The USA was occupying Japan before the Korean War started and the original aim was to make Japan pay for the damage done in World War 2. However, if Japan was rebuilt then it would be a good trading partner for the USA. Korea had threatened Japan in the past and the USA saw a communist Korea as a dagger pointed at the heart of Japan. A communist Korea would threaten Japanese and American interests as Japan is a western style democracy, as well as a cold war ally to the USA. However, the reasons for US involvement in Korea can’t be explained simply by their interests in Japan.
Containment was a foreign policy introduced at the start of the Cold War by the United States, aimed at stopping the spread of Communism and keeping it 'contained' and isolated within its current borders, otherwise the 'domino effect' would occur, where if one nation became Communist, the surrounding ones would follow. The doctrine was expanded to cover the world, leading to US involvement in Korea, Vietnam, Japan, Taiwan and several other nations. US direct involvement in Korea can be seen as a direct result of the policy of containment. The end of World War II brought the redrawing of boundaries all over the world. Korea, conquered by Japan during the war, was divided at the 38th parallel then given to the USSR in the north and the US in the south.
Causes and Effects of the Korean War There were four main cause of the Korean War. First cause was the division of the Korean Peninsula after World War 2 between capitalist countries. Second Cause was North Korea invaded South Korea and US decided to invade North Korea. Third cause was Korea was owned by the Japanese and USA and Soviet Union wanted different solutions to the problems that were happening in Korea. Fourth reason was refusal of South Korea to hold elections as per North Koreas demands.
While Japan wanted to expand in Asia-Pacific and build an Empire. America tried to get Japan out of China to maintain the balance of power. As WWII continued, Japan needed resources like oil, which the US imposed economic sanctions on to halt Japan. This meant Japan felt a war with America was inevitable if they were to achieve their goals in the Pacific. These factors led the Japanese to launch an attack on an American shore in the Pacific, Pearl Harbour.
Imperialism Over Asia and Its Impact Shirley Hughes HIS: 351 Asia in Age of Decolonization & Globalization Professor, Holly Heatley November 7, 2011 Imperialism Over Asia and its Impact The advances in technology, agriculture, transportation, communication and more importantly military weapons gave Europeans the power to impose on other countries either by force or the threat of force. China suffered from unbalanced treaties after rebellions failed due to the Unification of European forces along with Japanese forces. China was forced into signing, while India suffered through the methods of divide and conquer, pitting the indigenous Hindu’s and Muslims against one another leaving the door open for British control. Japan with its military might and its aid in fighting with the allies during WWI was viewed as a great power. Japan’s industrialized economy needed resources, which Japan believed they could obtain through the same methods of imperialism.
That was the problem. Imperial powers wanted to trade with China and Japan, but they were not interested at first. European powers were determined to gain access to these countries and they would do it at any means necessary. Before the 1800s, China and Japan were almost identical. They isolated themselves from other countries; but after their imperialisms in the late 1800s, the countries went on different paths.
Communism was a major unifying force after WW2. Discuss Russia’s spread of its communist regime throughout Europe led to it being a major unifying force but also the opposite. It created a union of states between other communist countries but also a fear within Western Europe. The spread of communism in Europe also affected the USA cause it to set up many organisations such as NATO and the Marshall plan to fight it. Although it unified, it also brought about separation, with the division of Germany and of Berlin.
US policies in Japan after the war deeply influenced Japan's democracy and repercussions of changing US policies has left inadvertent and unplanned effects on the Japanese political-economic system. Whilst the United States is a big factor to consider when talking about Japanese democracy, the reforms put onto the Japanese people have to be adapted and used by the Japanese
Three countries that will be analyzed under Japanese occupation are; Singapore, the Philippines and Indonesia. Each of these nations had previously been colonized by the allies, British, American and the Dutch; who used their resources to help fight the battles against Germany, and now Japan. Social Impacts— The social impact of war and occupation resonate long after it is over. The most obvious social impacts of occupation during the Pacific war are the destruction of social cohesion and order, cultural and religious fraction and tradition breakdown. Allied occupation differed to Japan’s because of their treatment of civilians and their purpose of takeover, however both used imperialism to expand their sphere of influence and exploit their resources to strength their power.
The Japanese wanted to expand their territory during World War II. They wanted to be able to have more resources available for the war. “Japanese military conspirators staged a railroad military attack that gave them an excuse to occupy Manchuria. To protect its holdings in Manchuria, Japan then gradually spread its political control to North China” (Japan Conducts Military Campaigns in China 1). Japan slowly gained control of Chinese territory.