What was japanese reconstruction? a) it was a three-phrase operation to end japanese military rule and rebuild japan’s economy. b) it was an attempt by the united states to punish japan for its attack on pearl harbor. c) it was the us occupation of japan to expand its military dominance in the pacific. d) it was the decision to end the japanese monarchy in order to establish a us-controlled puppet dictator.

Japanese Reconstruction?

The correct answer is  A) It was a three-phase operation to end Japanese military rule and rebuild Japan’s economy.

After the defeat of Japan in World War II, the U.S. led its Allies in the reconstruction of the Japanese state between 1945 and 1952. Japanese Reconstruction was achieved through a three-phase operation to end Japanese military rule and rebuild Japan’s economy. The U.S. occupying forces, led by General Douglas A. MacArthur, established a widespread military, economic, political, and social reforms in Japan. The most apparent changes were political where Japan adopted a new constitution which is sometimes termed as the MacArthur Constitution because of the significant role that the Americans played when it was being drafted. The constitution was utterly different from the Meiji Constitution of 1889. The Americans were able to institute reforms to support these political changes which liberated economic power in Japan. In prewar Japan, two-thirds of the agricultural land was rented, not owned, by the farmers who farmed it.

Although Japanese institutions were changed the Americans expected Japanese people to understand better the idea of democracy by use of newspapers and magazines to explain and popularize democracy.

the expansion of the rule of empires over other territories took place as a result of several reasons including economic, ethnocentric, political, and religious, and exploratory purposes.

in terms of economic purposes: imperial governments aimed to maximize profits and with that purpose they neeeded cheap labor, access to or control of markets to sell or buy products. they also desired to find natural resources (precious metals and land). in the awake of   industrial revolution, dependent colonies provided the necessary raw materials that european factories and market needed to manufacture products.  

ethnocentric: many territories were conquered by imperial territories in an attempt to spread their cultures, values and belief as they considered them to be superior. in the late 19th century, for example, european powers held   the racist belief that inferior races should be conquered in order to “civilize” them.

political: another reason that drove conquer and expansion was patriotism and growing imperial power. it refers to national prestige, pride, and security. empires sought strategic territory to ensure access for their navies and armies around the world.

religious: the aim of converting new member of other religions was another factor that prompted expansion.   christian missionaries from europe established churches in conquered territories during the nineteenth century. thus, they spread western cultural values. furthermore, the imperial nation’s language was spread as well, through educational and religious interactions.

exploratory: imperial nations or their citizens aimed to explore territory that was unknown to them,   for different purposes including medical or scientific research, however, at the very   beginning, they did it to embark on adventure. furthermore, imperial explorers sought to discover, map, and claim territory before their imperial competition did, for national and personal glory as well as to realize the imperialist goal of expansion.

the articles of confederation only set up the continental congress at the federal level. there were no executive or judicial branches except within the states. the states were allowed to keep every right that was not specifically given to congress. the bonding of the states was through a 'firm league of friendship' that best served as a defense agreement against invasion. states were not allowed to use taxes as a way to discourage treaties, and states were extremely limited in their dealings with foreign nations.

not many historians today talk about the strengths of the articles of confederation, likely because of how unpopular the document quickly became. the articles did set the legislative body, congress, as the highest power in the nation because of the fear of monarchy. congress had the sole power to declare war, assign treaties, entertain foreign relations, and operate post offices. disputes between states and territorial issues were to be brought to congress. the document also stipulated that canada was allowed to enter the union if they desired.

there were more weaknesses than strengths under the articles of confederation. the lack of power given to the continental congress strangled the federal government. the articles gave congress the power to pass laws but no power to enforce those laws. if a state did not support a federal law, that state could simply ignore it. congress had no power to levy taxes or regulate trade. without a federal court system or executive leader, there would be no way to enforce these laws, either. amending the articles of confederation would also require a unanimous decision, which would be extremely difficult.