At first --->Japanese lag behind Western level Development begins

› Silk production in 1860 was about 16 million lbs then by 1929 it shot up to about 93 million

Agricultural productivity improved› Farmers introduced fertilizers and new equipment› Ex: Rice production more than doubled between

1880’s and 1930’s2nd Industrial Phase in 1920’s Zaibatsu sponsored expansion fields; shipbuilding and

metallurgy› Relying with government bureaucracy

Use of electric power grew faster in Japan than anywhere else in the world (1920)

Education advanced rapidly Immense population growth (restricted improvement

in living conditions)

Military even in more control› Military were looked up to by the people as “protectors”› Military even studied in separate and special schools 

1920’s Japan experimented with a liberal political pattern› Did work a little but served for the military to realize

that they wanted more power and not be restricted› Military officials beginning to make separate decisions

about Munchuria May 1932- Group of younger army officers attacked the

key government and banking officers and murdered the prime minister› Did not take FULL state control but did frustrate the

government with having some control Another military coup attempt in 1936, but failed By the end of 1938, Japan controlled a regional empire,

including Manchuria, Korea, and Taiwan

Japan had firm control over Korea and had economic policies for them that did little to improve their economy

 They disrupted Korea's traditions and had replaced their Korean king with his son in 1908 and he was assassinated a year later which led to the abolishment of  monarchy

Japan sought to suppress Korean culture and promote the adoption of Japanese ways› Korean language news papers were banned› Korean teachers needed to wear Japanese uniforms, carry

swords› Japanese money, language, weights and measures where

introduced Korean peasant where compelled to concentrate on rice

production for export and the Korean youth were enrolled into the Japanese armies to help with expanding war effort

Singapore was a city that held a large population of the Chinese people that belonged to the British as they tried to build a naval base but was captured by the Japanese in World War II

A decade after World War II, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia had gained independence

Taiwan was still ruled by Chiang Kai-shek, but Chinese was in hands of a powerful communist

Korea remained divided, but there was a lot of tension and American presence in South Korea kept its independence

Japan began to recover

in 1945 Japan was a mess. the factories where destroyed and the people where in shock by the surrender from all the bombing that had been going on including the atomic devastation of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

like always, Japan was quick to rebound its economy but with the help of the United States. they intervened to try and help them rebuild their economy and place without any hint of military threat anywhere. an American occupation government led by General Douglas McArthur worked to tear down Japans wartime political structure.

in 1951 Japan signed a peace treaty with most of its wartime opponents. this led to;

military forces to be disbanded police decentralization many officials removed and political prisoners released.

America had pressed to make a Democracy in Japan and even gave women the right to vote, encouraged labor unions and abolished shintoism as new economic reforms where introduced breaking up landed estate for the benefit of small farmers.

they helped the Japanese make a constitution that abolished military that was wartime and guaranteed civil liberties and the emperor was just a figure with no power now but the Japanese fit their own values in the constitution to preserve themselves.

the Japanese emphasized the importance of learning and education and tried to make the students prepared to enter the world of Japans economy. the students where prepared for their future role in the economy 'whether they like it or not"a state religion. 

In 1948, the United States helped make a Republic of Korea in the south, and the People’s Democratic Republic of Korea in the north supported by the Soviet.

Kim II-Sung in the north– a communist state Syngman Rhee in the south– parliamentary

institution, but maintained a strongly authoritarian form, and had American military presence

North Korea attacks South Korea in June 1950, trying to unify by force and starting the Korean war

North Korea is helped by allied forces, including the United States, and in 1953, peace is reached

North Korea did not change much, and even after the Soviet liberation, little change happened

IN 1954, a defense treaty was signed between South Korea and the U.S., and American military troops were reduced

Went from being authoritarian and then army officers took over control in 1961

The U.S. gave economic support to Taiwan until the 1960s

Singapore gained independence as a free port in 1959

Hong Kong returned to Chinese control in 1997

Only had one party, the Liberal Democratic Party, from 1955 onwards

Strong business, export expansion and economic growth

Government campaigned birth control and abortion, slowing down population growth

Poetry, paintings, tea ceremonies, and flower arrangements still continued

Films were about their history Japanese painters and architects fused Japanese

styles with Western styles

By 1983, the total national product was equal to the totals of China, Korea, Taiwan, India, Pakistan, Australia, and Brazil

Became one of the top two or three economic powers in the world

High quality goods, such as cars and electronics › High government support and expansion of

education made it possible Workers paired to where they fit best

› ensured life time employment› low unemployment rate › early retirement age

Women educated, but did not do much with their husbands and dedicated themselves to taking care of the kids and other domestic duties

Drinking was highly more accepted to relieve from university or job stress

Baseball, tennis, and golf became popular

Government encouraged use of chopsticks since many preferred knives and forks

Pollution became a huge problem by the 1960s

Corruption in the 1990s› Severe economic recession after a

huge economic boom › Liberal democrats replaced

Syngman Rhee (South Korea’s ruler) and other taken out of power by student demonstrations since 1960

South Korea emphasized economic growth from 1950s onward› industrial firms created › by 1970s, Korea was competing successfully in

cheap consumer goods, as well as steel and cars › Korea farther more successful in exporting steel and

textile than Japan Hyundai created by Chung Ju Yung, and by the 1980s,

had 135,000 employees and 42 overseas offices Population soared

› By the 1980s, over 40 million people live in South Korea, and had the highest population density on earth

› Soon, birth regulations were encouraged › Suffered bad pollution like Japan

Taiwan also experienced a high rate of economic development Agricultural and industrial productivity increased Money spent on education, and literacy rates and levels of technical training

increased Traditional medicinal practices kept, but combined with modern, more western

strategies Japan was the nation’s biggest trading partner In 1978, Chiang Ching-kuo took power, and stressed authoritarian rule and

political diversity was not encouraged Lee Kuan Yew took over Singapore in 1959 for 3 decades, and established tight

control over their citizens › caused low crime rates › Singapore world’s 4th largest port › Education and health improved

Hong Kong was also very active in the trading industry › Textiles and clothing formed 39% of total exports, along with heavy industry

by the 1980s A middle class emerged

The Pacific Rim had more than economic growth and expansion in common› believed in hard work › Confucianism morality often used › relied on the government › “Little tigers” such as Indonesia, Malaysia, and

Thailand had economic growth In the final years of the 20th century,

unemployment rose, bad economy › westerners thought this could be resolved if they

turned more to a free market competition Indonesia became democratic instead of

authoritarian in 1998 But in 1999, economic rates began to pick

up again

Important people to RememberLeon Trotsky-  recruited able generals and masses of loyal conscripts

Joseph Stalin- undisputed leader of the Soviet state, his victory brought triumph for party control over all branches of governments

Lenin- set up a Communist International office to guide international revolutionary activity

Peter the Great -continued the growth of absolutism and conquest

Hitler- Nazi leader of fascist Germany, created a strongly centralized state in Germany, eliminated all rivals

Nadezhda Mandelstantam- her husband was arrested, she dedicated her literary life to his memory while staying out of police purview by teaching English in obscure teachers' training institutes

Nikita Khrushchev- attacked Stalinism for its concentration of power and arbitrary dictatorship

Mikhail Gorbachev- conveyed a new and more Western style, dressing in more fashionable clothes, held open press conferences and allowing Soviet media to engage in active debate and to report on problems as well as successes 

Boris Yeltsin- became the leading political figure, struggled to gain a political base

Vladimir Putin- did not initially clarify Russia's political or economic directions

Important People Continued :

The Pacific Rim experienced a really big economic growth and many nations gained independence after World War II