Dictators
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Hirohito & TojoHirohito was the 124th emperor of Japan and the longest reining. He gained power in December 1926 after his father died. He lost power when he died in 1989. The Showa Period refers to the period of Emperor Hirohito's rule. Because it was part of the Japanese culture, he was treated like a god. The totalitarian form of dictatorship was evident though his people's loyalty. In fact, Hirohito often used the god-given right to make the state's decisions seem legitimate. The people's loyalty to him was part of what caused many deaths. Japanese traditions were mainly how he came into power, stayed in power and was respected. During his time from 1926-1989, he tried to take over Manchuria. His ultranationalistic views were seen through the motives. He thought very little of the Chinese and wanted his people to have more land to expand on. A second war with China took place in 1937, Germany was an ally. |
Tojo was a prime minister that held extreme right wing views. He was a fascist, militaristic power who ruled Japan mercilessly. He came into power by working his way up, starting out as a member of the military then promoted to higher rankings such as lieutenant general, chief staff to the Kwantung Army and eventually vice minister of war. He supported Nazi Germany and was known for his aggressive foreign policy. He and many other Japanese admired Europe's dictators, America however was thought of just the opposite. Once he became prime minister in 1941, he authorized the attack on Pearl Harbour. The spark of success that followed Japan strengthened Tojo's ranks. The military had almost complete control over the government in the 30's. Censorship in education and media took place to gain control. However, in 1944, Tojo was deemed unfit by Hirohito for he had lost control of the army. Tojo resigned and later was put on trial as a war criminal for the aggressive policies, and treatment of prisoners of war he allowed. Japan surrendered in 1945 after two atomic bombs were dropped over Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
The attack on Pearl Harbour, World War II and the invasion of China left devastating consequences. Pearl Harbour witnessed thousands of deaths on December 7, 1941, and because of this event, the US waged war on Japan which lead to their inclusion in World War II. Many cities were destroyed and 3 million were left dead. It took many years for the world to build themselves back up. Had Japan not attacked, would the USA had as much involvement in the war and would a chain of events still followed if the Manchuria incident hadn't taken place? Although trade still occurs between Japan and China, tension still exists. Germany has made amends regarding the part it played in WWII; Japan however has not openly apologized.
The attack on Pearl Harbour, World War II and the invasion of China left devastating consequences. Pearl Harbour witnessed thousands of deaths on December 7, 1941, and because of this event, the US waged war on Japan which lead to their inclusion in World War II. Many cities were destroyed and 3 million were left dead. It took many years for the world to build themselves back up. Had Japan not attacked, would the USA had as much involvement in the war and would a chain of events still followed if the Manchuria incident hadn't taken place? Although trade still occurs between Japan and China, tension still exists. Germany has made amends regarding the part it played in WWII; Japan however has not openly apologized.
The Duvaliers
Francois Duvalier (Papa Doc) was born April 14th, 1907 in Port-au-prince, the son of Duval Duvalier and Ulyssa Abraham.Francois was mostly raised by his aunt in Haiti.He completed his degree in medicine at the University of Haiti in 1934 and then served as a staff physician in local hospitals.In 1943 he became active in a US sponsored campaign to help the poor fight against tropical diseases. The people then gave him the name 'Papa Doc' which he used for the rest of his life.
In 1946 Duvalier became friends with the President of Haiti and became the general of health and labor. He then went into hiding when General Paul Magloire ousted the President in a coup d'etat, until an amnesty was declared. On September 22nd 1957, presidential elections pitted Louis Dejoie and Duvalier against each other Duvalier then won the elections using a populist campaign that appealed to the Afro-Haitian population. Duvalier then put a new constitution into place. He also made the military grow bigger and stronger to keep his power in place. The military who supported him pre-election then tried to over throw him and failed. |
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On May 24th 1959 Duvalier had a mass heart attack and was unconscious for more than 9 hours. Many believed that the heart attack affected his mental health and made him paranoid. After his heart attack he blamed Clement Barbot for his heart attack and exiled him. When Barbot was released he planned on taking down Duvalier by kid napping his children which he failed at. Duvalier then tried to imprison Barbot but he escaped but later captured and killed.
In 1964 Duvalier named himself 'President for Life' which gave him the right to stay president for as long as he lived and name his successor. During Papa Doc's reign he killed over an estimated 30,000 people and also had a mans head in his closet, a man who tried to kill him in 1963.
In 1971 Papa Doc then passed away leaving his presidency to his son Jean-Cluade.
Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier was born in 1951 to Francois "Papa Doc" and Simone Duvalier. After his father named himself president for life in 1969 Jean-Claude was named his heir. Francois died in 1971 and Jean-Claude became president at age nineteen, the youngest in the world.
Do to pressure from the United States,
Jean-Claude allowed limited press freedom and person criticisms that were never allowed when his father ruled. He also relied less on Haiti's feared secret police the Tonton Macoutes to keep control. However, political opposition was not tolerated and Baby Doc chose to follow his father's dictatorial practices and control
who was in power and made use of political murder and expulsion.
Jean-Claude also stole an estimated $300 to $800 million from the country. In 1986, Haiti was experiencing an African swine fever epidemic which caused for the eradication of all pigs in the country. This caused the already poor economic conditions to fall even more and unrest began in the country. Soon the people began to revolt and the social unrest caused Jean-Claude and his family to move to France where they stayed for the next 25 years. Since the reign of the Duvaliers, Haiti has experienced great turmoil. During Papa Doc's “Reign of Terror” many trained professionals fled the country, something the country was already lacking in. Haiti has never been able to recover from this brain drain. When Jean-Claude left Haiti there was an 80% illiteracy rate, nine out of ten people were unemployed, the infant mortality rate was over 33%, the per-capita. Income was less than $300, life expectancy 53 years, and diseases that had been eradicated in most countries were still plaguing the country. Very little has changed since.
News Article about Jean-Claude Duvalier's trial-http://www.amnesty.org/en/news/haiti-jean-claude-duvalier-s-presence-court-brings-hope-victims-2013-03-01
In 1964 Duvalier named himself 'President for Life' which gave him the right to stay president for as long as he lived and name his successor. During Papa Doc's reign he killed over an estimated 30,000 people and also had a mans head in his closet, a man who tried to kill him in 1963.
In 1971 Papa Doc then passed away leaving his presidency to his son Jean-Cluade.
Jean-Claude "Baby Doc" Duvalier was born in 1951 to Francois "Papa Doc" and Simone Duvalier. After his father named himself president for life in 1969 Jean-Claude was named his heir. Francois died in 1971 and Jean-Claude became president at age nineteen, the youngest in the world.
Do to pressure from the United States,
Jean-Claude allowed limited press freedom and person criticisms that were never allowed when his father ruled. He also relied less on Haiti's feared secret police the Tonton Macoutes to keep control. However, political opposition was not tolerated and Baby Doc chose to follow his father's dictatorial practices and control
who was in power and made use of political murder and expulsion.
Jean-Claude also stole an estimated $300 to $800 million from the country. In 1986, Haiti was experiencing an African swine fever epidemic which caused for the eradication of all pigs in the country. This caused the already poor economic conditions to fall even more and unrest began in the country. Soon the people began to revolt and the social unrest caused Jean-Claude and his family to move to France where they stayed for the next 25 years. Since the reign of the Duvaliers, Haiti has experienced great turmoil. During Papa Doc's “Reign of Terror” many trained professionals fled the country, something the country was already lacking in. Haiti has never been able to recover from this brain drain. When Jean-Claude left Haiti there was an 80% illiteracy rate, nine out of ten people were unemployed, the infant mortality rate was over 33%, the per-capita. Income was less than $300, life expectancy 53 years, and diseases that had been eradicated in most countries were still plaguing the country. Very little has changed since.
News Article about Jean-Claude Duvalier's trial-http://www.amnesty.org/en/news/haiti-jean-claude-duvalier-s-presence-court-brings-hope-victims-2013-03-01