Japanese Economic Development Post World War Ii
World War II left many powerful nations in smoke and rubble. The deconstruction of many countries gave them the chance to rebuild their cities and economies. No country took more advantage of this opportunity than Japan. Japan was a huge militaristic power in World War
II . Their aggressive behavior caused them to be stripped of their military and their power for self rule. The demilitarization of Japan changed the country's focus from world militaristic domination to world economic domination. The country established free trade, manufactured goods, and improved and invented technology, making themselves one of the largest economic superpowers in the world. World War II exploded across Europe and the rest of the world in 1939. Germany and
Japan had united to take over Europe, Russia, and the Pacific islands. The focus of the Japanese was to conquer China. Conquering the mighty country was not as easy as they expected and they needed more resources as the war dragged on. Japan turned its focus to the Pacific Islands for resources for their war with China. There was a barrier that stood between Japan and those resources they needed: the United States Navy. Admiral Isoroku Yamatmoto of the Japanese
Navy stated that, "The U.S. fleet in Hawaii is a dagger pointed at our throat and must be destroyed" (Beck et al p.827). Early in the morning of December 7, 1941 American sailors at Pearl Harbor, in Hawaii, awoke to the roar of explosives (Beck et al p.827). Within two hours the Japanese had sunk or damaged 18 ships, including eight battleships - nearly the whole U.S. pacific fleet. Some 2,400
Americans died, more than 1,000 were wounded (Beck et al p.827). The news of the attack shocked America. The day after President Roosevelt announced to Congress and the world that the United States had declared war on Japan. After the attack of Pearl Harbor President Roosevelt stopped sending oil to Japan. The
U.S. and Japan played tug-of-war for four years
II . Their aggressive behavior caused them to be stripped of their military and their power for self rule. The demilitarization of Japan changed the country's focus from world militaristic domination to world economic domination. The country established free trade, manufactured goods, and improved and invented technology, making themselves one of the largest economic superpowers in the world. World War II exploded across Europe and the rest of the world in 1939. Germany and
Japan had united to take over Europe, Russia, and the Pacific islands. The focus of the Japanese was to conquer China. Conquering the mighty country was not as easy as they expected and they needed more resources as the war dragged on. Japan turned its focus to the Pacific Islands for resources for their war with China. There was a barrier that stood between Japan and those resources they needed: the United States Navy. Admiral Isoroku Yamatmoto of the Japanese
Navy stated that, "The U.S. fleet in Hawaii is a dagger pointed at our throat and must be destroyed" (Beck et al p.827). Early in the morning of December 7, 1941 American sailors at Pearl Harbor, in Hawaii, awoke to the roar of explosives (Beck et al p.827). Within two hours the Japanese had sunk or damaged 18 ships, including eight battleships - nearly the whole U.S. pacific fleet. Some 2,400
Americans died, more than 1,000 were wounded (Beck et al p.827). The news of the attack shocked America. The day after President Roosevelt announced to Congress and the world that the United States had declared war on Japan. After the attack of Pearl Harbor President Roosevelt stopped sending oil to Japan. The
U.S. and Japan played tug-of-war for four years
Cited: Beck, Roger; Black, LInda; Kriegar, Larry S.; Naylor, Phillip C.; and Shabaka, Dahia I., Chapter 34 "World War II", World History: Patterns of Interaction., Dallas: McDougal Little Inc., 1999. "Japan", online, http;//www.britannica.com/bcom/eb/article/printable/i/0,5722/0645100.html. Long, Robert E., Japan and the U.S., New York: The H.W. Wilson Company, 1990. MacIntyre, Donald, "Emperor of the Internet", Time Magazine vol.154 no.23, p.44. Ramo, Joshua Cooper, "Get Rich Quick - Japan 's Stock Market is Rocket Hot", online, http://www.time.com/time/magazine/articles/0,3266,28494,00.html. Samurai and Swastika, The, videotape, History Channel, Date of Viewing 2-25-00.