Chapter Notes 21-1 (East Asia Today)

I.China’s Government and Society

A.The Chinese Communist Party controls the government.

B.Leaders are not elected, they gain control through their party.

C.The government keeps tight control of the people and denies human rights.

D.In 1989, 100,000 students protested peacefully at Tiananmen Square which were met w/force by the government.

E.In 1950, China took over Tibet forcing its Buddhist leader, the Dalai Lama to flee to India.

F.65% of China’s people live in rural areas, though many are migrating to the cities.

II. Economic Changes in China

A. The government made “free market” reforms which people choose their jobs and keep the profits.

B. It is the leader in producing rice, tea, wheat, and potatoes.

III. China’s Neighbors – Mongolia and Taiwan have close ties.

A. Taiwan is an island that was once a province of China that is still under China’s rule today. It has moved to a democracy.

B. Mongolia is a landlocked country nicknamed “Texas of Asia” because of its herding. In 1990, it replaced its communist system.

Chapter Notes 21-2 (Japan)

I.Japan’s Government and Economy

A.It’s a constitutional monarchy w/the emperor as the head of state.

B.Voters elect members to legislature called the Diet, led by the prime minister.

C.An industrial giant, its economy is based on exports. (cars, ships, and electronics) It has to import its raw materials.

D.Farmland being very limited, they practice intensive agriculture.

E.Government passed laws making it difficult for other countries to sell their products in Japan.

F.Economic competitors, aging population, low birthrate, acid rain, and earthquakes (Ring of Fire) are challenges Japan faces today.

II. Life in Japan – much is covered with mountains (80%).

A. It has many islands w/ the 4 largest being Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu.

B. Most live in cities on coastal plains. (35 million live in Tokyo)

C. The 2 main religions are Shinto (nature) and Buddhism.

D. Japanese traditional art includes No, Kabuki, and Bunraku.

Chapter Notes 21-3 (The Koreas)

I. A Divided Country - The culture has been influenced by China.

A. It created a form if writing called hangul that allow them to unify.

II. South Korea – had to rebuild its economy after the Korean War.

A. It introduced land reform, making farms more productive.

B. It became an industrial country improving their standard of life.

C. Christianity, Buddhism, and Confucianism are its major religions.

III. North Korea – Government controls all areas of life.

A. N. Korea is economically poor and invests most into its military.

B. N. Korean farms lack land and are controlled by the government.

C. The government refuses food aid and as a result people are starving to death.

Why The A-Bomb Was DroppedWhy Truman used it. Why not to use it.

Why The A-Bomb Was DroppedWhy Truman used it?Millions of American

lives would be savedPearl HarborDemonstrate its power

to the worldSpeedy end to the warPart of total warJapan’s leaders refusal

to surrenderDid not want the

Russians to enter the war

Why not to use it?Killing innocent victims

without warningBombings as war

crimes (Holocaust)Modify the

“unconditional surrender”

Wait for the Russians to enter the war

Beginning of an “arms race”

Militarily unnecessary