Evaluate the impact of the political and cultural changes that took place in Japan during the US occupation (1945–1952).

The question requires that candidates make an appraisal of the political and cultural changes in Japan during the US occupation, weighing up the strengths and limitations of these changes. Candidates may offer equal coverage of political and cultural changes or they may prioritize their evaluation of one. However, both aspects will be a feature of the response. Candidates may refer to the adoption of a new constitution that declared that sovereignty rested with the people, not the emperor. Local governments were strengthened to include grassroots-level political participation. The powers of the police were reduced and new civil liberties such as the right of free speech were established. However, the US’s intention of breaking up the zaibatsu was not implemented. Demilitarization included abolishing the armed forces and dismantling the military industry. Women were given the right to vote. Moral education in schools was abolished. Farmers became more independent economically as land was taken away from big landlords and redistributed to the farmers. Both strengths and limitations must be clearly indicated but there does not need to be an equal focus on each.