Political Effects of WWII:

Presentation 3

Political Effects of WWII:

• The Occupation of Japan• After Japan surrendered, the U.S. occupied Japan under General Douglas

MacArthur – Goal – prevent future aggression/war– Methods:

• demilitarization – disbanding of Japanese armed forces• Japanese war criminals were put on trial for war crimes

• democratization – creating a government elected by the people (emperor no longer considered ‘divine’) with a U.S. drawn Constitution that created a Constitutional monarchy that went into effect May, 1947

• * had a bill of rights protecting basic freedoms• * Article 9: Japan could no longer make war - only fight if attacked• * People elected a two-house Parliament called the Diet, who also • chose the Prime Minister – all citizens over the age of 20 could vote• Occupation by the U.S. officially ended in 1952, yet the U.S. maintained a

military presence to protect the country (Allies)

Nationalist Movements

• Following WWII, many countries pushed for independence through nationalist movements – Some imperial powers willingly gave up control as

they questioned the cost, as well as the morality, of maintaining colonies abroad

– Other imperial powers resisted colonial independence– Ultimately, through both peaceful & non-peaceful

means, decolonization did occur across the globe (ex. India, Africa..)

Costs of World War II

• TOTAL WAR:– Both the Allied and Axis powers engaged in total

wars (all resources and people committed to fighting and winning the war)• Democratic governments required factories to produce

war materials instead of civilian products

How did World War II affect civilian life?

• Individuals Affected on Many Levels– Japanese Americans were forced into internment

camps after the bombing of Pearl Harbor– British took similar action for people of German

ancestry– As men joined the army, women worked in the

factories• Helped to produce planes, ships, ammunition• British and American women served in the army by driving

trucks, ambulances, decoding messages and serving as nurses.

Modern Warfare of World War IIMachine gunsSonar to detect submarinesImproved airplanesRadar to detect airplanes

Deadlier bombsWalkie-talkiesFast-moving armored tanksImproved submarines____________________

Aircraft carriers Medical advances to treat wounds

As many as 60 million killedThe Soviet Union lost the most (22 million)50 million were uprooted from their homesCities ruinedEconomies of war-torn nations took years to recover