5. The US Occupation

1. What was the political and economic impact of Occupation?

Lesson Objectives
To identify the key political and economic changes made by the Allied occupation

Lesson Tasks

Download and make notes from the Lesson Presentation.
Read pages 84-91 of Hanneman and make a note of all the key changes in Japan. Try to organise chronologically.
Read document 11 - The Basic Initial Post-Surrender Directive 1945 - on pages 138-142 of Hanneman. Summarise the main changes and issues.
Read the 1889 Constitution of Japan on pages 119-120 of Hanneman, and the 1947 Constitution of Japan on pages 142-146.
As a group, agree five major differences between the two Constitutions and present these to the class. Think about the key words in the two documents that might help you: control, declares, convokes, sanctions, sacred, symbol, sovereign power, approval, designated, ceremonial, war, authorisation, peers, nobility, suffrage, mutual, equality, Diet, House
As a group, draw a diagram of the new government structure as agreed by the group. Use page 91 of Hanneman to help you.
Read pages 92-94 of Hanneman, making notes of the key economic changes.

Lesson Objectives
To identify the key social and cultural changes made by the Allied occupation

Lesson Tasks

Download and make notes from the Lesson Presentation.
Read page 92 and 102-106 of Hanneman and make notes on the key social reforms. Be sure to include points on: family system, property, marriage & divorce, and education.
Skim read Chapter 18 - Cultural Developments - of Hane to help you take notes on the main cultural changes, although keep your notes to the Occupation Period 1945-52.

Lesson Objectives
To understand the reasons for the reverse course and its affect on Japan

Lesson Tasks

Read and make notes from the Lesson Presentation.
Read pages 94-97 of Hanneman. Make a note of the reasons for the 'reverse course' and the changes made.
Write a paragraph(s) summing up the reverse course. You need to include the following details: new world order, communism, Yoshida, conservative, red scare, Truman, JCP, Korean War, MacArthur, Self Defence Force, Rearmament, San Francisco Peace Treaty
Finally, skim read chapter 15 of Hane, 'The Postwar Years (1)' on pages 363-368. Use this chapter to add to your notes on the occupation years. Make sure you notes are thematic and chronological where appropriate.