article 9

1. article 9 • March 20 – 21,2014 • Objective: Students will analyze the modernization of Japan’s government and examine the effects of Article 9 through texts and written response. • Warm-Up: How do you think the Japanese people responded to having a new constitution drafted by their American occupiers? What does the fact that this constitution has not been amended in 60 years reveal about Japanese attitudes? Use complete sentences.

3. Political Change during the American Occupation of Japan • Finish the formal constitution for Japan that your group is working on. Be sure to include democratic reforms and information from your graphic organizers. • Make sure your names are on the document. • Be prepared to present to the class.

4. “Africa, Asia and Australia”, p. 497-498. • Be prepared, if called upon, to discuss comparisons and contrasts of the governmental systems chart on 498.

5. Article 9 • Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution is a clause that prohibits an act of war by the state. The state formally renounces war as a sovereign right and bans settlement of international disputes through the use of force. Japan does maintain de facto (unofficial) armed forces, referred to as the Japan Self-Defense Forces.

6. Article 9 1. Some people felt that Japan should have a military force capable of waging war; others did not. Write a persuasive paragraph (5-7) that supports one side of this debate.

7. Article 9 2. Why do you think Article 9 would be considered significant by Japan’s neighbors? In other words, how might other nations view Japan’s Article 9?

8. Works cited • http://aboutjapan.japansociety.org/content.cfm/the_occupation_of_japan_and_democratic_reform • http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/special/japan_1950_usjapan.htm • http://depts.washington.edu/nie/teachingguide/Continuity%20Asia_GUIDE_4.pdf