Rebuilding of Japan

The United States declared war on Japan after Japan bombed Pearl Harbor in 1941 After years of fighting, the US dropped two atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945 Japan is the only country to ever been attacked by nuclear weapons After the bombing, Japan’s government and economy were devastated.

Hiroshima's population has been estimated at 350,000; 70,000 died immediately from the explosion and another 70,000 died from radiation within five years. "The appearance of people was, skin was blackened by burns... They had no hair because their hair was burned, you couldn't tell whether you were looking at them from in front or back... and their skin - on their faces and bodies too - hung down... Many of them died along the road -

US Forces occupy Japan 1945-1952 MacArthur of Allied Forces sent to oversee rebuilding of Japan Japan’s military disbanded; weapons factories closed Government and military leaders involved in bombings brought to trial and punished MacArthur helped Japan establish a constitutional monarchy; considered one of the most democratic documents in the world

Rebuilding Japan Constitution grants citizens many of the same rights as granted to Americans Results: -one of world’s strongest economies -stable democratic government US-Japanese Mutual Security Pact prohibits the use of nuclear weapons and military attacks against the Japanese without knowledge of Japanese government