In Japan, under the sweeping authority of General Douglas MacArthur, all of the following reforms were enacted, except
A. women were granted equality before the law.
B. antitrust laws were abolished.
C. the emperor was to remain a symbolic head of state.
D. land reform assured MacArthur's support from Japan's peasants.
To determine which of the given options is correct, we need to understand the various reforms enacted under General Douglas MacArthur during the post-World War II occupation of Japan.
A. Women were granted equality before the law: This reform was indeed enacted in Japan under MacArthur's authority. The Japanese constitution, adopted in 1947, included provisions for gender equality, granting women equal rights before the law.
B. Antitrust laws were abolished: This option is correct. Under MacArthur's reforms, antitrust laws were not abolished, but rather strengthened. The intention was to break up the large business conglomerates, known as zaibatsu, that had played a significant role in Japan's pre-war economy. The reforms aimed to promote a more competitive and fair market.
C. The emperor was to remain a symbolic head of state: This option is correct. MacArthur's reforms aimed to preserve the institution of the emperor while limiting his power. The emperor's role was transformed into a symbolic and ceremonial one, with political authority shifting to a constitutional democracy.
D. Land reform assured MacArthur's support from Japan's peasants: This option is correct. Land reform was a key aspect of MacArthur's efforts to democratize Japan and gain support from the rural population. The reforms sought to redistribute land ownership, breaking up large estates and redistributing the land to tenant farmers and small farmers.
Based on the explanations provided, the correct answer is B. Antitrust laws were abolished.