japanese expansion and the origins of world war ii in asia reading: smith, et al., 935-936
TRANSCRIPT
JAPANESE EXPANSION AND THE ORIGINS OF WORLD WAR II IN ASIAReading: Smith, et al., 935-936
JAPAN BEGINS TO INDUSTRIALIZE AFTER THE MEIJI RESTORATION
Emperor elevated to new status
Created a Constitutional Monarchy
Supported by Shintoism
Japan Develops Army based on Germany.
Develops Navy based on England’s
JAPAN IMPERIALISM
1894—Took Taiwan away from China
In 1910, occupied Korea
From 1894 on had resources from Manchuria
JAPAN HIT HARD BY GREAT DEPRESSION
In the 1930s
Worker’s Real Income was down and unemployment was up
Depression blamed on the weakness of the parliamentary government.
When Germany became strong under Hitler, some Japanese started looking to Germany as their model
Gradually began to demand an “Asia for the Asians”
JAPANESE ARMY TAKES OVER MANCHURIA
Takes over in 1932. Changes the name
to Manchukuo Makes it a puppet
state under Pui-Yi “China’s Last Emperor”
THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS
League of Nations protests Japan’s invasion of Manchuria.
Japan walks out of the League of Nations which is not able to do anything
JAPAN DECLARES WAR ON CHINA
On July 7, 1937, Japan finally declares war on China.
Conquers vast amounts of Chinese territory
Can be considered to be the beginning of World War II
No one stopped Japan, even though US thinking that Japan was an aggressor state.
Previously US had admired Japan for its “westernization.”
IN 1938
November 3, 1938– Prime Minister Konoe Creates a New Puppet State under Wang Ching-Wei
Proclaims “Japan’s New Order in East Asia” to parallel Hitler’s “New Order in Europe”
Entire time Japan is constantly in little border wars with the Soviet Union
Shocked when Nazi-Soviet Pact Announced in 1939.
IN 1939, JAPAN’S PROBLEMS IN ASIA, NOT EUROPEAN
How to deal with China Very threatened by Soviet Union Didn’t want to antagonize the United States Coveted Vietnam, Dutch East Indies and
other areas in Southeast Asia Believed that Southeast Asia should be
ruled by Asians, mainly them They lose the Battle of Nomonhan to Soviet
Union.
IN 1940
Tripartite Pact Hitler starts thinking about invading Soviet
Union
IN 1941
April 13, 1941—Japan concludes treaty of neutrality with USSR.
June 22, 1941—Hitler invades Soviet Union
June 23, 1941—German controlled France agrees to let Japan take over Vietnam.
US places total embargo after Vietnam and Dutch East Indies occupied by Japan.
PEARL HARBOR
December 7, 1941—Japan bombs Pearl Harbor
Admiral Yamamoto terrified to learn that Air Craft Carriers not hurt
Hitler declares war on US
REASONS WHY JAPAN LAUNCHED WAR IN ASIA
To Protect position in China, especially Manchuria
To gain new colonies and Raw Materials
To preserve conservative government of Japan
To combat communism, especially China
WHAT HAPPENED?
Japan lost entire colonial empire
US insisted on dismantling traditional government, Emperor
Japanese Occupation Fostered Intensification of Communism