Directions: Carefully read the following paragraphs and then answer the accompanying questions. At the conclusion of World War II, Japan became an occupied nation. The occupation lasted from 1945 until 1952. Most occupying forces were from the U.S. During the occupation, the U.S. military government achieved its two main goals. It brought democracy to Japan and also helped lay the foundation for Japan’s economic recovery.     The occupation government helped Japan draft a new constitution. The document removed political power from the emperor, a parliamentary system was put into place, and... Show more

Directions: Carefully read the following paragraphs and then answer the accompanying questions.

At the conclusion of World War II, Japan became an occupied nation. The occupation lasted from 1945 until 1952. Most occupying forces were from the U.S. During the occupation, the U.S. military government achieved its two main goals. It brought democracy to Japan and also helped lay the foundation for Japan’s economic recovery.    
The occupation government helped Japan draft a new constitution. The document removed political power from the emperor, a parliamentary system was put into place, and basic rights were guaranteed for all. Women for the first time were given the right to vote. The constitution also stated that the Japanese army would be limited to a size only large enough for national defense.    
In addition to political changes, economic changes were introduced. The right of workers to unionize was written into the constitution. Land reforms were introduced. The chief <span class='underlined1">beneficiaries were tenant farmers. They were allowed to buy land, leading to a new class of independent farmers. The Americans tried to disband the large business corporations that existed in Japan, called zaibatsu. This was unsuccessful because Japan believed it needed the corporations to compete with other nations. Although a small number of companies were dismantled, the system remained. The business experience that existed because of the zaibatsu became a positive factor in Japan’s economic growth.    
After the occupation ended, Japan experienced extraordinary economic growth. A number of factors contributed to this success. During World War II, many Japanese cities and factories had been destroyed. However, this destruction turned out to be beneficial. The Japanese had to build new factories, which were more productive, efficient, and state-of-the-art than were older factories in other manufacturing centers. This included the United States.    
In addition to new manufacturing facilities, Japan was able to take advantage of cheap oil prices in the 1950s and 1960s. Japan also had a large workforce, providing cheap labor for factories. The Japanese had a long tradition of saving money, so banks had money to lend to new businesses. Because Japan had few natural resources, it turned to manufacturing products for export. By the 1970s, Japan was a leader in electronics and began producing high-quality automobiles for export. Japan’s economic growth was not just due to its technological and manufacturing advances. The Japanese government’s protectionist trade policies also helped Japan become an economic superpower.    

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