1. WWII Aftermath

2. Introduction When Japan surrendered, the world rejoiced
The U.S. soldiers abroad and the people back home celebrated
Uncertainty faced the nation as it now had to adjust to the postwar world
The war fixed the depression, but what would happen to the economy now?
WWI led to an economic collapse, increase in crime and turmoil….would the same happen now?
How would America and the world learn from their mistakes after WWI?

3. Isolation or Intervention?????
When WWI ended America entrenched itself as an isolationist
America learned its lesson and began to establish itself as a world leader for peace
In July 1944 America and 43 other nations founded the World Bank
Provided loans to help countries recover from war and develop economies
Same group created the International Monetary Fund:
IMF: stabilize the worlds monetary systems and exchange rates
U.S. worked to replace the League of Nations with a more efficient and capable organization

5. The U.S., Britain, China and the USSR met to begin to charter the United Nations
In June of 1945, 50 nations signed the UN Charter and established the UN
Roosevelt helped champion the UN before he passed away
Did not only rely on one parties support (Wilson) and helped get public approval
The UN was ratified by the senate 89-2

7. The United Nations UN included Roosevelts “Four Freedoms”
All people have freedom of speech
Freedom of worship
Freedom from want
Freedom from fear
UN’s Declaration of Human Rights: people have basic human rights to life, liberty, equality, religion, expression and assembly
UN Structure:
General Assembly: All members
Security Council: 15 members, 5 permanent (USA, Britain, France, Russia and China)

8. What to do with Axis Power?
Wanted to avoid Treaty of Versailles like “peace”
Allies demanded the Axis Powers return their taken land
Demanded reparations but a much smaller amount and mostly through equipment
Did not want to punish everyone from these countries
War Crime Trials:
Nuremberg Trials: Nazi war criminals would be tried in Nuremberg, Germany
Would be judged by a military tribunal or court
Nazi leaders were charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity
All 22 pleaded not guilty
12 sentenced to death, 7 received prison terms, 3 were acquitted
Other trials followed that condemned many other Nazi leaders

10. Found 25 guilty of war crimes
Japan War Crime Trials
Met in Tokyo in 1946
Found 25 guilty of war crimes
16 life sentences
7 sentenced to death, including Hideki Tojo
2 received prison terms

11. Rebuilding German and Japan
Yalta Conference: Allied leaders met to discuss what to do with Germany and the Axis powers
Decided to divide Germany into 4 military occupation zones, one for each major Allied power
US, France, GB and the USSR
Germany laid in ruins from Allied bombing raids
Citizens suffered through famine and disease
Japan: General Douglas MacArthur was put in charge of the country
American soldiers occupied Japan
MacArthur set up democratic parliamentary government that carried out his political reforms
Still had emperor in ceremonial role
New Bill of Rights
Worked for women’s rights
By 1951 Japan’s new gov. was so successful that America withdrew and gave them sovereignty

12. American Postwar Life Remember WWI?
Gov. contracts were cancelledthousands out of work + soldiers came home=mass unemployment
GI Bill: gave federal funds to help returning GI’s make their transition back to civilian life
Made it easier to go to college, buy a home, find a job
2.3 million vets attended college after the war
7 million received job training
Middle class grew from influx of vet jobs
By 1955 the gov. had given 4.3 million home loans to GI’s
Led to mass migration from cities into the suburbs

13. Returning vets received unemployment through the GI Bill
“I’m not sure whether I could ever have gone to college without the GI Bill….It set a whole new standard of improved education for a large # of people, a whole new standard of improved housing…I think the GI Bill gave the whole country an upward boost economically and in every other way.”—Ex. GI Don Condren

14. African American’s
GI Bill gave African American’s hope for equality and opportunity on the homefront after the war as well
Discrimination prevented Af. Am. vets from buying homes, getting jobs, and going to college even with GI Bill help
Still, more African American’s went to college, bought homes and started businesses than ever before
African American’s continued to move out of the south to the North
2.5 million from
In general, life improved for African American’s after the war but still faced discrimination especially in the south

15. Women Back Home By 1947 most war related industries had been shut down
Women who stepped up to work these industries now stepped back
Millions of GI’s returned to take jobs
Men and women now faced off for the same jobs
Most women stepped aside to allow men to take jobs
However, some women fought for their right to work
Most women now worked in the booming service sector
Do not produce goods, but provide a service
Ex. Nurses, teachers, librarians, bankers, social workers