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   marilynn07 Teacher
   High School - 9th Grade

   eNotes Editor

   In some respects the biggest change was the concept that sovereinty rested with the people of Japan, not with the Emperor.  Of course, the Emperor did not really have anything to do with the actual running of the government except by indirect influence, but it was still a radical idea to the Japanese.  Many older citizens refused to accept this, but two generations have now grown up with the Emperor as a figurehead more than the sacred head of state.  The Diet, or assembly of elected representatives, became the real government, replacing the military which had been the real source of power for generations.

   Women were given equal rights and the vote, and other rights such as free speech were guarenteed to the people.  Most importantly the military was temporarily disbanded, and reconstituted without the political power they had wielded before.

   Economically, land reform gave ownership of land to the farmers (50% of the work force) instead of the large landlords who took up to half the value of crops in rent every year, which allowed the farmers more independence and a greater share of the nation's economy.  Free trade unions were also legalized.

   The Occupation Authorities used control of the newspapers and radio to educate the populace about American ideas of democracy, and changed the educational system to teach these ideals.  The laws regarding the head of household's total control over the family were also changed.  These were the major social changes of the late 1940s and early '50s in Japan.

   Sources:

   http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/japan/japanworkbook/modernh...

   http://library.osu.edu/sites/rarebooks/japan/

   http://www.enotes.com/world-war-ii-almanac/world-after-wa...

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   Posted by marilynn07 on Monday March 23, 2009 at 11:45 PM