Bellringer SOL Challenge BJOTD: What is white and fluffy and lives on Mars?
The End of the War and Reconstruction
Destruction of WWII 40 million Europeans died 2/3 were civilians Billions of dollars in property damage London, Warsaw, Berlin, all destroyed Civilians had no homes, food, jobs, cities….. Famine set in Berlin 1945- 4,000 citizens died a day
Reconstruction in Germany In February 1945 the US, Britain and the Soviet Union met in Yalta They agreed to divide Germany and Berlin into zones of occupation, controlled by Allied forces The US and Britain wanted to rebuild the German economy to help stabilize Europe Stalin wanted to keep Germany weak and divided
Reconstruction in Germany Western Berlin and Western Germany will become democratic thanks to Western Europe and the US’s help The West will also become an economic power in postwar Europe The East, controlled by Stalin will lag behind and will be communist
Nuremberg Trials Allies put Nazis on trial In Nuremberg Germany, 22 Nazi leaders were put on trial in the first Nuremberg trials Charged with “crimes against humanity” 12 were sentenced to death 11 were hung and their bodies were burned at Dachau, a concentration camp
To Preserve Peace… The United Nations 50 countries Goal- protect the members against aggression Based in New York Each nation could cast their vote on issues Security council 5 permanent members – Britain, China, France, US and the Soviet Union
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights Established and adopted by the United Nations The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was issued in 1948 to protect the dignity and rights of all people Provided a code of conduct for the treatment of people under the protection of their government
Reconstruction in Japan 2 million died Atomic bomb destroyed Hiroshima and Nagasaki The capital, Tokyo, had been destroyed The Allies took away Japan's colonial possessions
Reconstruction in Japan On August 15, 1945, Emperor Hirohito, made a radio address urging his people to stop fighting and begin reconstruction in Japan Douglas Macarthur took charge of the US occupation
Demilitarization MacArthur was determined to fairly control Japan, but he needed to make sure his men were safe He began the process of demilitarization Disbanding the Japanese army Eliminated aggressive abilities He also brought war criminals to trial Hideki Tojo was hung Crated a “safe” Japan Promised Japan the US would keep them safe
MacArthur brings democracy The US helped the Japanese create a new constitution, that went into effect on May 3, 1947 Japan now had a Parliamentary Democracy, like Britain
Macarthur revives Economy Increased land ownership Created labor unions US did not give the Japanese much money, only 2 billion Japan begins to emerge as a dominant economy in Asia