Modern Japan time line.Japan's defeat in World War II caused great human and economic loss. The U.S. provided key financial and technical assistance after the war, but Japan's new democratic government played a central role in the nation's redevelopment. Today, Japan is the world's second-largest economy. Study the time line and answer the questions. TIME LINE 1945 U.S. planes drop two atomic bombs atomic bomb or A-bomb, weapon deriving its explosive force from the release of atomic energy through the fission (splitting) of heavy nuclei (see nuclear energy). The first atomic bomb was produced at the Los Alamos, N.Mex. , one on Hiroshima (August 6), and another on Nagasaki (August 9). More than 240,000 people, most of them civilians, are killed or injured in·jure tr.v. in·jured, in·jur·ing, in·jures 1. To cause physical harm to; hurt. 2. To cause damage to; impair. 3. . Japan surrenders and is placed under the control of a U.S. military government. 1947-1952 Japan's new constitution establishes a parliamentary democracy parliamentary democracy Democratic form of government in which the party (or a coalition of parties) with the greatest representation in the parliament (legislature) forms the government, its leader becoming prime minister or chancellor. and pledges that the nation will not maintain a military force to wage war. Japan signs a peace treaty with the U.S. and other nations. In 1952, Japan regains its independence. 1954 Japan's economy begins an 18-year period of rapid growth and industrial development. By the early 1970s, the nation has become the world's largest ship producer and a leading manufacturer of cars, steel, and high-tech electronic equipment. 1955-1960 The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP LDP - Linux Documentation Project ) is formed in 1955. The organization governs the country until 1993. Japan joins the United Nations in 1956. Four years later, Prime Minister Kishi Nobosuke signs a pact affirming Japan's alliance with the U.S. in the Cold War. 1972-1973 Japan establishes diplomatic relations with Communist China. An oil embargo Oil embargo may refer to:
1980s Japan becomes the world's largest provider of development aid. In 1902, the Japanese car company Honda opens its first factory in the U.S. By the decade's end, Japanese manufacturers struggle to sell their expensive, hightech products abroad. 1993-1996 Political scandals A political scandal is a scandal in which politicians or government officials engage in various illegal, corrupt, or unethical practices. A political scandal can involve the breaking of the nation's laws or plotting to do so. and a faltering economy result in the end of LDP leadership. A seven-party coalition takes power and its rule is marked by great political instability. The LDP returns to power in 1996. 2001-2002 Junichiro Koizumi Junichiro Koizumi (小泉 純一郎 Koizumi Jun'ichirō becomes Prime Minister. Japan's economy gets a much-needed boost after co-hosting the Men's World Cup soccer tournament. 2003-2004 Japan provides economic support to the reconstruction of postwar post·war adj. Belonging to the period after a war: postwar resettlement; a postwar house. postwar Adjective occurring or existing after a war Adj. 1. Iraq. It also deploys some 1,000-noncombatant troops to Iraq. Some Japanese politicians consider the deployment unconstitutional unconstitutional adj. referring to a statute, governmental conduct, court decision or private contract (such as a covenant which purports to limit transfer of real property only to Caucasians) which violate one or more provisions of the U. S. Constitution. . QUESTIONS Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper. 1. Japan was ruled by what kind of government after its surrender in World War II? 2. Why do you think Japan made a constitutional pledge to not maintain a military force to wage war? 3. What is the name of the political group that dominated Japan's politics after World War II? 4. What changes did Japan undergo during the 1980s? 5. How did co-hosting the 2002 World Cup help Japan's economy? 6. What do you think are some of the challenges of a coalition government, such as the one that ruled Japan in the early 1990s? 7. With whom did Japan sign an alliance pact during the Cold War? 8. What two factors led to the end of government rule by the LDP in 1993? 9. Why do you think some Japanese politicians considered the deployment of Japanese troops as unconstitutional? 10. Do you think countries should make a constitutional pledge to not maintain an army to wage war? Explain your answer. Skill Master, p. T-6 1. a U.S. military government 2. World War II destroyed much of Japan. The nation also suffered a great loss of human life. This loss might have contributed to feelings of fear, guilt, and shame for the Japanese military aggression aggression, a form of behavior characterized by physical or verbal attack. It may appear either appropriate and self-protective, even constructive, as in healthy self-assertiveness, or inappropriate and destructive. and influenced the nation to decide to never again provoke pro·voke tr.v. pro·voked, pro·vok·ing, pro·vokes 1. To incite to anger or resentment. 2. To stir to action or feeling. 3. To give rise to; evoke: provoke laughter. or participate in an armed conflict abroad. 3. Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) 4. Japan became the world's largest donor The party conferring a power. One who makes a gift. One who creates a trust. donor n. a person or entity making a gift or donation. DONOR. He who makes a gift. (q.v.) of international development aid. Honda, a Japanese carmaker, opened its first factory in the U.S. Japan's exports of high-tech products slowed. 5. Hosting the World Cup brought worldwide attention and more tourism to Japan. Tourists who spent money on food, goods, housing, services, and other items boosted Japan's economy, Advertising, endorsements, media rights, and other revenues associated with the tournament also fueled greater economic growth. 6. A coalition government is the union of several political groups. These groups might have competing interests, but agree to compromise in order to unite under one government. Such compromises are often difficult to honor As a verb, to accept a bill of exchange, or to pay a note, check, or accepted bill, at maturity. To pay or to accept and pay, or, where a credit so engages, to purchase or discount a draft complying with the terms of the draft. and can lead to more conflict. 7. Japan sided with the U.S. during the Cold War. 8. Political scandals and a weak economy helped end LDP's leadership. 9. Despite the humanitarian scope of the deployment, Japan had made a constitutional pledge to not maintain a military force to wage war, 10. Answers will vary. |
|
||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion