate and kill off the myth of white invincibility
  • when Japan are defeated in August 1945, the region becomes a power vacuum
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10
Q

outline the fall of Singapore on 15th February 1942:

A
  • capital of British power in East Asia
  • meant to be an impregnable fortress
  • Japanese destroy British prestige forever
  • Churchill called it “the worst disaster and largest capitulation in British history”
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11
Q

what were the consequences of the collapse of Japan?

A
  • the Second Chinese Civil War (March 1946-Dec 1949)
  • the French Indochinese war (Dec 1946- July 1954)
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12
Q

briefly outline the French-Indochinese war (December 1946-July 1954)

A
  • Ho Chi Minh (leader of the Vietnam Workers’ Party) declares independence for Vietnam although the French don’t agree
  • a guerilla war breaks out
  • $4 billion given from Americans to French to fight Ho Chi Minh
  • US give $2.8 billion to Jiang Jieshi
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13
Q

what are the two key takeaways about the consequences of the collapse of Japan?

A
  • In Asia, the Cold War was about imperialism vs nationalism
  • Japan’s defeat created massive power vacuums across east and southeast Asia filled by Indo-Chinese wars
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14
Q

why did Japan matter to the USA?

A
  • it had developed a superb manufacturing base after 1910
  • was he only industrialised country in Asia and only nation to build a great navy
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15
Q

what are some examples of creations made by Japan?

A
  • Mitsubishi Zero
  • Chi-Ha tank
  • Akagi aircraft carrier
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16
Q

How did Japan become a US occupation?

A
  • Japan surrendered to Jiang Jieshi’s GMD forces unconditionally at end of WWII
  • US began sole occupation which was agreed among the US, UK, USSR and China
  • But USSR wanted Japan to be split like Germany
  • Agreed occupation would last until 1952
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17
Q

Who was put in charge of rebuilding Japan?

A
  • September 1945 - US General Douglas MacArthur was made SCAP (Supreme Commander of Allied Powers)
  • Given decision powers to rebuild Japan
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18
Q

Describe the 1945-47 stage of US occupation:

A
  • American military governor of Japan, Douglas MacArthur began a programme of demilitarisation and breaking up large business groupings
  • also purged those associated with Japan’s aggressive policies of expansion and war in WWII (prosecuting war criminals, puts on trial imperialist politicians in charge of China)
  • believed he was reforming Japan to make it conform to American model of capitalism
  • People wanted occupation to have punishments and re-education
  • There would be re-education, democratisation, economic reform, demilitarisation
19
Q

how was MacArthur worsening the Japanese economic crisis?

A
  • the war had destroyed regional networks of trade
  • by 1946, acute hardship and shortages of food
  • by purging Japanese business executives linked to aggressive nationalist groups of the war, MacArthur was worsening the Japanese economic crisis
20
Q

how did MacArthur greatly reduce the powers of the Emperor of Japan?

A
  • idea that the Emperor was divine was expressly denied
  • Japan was given a parliament, the House of Representatives, provision made for regular elections and women allowed to vote for the first time
21
Q

what did the May 1947 Constitution entail?

A
  • trade unions were given legal status
  • guarantees of human and civil rights given
  • slavery was outlawed
  • rights of religious minorities were recognised
  • legalises the communist party
22
Q

what did Article 9 of the May 1947 Constitution announce?

A

Article ) announced that the ‘Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as means of settling international dispute’

23
Q

what did the US introduce in 1947 towards Japan?

A

From Summer of 1947, the USA introduced what became known as its ‘reverse course’

24
Q

What did Kennan argue for the ‘reverse course’ in 1947?

A
  • Kennan argued that in terms of the global balance of power, a strong, rebuilt Japan and Germany would counter Soviet power without threatening Western interests
  • Rebuilding Germany and Japan would make them “immune to communism”
  • from 1947 onwards, Truman’s overriding Asian policy objectives in Europe
25
Q

what did the US dismiss Japan of and give them?

A
  • decided that Japan would not have to pay reparations
  • the de-industrialisation programme (breaking large business groupings) would be abandoned
  • US sent Japan $500 million to help economic recovery (MP) to make it stable and prosperous
26
Q

Describe the 1947-48 ‘reverse course’ stage of US occupation:

A
  • In 1947, US policy towards Japan became less focused on punishment, more focused on recovery
  • Development of democratic institutions and economic reconstruction to achieve political stability
  • US targeted communists and sympathisers instead of war criminals
  • Japan seen as essential element of US power base in eastern Asia
27
Q

Why did US policy towards Japan change to a ‘reverse course’?

A
  • Japan seen as essential element of US power base in eastern Asia
  • Due to intensification of Cold War in Europe and growing threat of Communist forces against Nationalist China
  • Japan needed to be a rich US ally to prevent growth of communist influences in Japan and Asia
28
Q

what made Japan an invaluable Cold War asset?

A
  • Treated as the Asian equivalent of Western Germany; a nation whose industrial infrastructure, skilled workforce, and technological prowess made it both the engine of regional economic growth and a Cold War asset of incalculable value
  • aimed to turn Japan from a mortal enemy to a valuable ally
  • Japan will be a barrier against communist expansionism
29
Q

what did American generals warn Truman about early in 1948?

A

Early in 1948, American generals warned Truman that if Japan fell under Communist influence, the USSR would gain an additional war-making potential equal to 25% of their existing capacity (could win the CW)

30
Q

what did Secretary of State, Dean Acheson similarly outline in December 1949?

A
  • In December 1949, Dean Acheson similarly outlined issue of Japan’s importance for the overall power imbalance between the two superpowers
  • “Were Japan added to the Communist bloc, the Soviets would acquire skilled manpower and industrial potential capable of significantly altering the balance of world power”
31
Q

Describe the 1949 economic stabilisation stage of US occupation:

A
  • Period focused on economic recovery, austerity and adopting US capitalist system
  • ‘Super balanced budget’ increased income and reduced expenditure and borrowing
  • Initially led to rise in unemployment due to business closures
  • Japan joins GATT to increase trade
32
Q

Explain what the ‘super balanced budget’ is:

A
  • Former Detroit banker, Joseph Dodge worked with Japan’s Finance Minister, Hayato Ikeda
  • Set a surplus target of nearly 157 million yen (just over $4 million)
  • All gov. income and spending was monitored and stuck to strict guidelines
  • Aimed at balancing income and expenditure to minimise borrowing and create surplus for extra stability
  • Initially led to rise in unemployment due to business closures
33
Q

what does GATT stand for?

A

The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade was created with the UN at end of WWII

34
Q

what did the GATT do?

A
  • Multinational agreement to manage international trade and tried reducing tariffs and duties to encourage international trade
  • Increased Japan’s access to Western trade
  • Prevented trade with communist China from late 1950
35
Q

How did the communist world react to US policy in Japan?

A

USSR disapproved of rebuilding Japan’s economy as it would restore its military strength

36
Q

what did the US policy in Japan partly encourage the USSR to do?

A

partly led to signing of Treaty of Friendship and Mutual Assistance between PRC and USSR in February 1950

37
Q

What was the ‘Treaty of Friendship and Mutual Assistance’?

A
  • Signed between USSR and PRC on 14 February 1950
    Recognised PRC and recalled recognition of ROC
  • Aimed at preventing aggression from Japan and its allies
  • Would resort to military means if they were attacked by Japan or its allies
38
Q

what increased Japan’s importance to US thinking in October 1949 and June 1950?

A

The victory of Mao in the Second Chinese Civil War (October 1949) and the outbreak of the Korean War (June 1950) increased Japan’s importance to US thinking
- reflected in the San Francisco Peace Treaty

39
Q

when was the San Francisco Peace Treaty and what was it?

A
  • Signed on 8 September, 1951 between Japan and Allied Powers
  • Ended US occupation
  • Administrative control of the island of Okinawa
  • Right to prevent Japan from permitting other countries to use its bases
  • right to use force to quell disturbances in Japan
  • Japan surrendered claims to territory in China, Korea and Taiwan
  • Japan would provide compensation to Allied civilians and prisoners-of-war
  • makes Japan a regional asset to contain communism
40
Q

how was the San Francisco Peace Treaty relatively lenient to Japan?

A
  • they did not have to pay reparations or apologise for war crimes
  • however, reparations to be made to war-affected states e.g Vietnam, Philippines, Burma, Indonesia
    Japan required to sign US-Japan Security Treaty (1951)
41
Q

How did the USSR react to the ‘San Francisco Peace Treaty’?

A

Did not sign it
- Soviet Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko protested it turned Japan into a US military base

42
Q

when was the US-Japan Security Treaty signed?

A

In 1951 and was a bilateral security agreement

43
Q

what did the US-Japan Security Treaty give the US?

A

Gave US:
- Unrestricted use of military bases in Japan
- Administrative control of Okinawa (island separate from Japan’s mainland)
- Right to use military force to intervene in any internal disorder in Japan
- Right to veto Japan offering military bases to other states

44
Q

Why did the US and Japan create the San Francisco Peace Treaty and the Security Treaty?

A
  • Clear that Japan was vital for containment in Asia
  • Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida used opportunity to restore Japan’s sovereignty and gain security from US
  • In return, Japan would accept US troops on its land

A level history: Cold War (26 decks)

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