Japanese Expansionism in East

Asia
Paper 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=LSzZlQR-AZU

Japanse nationalism and

militarism
Japanese's Nationalism and Militarism started in
the 19 th century
This will help us to understand the events of 1930s
in the East Asia
Several factors contributed to the growth
The determination to transform Japan into a
Western-style power, which had linked to desire
for equality with Western Powers.

 Japans belief in its destiny as a leader of

Asia
The need to obtain raw materials and secure
markets in East Asia, and stop other
countries from doing this
The need for security

 The action of western powers

Growing popular support for militarism and
expansion within Japan
And also coming up with an imperialistic
foreign policy
Nationalism in Japan also became linked with
militarism coz expansion was dependent on
military

 In the first half of 19th century it was

keeping itself shielded against Christianity
The shogun had effectively ruled the
country since 1192

The Shogun
1192 Japan had been ruled by feudal
military dictatorship called bakufu
In practice the power lay in hands of
Shogun who was a military dictator
Beneath Shogun were daimyo or feudal
lords
Under them were Samurai or Warriors


Desire for equality with

Need for strategic

west

security
Japanese Nationalism

Belief in destiny as a le
dear of Asia

Popular enthusiasm
For expansion

Need for raw

material

 In 1853 an American naval officer

,Commodore Matthew Perry arrived on the
shores of Japan with several US steam
ships.
He was determined to get Japan to open up
to US demands for trade

 The ruling Shogun Tokugawa signed the

treaty of Kanagawa with USA in 1854
Political returned to the emperor who came
to be known as Meji or enlightened one
The Meji govt supported rich country and
strong military

 The effects of the treaty on japan were

immense it led to dismantling of the feudal
system
Establishing a limited form of democracy
Major reforms took place in terms of
education,fashion,military and most
significantly military

 Japans military reforms included

modernizing the army and adapting German
military tactics.
Japan also established new navy with help
of British
The result of modernization were
significant

 In the Sino-Japanse war of 1894-95

Japan defeated China ,thus positioning itself
a world power within an empire
The Treaty of Shimonoseki gave the
Pescadores Island ,Formosa and Liaodong
Peninsula to Japan

 Recognized Korean independence and

obliged China to pay a large indemnity ,to
open additional ports and to negotitate a
commercial treaty

Effect of Sino-Japanese War

Germany,Russia and France ,concered with
Japans growing power and its impact on
Asia as a whole
Forced Japan to give up Liaodong Peninsula
in what is known as the Triple Intervention
Germany took control of Shandong
Province

 France and GB took advantage of weekend

China

Japan after 1900

Japans position was further strengthened by the signing
of an alliance with Britain ,the Anglo Japanese
Alliance ,in 1902
It ended Japans diplomatic isolation
It was for the first time a military alliance had been
formed between Western and non-western nation

Thinking Skills
The making of modern Japan
The Russo-Japanese War
Pg 19

Why was Manchuria important

Manchuria was the area of China closest to
Japan
Four times larger than Japanese island.
It was agriculturally rich with mineral
resources
Important opportunities for the supply of
resources to Japan

 Manchuria also offered the possibility of

providing living spaces for rapidly growing
Japanese population and strategically ,it
could act a buffer against threat from Russia

How did Japan benefit from First

World War
Do a research activity to find out how
Japan benefit from First World War

 Expand its influence

Japan demanded German colonial territory
in China and when this demand was ignored
Japan declared war on Germany
Seizing german military bases on the
Shandong Peninsula in the north of China

 Meanwhile, its navy occupied Germanys

South Pacific possessions
With Allies distracted ,Japan then issued
China with the Twenty One Demands
Required China to agree to the Japanese
remaining in Shandong

 To grant Japan extra commercial privilege's

in Manchuria
China had to accept political, physical and
military advisers from Japan
This resulted in sharp reactions from Britain
and USA

 Also angered the some Japanese it was

only to damage Japans reputation.
Economically in an advantage by supplying
goods to the Allies and also by supplying
orders to Asian markets
That Allies were unable to fullfill

 Thus exports flourished, Japan also became

more self sufficient
As it developed industries to fulfill this
Another opportunity to expand was
Bolshevik Revolution of 1917

 Following the Russian withdrawal from the

war after it signed the Treaty of BrestLitovsk with the Germans.
The Allies sent an invading force to support
the whites in the Russian Civil War against
the whites

 The Japanese send 70,000 men to support

the whites
Even though they had agreed to support
only with 7,500 men
The Japanese's also stayed on till the end
after French, British and US forces had left

 Ultimately however they were defeated by

Bolsheviks and had to withdraw in 1922.
The whole venture encouraged mistrust of
Japan in the USA and Britain
At home, there were attacks on the govt
because of the cost of intervention in Russia

 The loss of prestige and the failure to

control the army ,which had largely acted
independently of the government during
expedition.

The Results
At the Versailles Conference that followed
the First World War, Japan secured the
former German Pacific islands
As a mandate and Germanys former
economic privileges on the Shandong
Peninsula of China

 These gains established Japan as an

important economic power on the Asian
mainland and as the main naval power in
the Western Pacific
However Japan was reminded it was not
fully member of the western club

 The failure to get racial equality clause

included in the Charter of the League of
Nations

 ttps://www.khanacademy.org/partnercontent/crash-course1/crash-course-worldhistory/nationalism-imperialismglobalization/v/crash-course-world-history34

 How did the arrival of Mathew Perry

changed Japan ?
What had happened to China after the
opium wars got over ?
Why Japanese's willingly accepted the
demands of the USA ?

 How did Meji come to power ?

How did Japan create the most modern
Nation state ?

Social Skills
Look back at the six factors ,listed on page
15 ,that contributed to the growth of Japans
nationalism after 1853
Add evidences from research work to
support it

Japan in the 1920s

Influenced by Shidehara Kijuro
Who was ambassador to Washington in1921 and
foreign minister in 1924-27 and 1929-31
Japan changed to a foreign policy of
internationalism
This aimed at developing Japans economy via
peaceful means

 Keeping good relations with the USA

Key trading partner
Continuing to seek economic advancement
in China
With the framework of international
agreement

 At Washington Confrence of 1921 the

American insisted that the Anglo-Japanese
should be replaced by Four Power Treaty
Britian,Japan,USA and France

 The Four point treaty agreed to confer should

the rights or possessions of the four countries
threatened in the Pacific
A nine power treaty was signed by
China,Belgium ,Italy and Netherlands and
Portugal as well as the signatories of FourPower Treaty was concluded in Feb 1922

 This undertook to respect Chinese interdepe

ndence and integrity and territorial and
administrative integrity of China

 These treaties together formed the

Washington Treaty System and indicated
Japan was committed to international
cooperation in the 1920s
More liberal and more democratic Japan

 The term Taisho democracy referred to a

series of reform instituted during latter
years of Emperor Taishos reign
The electorate was extended ,all adult
males were given the right to vote
Society became more open and mass media
more influential.

 Prime Miniters Haras government lasted

from 1918-1921 and introduced social and
economic reforms
He also led Japan into the League of Nations
Where its membership of council showed it
was accepted as one of the world leading
power

What problems did Japan face in

the 1920s
A fragile democracy
Opposition to Shideharas internationalism
Growing economic crisis

A Fragile Democracy
Japans democratic reforms remained fragile
The link of each party with either countries
big business in the cities or landlords in the
country side depended the public suspicion
Fear of left wing

Opposition to Shideharas
internationalism
Many conservative groups did not like the
idea
Seeking it as a betrayal of Japans interest
The Washington Treaty System was seen as
an Anglo Saxon iron ring preventing Japan
from exapnding

 USA passed a bill limiting immigration

from all countries
Excluding Asia tics from the quota
Japanese press called it a grave insult and
deliberate slap
Emperor Taisho died ,the new Emperor
Hirohito was celebrated with the idea of

A growing economic crisis

Emperor God
When Europe began to revive
Unemployment and unrest developed
1921 , a bitter strike paralyzed Japans
docks
The real economic crisis came in 1929

`Research Work
What factors contributed to the growth of
Japanese nationalism by the end of the
1920s ?
Identify the factors that encouraged the
influence of the military to grow in Japan
during this period
Discuss the role of China in encouraging
Japanses expansion ?

Japan in World War 1

https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/h
istory/euro-hist/other-fronts-ww1/v/japanin-world-war-i

 Japanses expansion in South east Asia

1931-1941

Japan in 1931-41
What led to the War between USA and
Japan in the Pacific
Japan had planned a war with a view to
dominate Asia
Japans aim could be achieved through war

 War was not inevitable Japan believed in

negotiations
If possible the war with major powers could
be avoided
If negotiations failed then war could be
planned

 Japan forced into war by actions of USA

Japan had legitimate aims in the region
The USA and Britain were determined to
contain Japan

Causes of Expansion
Japan had fully modernized
Had gone long way to achieve equality with
the west
The forces of nationalism and militarism
were popular with Japanese people
Given boost by success in war against
China and Russia

 Japanese's belief it was its destiny to be the

leader
Political instability in China
Combined with strength of military and
economic crisis in Japan that precipitated
the Manchurian crisis of 1931

 Chinese nationalism had grown

The Nationalistic Party in China
Guomindang (GMD) began a campaingn
for national unification
By 1921 a new political party was set up in
China Communist Party led by Mao
Zedong with Jiang Jieshi

 The changing situation in China will have

impact on Japan

Group Work

Discuss Japans political crisis

Discuss Japans domestic issues
Discuss Japans economic issues

Japans Economic Issues

Global economic crisis occurred in 1929
following the Wall Street Crash USA
Japan was dependent on world trade its
imports fell drastically
Duties on Japanese's goods rose as 200 %
The worst hit industry was silk industry

 In dire economic situation ,Manchuria

became more and more important for Japan
Manchurian resources (coal,iron and
timber) were inciting Japan suffering the
deprivation of depression
Living space for an overpopulated Japan

 Yosuke Matsuoko (who became foreign

minister in1940) said Manchuria as life line
and only means of survival.yh

Japans domestic issues

Political crisis and the growing influence on
military
The key influence groups
What they felt about Soviet Influence
The assassination plots

 Discuss Source on Page 33

Events in Manchuria,1931
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=t_aZWY2Pm3g

The impact of nationalism and militarism on

Japans foreign policy
On the evening of 18 September 1931, near
Mukden
There was an explosion on a section of
Japanese owned South Manchurian Railway

 Immediately afterwards .officers of the

Kwantung Army claimed that the railway
had been blown up by Chinese
However there were evidence the
perpetrators were members of the
Kwantung Army( group of the Imperial
Japanese Army)

FACTS
The explosion was so weak that it failed to
destroy the track and a train passed over it
minutes later, but the Imperial Japanese
Army accused Chinese dissidents of the act
and responded with a full invasion that led
to the occupation of Manchuri

 Within hours the Japanese's had forced the

Chinese to retreat from Mukden
The following day Kwantung Army entered
Changchun to the north
Kwantung Army began to seize more
territory

What were the results of the

Manchurian crisis ?
Results for Japans international relations
Japans attempt to proclaim peaceful intent
seemed deceitful
Army continued to expand in Manchuria
The breakdown of control on Kwantung
army had not been fully appreciated.

 In 1930s deterioration in relations between

Japan on the one hand and the USA and
Britain on the other.
Its condemnation of Japan using force
caused Japan to leave the League of Nations

 Manchurian crisis was a turning point for

Japan
Japans isolation it led to Japan abonden
international cooperation and the Washington
Treaty System
As military gained more power in the
1930s,there was a decree of admiration
within Japan for Nazi germany

 The new Soviet Communist regime was an

ideological and territorial threat to Japan
By 1930 s the Japanese viewed the Soviets
as their key potential opponent in the region

 Japan signed Anti Comintern Pact with

Nazi Germany in November 1936
However unlike Italy and Germany Japan
never had a Fascist Party leading the
government nor did it abandon elections or
cabinet governments during Second World
War

Research and discussion

Discuss the possible reasons for Japans
decision to join the Anti-Cominterian Pact
with Nazi Germany

Source Skills
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icVu-a
cHlpU
.

 Mickey Mouse is an evil giant hell-bent on

your merciless destruction
What we have is a fleet of evil fanged
Mickey Mouses flying bats, and
accompanied by snakes and crocodiles,
attacking the innocent children living in
peace on Gilligan's Island.

 The children sing and dance all day long

and just want to be left alone. Felix the Cat
is there, along with a host of other poorlyrendered cartoon characters of the era, most
now long forgotten

 But here comes Evil Mickey jumping out of

a picture book!
Yes, Evil Mickey - actually an airfleet of
Evil Mickeys, supported by armies of
crocodiles and snakes - has arrived to pave
over paradise and put up a parking lot.

 The children cry and flee! But, before long,

somebody comes to the rescue - Japanese
historical figures. Apparently, Samurai from
the 1600s knew how to fly better than those
evil Mickey Mouses!

 Apparently, Samurai from the 1600s knew

how to fly better than those evil Mickey
Mouses! They take on the big Mickey Mice
with their hordes of smaller heroes and well, watch and find out

The results for Manchuria and

China
By the beginning of 1932 Manchuria was
wholly under the control of Japanese forces.
The Japanese in Manchuria set up an
independent government under the puppet
rule of Pu Yi
And called the new state Manchukuo

 In1932 fighting also broke out between

Japanese's and Chinese forces in Shangai
The city was bombed by the Japanese with
widespread devastation of Chinese districts
The dense bombing at Chinese populated
district turned world opinion against Japan

 Four troops of Japanese troops landed to

assist the navy stationed in Shanghai
After six weeks-Chinese were forced to
withdraw

The results of Nationalistic Party

in China
Chinas response to the Manchurian Crisis
was to call on the League of Nations.
Jiang Jieshi the leader of Nationalistic Party
was now focused on defeating the Chinese
Communist and did not want get involved
in another conflict

 He knew he was unlikely to receive any

support from the western powers
He also did not negotiate directly with the
Japan
This combination of non-resistance, noncompromise, and non-direct negotiations pg
38 activity

 Chinese people responded with fury at

Japans action
There was a boycott of Japanese's products
Its reduces its goods by two-thirds

The results of Japanse

Government
Japan benefitted economically from the
occupation of Manchuria
The cost of taxation was more and increased
Japanese taxation at home
Maintain peace in Europe by ASEAN Monroe
Doctrine

 Protect itself from Soviet Army

Protect itself from US Army
Maintain itself in Manchuria

Years of turmoil:The descent into

Dark Valley

The Sino-Japanese War of 1937

At the Marco Polo Bridge, near Beijing
fighting broke out between Japanese's and
Chinese forces on 7 July 1937
In contrast to Mukden incident there is
limited evidence that this clash was
deliberately set up by Japanese forces

 Although the army had drawn forces

without consulting the government in
Tokyo.
Prince Konoye (was a Japanese politician
in the Empire of Japan who served as the
34th, 38th and 39th Prime Minister of
Japan)

 Attempted to contain the army

There was a full scale war with China
By the end of July, Japanese's forces had
taken Beijing and the following month there
was fighting in Shanghai

 The Japanese attack was brutal with

devastating air raids
Some historians suggested that this
amounted to largest human exodus in
history

The rape of Nanjing

The Chinese nationalistic government
moved its government to Nanjing
Nanjing fell to the Japanese on 13
December and during the days that
followed Chinese soldiers and civilians
were subjected to appalling atrocities

 Akira Iriye write-The rape of Nanking s

would make it all but impossible for Japan
to still be accepted as responsible member
of International Community

Video Watching
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBmSTK8JALk
What do you feel about Japanese imperialistic ideas after
watching this video ?
Discuss the stages of Nanking incidents .
What is the message conveyed by the video source ?

Results of Sino-Japanese War

The Chinese refused to agree to peace terms
Japan had to fight on and push the Chinese
further into the interior
The key problem was how to end war in its
favour

Conflict deepen after 1938

Prince Konoye returned as pm in July 1940
having resigned in Dec 1938
He aimed to limit the power of military and
he created a unity party called the Imperial
Rule assistance association
But he again failed to control the military

 Sooner Imperial Rule assistance association

replaced all political parties
The military rule were in total control when
in October 1941 ,Prime Minister Konoe
resigned and was replaced by General Tojo

Events of 1940-41
In September 1940 , the Japanese's under
FM Matsuoka Yosuke signed the Tripartite
Axis Pact which agreed that Germany and
Italy would dominate Europe
Leave Japan to dominate East Asia

 Victories of the Nazis in Europe created

new opportunities for Japan to take over
Asian colonies of Britian, France etc
The USA and Britian were alarmed at this
Japanese move

 Furthermore Japan was able to secure its

northern borders after signing a pact with
Soviet Union
During the war with China , Japan had
clashed twice with soviet union over border
disputes first in 1938 and again

 In summer of 1939 the Nazi- Soviet pact of

1939 had been a set back for Japan

 Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union

surprised the world by signing the GermanSoviet Non aggression Pact
In which the two countries agreed to take
no military action against each other for the
next 10 years

 With Europe on the brink of another major

war, Soviet leader Joseph Stalin viewed the
pact as a way to keep his nation on peaceful
terms with Germany
The German-Soviet Nonaggression Pact fell
apart in June 1941, when Nazi forces invaded
the Soviet Union.

 Matsuoka was a Japanese diplomat and Minister

of Foreign Affairs of the Empire of Japan during
the early stages of World War II. He is best
known for his defiant speech at the League of
Nations in 1933, ending Japan's participation in
that organization. He is known for the Japanese
Soviet Non-aggression Pact in the years
immediately prior to the outbreak of war.

The Tripartite Act

The govt of Germany ,Japan and Italy
They decided to cooperate in its efforts in
the regions of Europe and Greater East Asia
According to govt of Japan ,Italy and
Germany agreed as follows

 Japan recognizes leadership of Germany

and Italy in establishment of new order
Japan is recognized for leadership in
Greater Asia
Have joint technical commissions
Not effect there political status
Remain in force for 10 years

 How will these term facilitate german

foreign policy
How might western powers perceive this
agreement
How significant is this in demonstrating
Japanese intentions in the regions

Japan attack on Pearl Harbor 7

Dec 1941
Japans foreign policy in the crucial year of
1941 -42 was determined by domestic
issues
Increasing control that military power now
had on the government and the economic
concerns arising from the USA blockade on
Japan

 The Japanese's could not sustain the war in

China if their key war supplies were cut off
Therefore a war of conquest to gain and
ensure resources from European colonies
seemed to be the only option.

 However opinion in Japan was divided on

the question of expanding the war
Some argued Japan could withdraw its
forces from China and thus get embargo
lifted

 Negotiations between USA and Japan

continued throughout 1941
Washington wanted Japan to agree to
respect the territorial integrity of its
neighbors
Open door trade policy of the areas under
its control

 Japan could not agree to these conditions

While negotiations continued military made
alternative plans
Japanese navy presented its plan for war to
the Japanese Cabinet

 The following was agreed on 4 September

1941
If our demands are not met by in first ten
days we immediately decide to commence
hostilities against the United States, Britain

 Even then Japanese's continued with

negotiations and diplomacy with USA.
A final Japanese mission was sent to
Washington to try to agree terms with the
Americans

 At the same time a huge naval task force

prepared secretly to attack the USA
Should negotiations fail.
When the negotiations stalled final
preparations were made for attack

 On the American naval base at Hawaii

On 7 dec 1941 Japanese bombers attacked
US ships at Pearl Harbor
Attempt to destroy US pacific fleet
The attack on Pearl Harbor did incur huge
losses for the USA

 With 90% of mid pacific air and sea power

either destroyed or badly damaged
However Japanese's had not destroyed the
US aircraft carrier capability
Indeed several carriers had been out on man
oeuvres and were not hit

 This would later proved to be fatal mistake

For Japan
US govt was outraged by the attack on
Pearl Harbor which was described as
dastardly
The duplicitous nature was seen deciteful

 The brutal assault killed 2,403 and injured

1,178 US military personnel's
As they attacked Pearl Harbor they
simultaneously attacked Honk Kong and
Singapore

Video Watching
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=3e99lfmmDN0

Causes of the
Mukden incident
1928-32
Nationalism
Militarism
Political
Situation in
Japan
Economic
situation in
Japan
Situation in
China
Actions of
the west
Conclusions

Causes of SinoJapanese War 193337

Causes of Japans attack

on Pearl Harbor1938-41

Sources

International Response to
Japanses Agression1931-41
Japan actions in the Mukden Incident was
the first significant challenge by a major
power
To the new international order set in post
World War 1
This international system centered around
the concept of collective security

 The states would take joint action to deal

with aggression.
To facilitate such actions the League of
Nations was set up in1919
In addition various treaties such as the
Washington Conference, Nine Power
Treaty and Kellogg Briand Pact

 Reinforced the idea of peaceful

international cooperation.

Kellogg Briand Pact

This pact was signed in 1928
The signatory states promised not to use
war to resolve disputes or conflicts
Instead it called for peaceful settlements of
disputes
Japan signed this pact in 1928 along with
14 other nations

Organization and aims of the

League
Ultimately by 62 nation
It was made of council of league and
assembly of League
The council consisted of Britain, France
,Italy and Japan
The council took major decisions

 The Covenant of the League of Nations

was the document which set out how the
League was to achieve its aims of
promoting international cooperation and
maintaining international peace and security

 Source Analysis and Social Skills activity

pg 62

What actions did the League take

in response to the Mukden
incident ?
Mukden Incident China appealed the LON
Example of one member state attacking
another
China hoped to invoke collective security
and get action taken against Japan as set out
in Article 16 of the covenant

 League acted cautiously

Attended by Japanses govt in China and the
USA
Japanese govt cooperating with the League,
the army continued to expand its influence
in Manchuria

 Defied the govt.

The League then decided to send a fact
finding commission led by Lord Lytton to
Manchuria
During this time Kwantung army was able
to continue expanding

 In March 1932 Manchuria was declared the

state of Manchukuo-a puppet state under
the control of Japan with Chinas emperor
Pu Yi as its ruler
The Japanese's claimed that the
Manchurians were now free from Chinese
domination.

Lytton Commissions Report

Japan did in fact have special interest in
Manchuria
Japan should give up territory and withdraw
its forces
Manchukuo was not an independent state
and could not be recognized as such

 The problems could be solved by a general

improvement in Sino-Japanese Relation
Two countries should negotiate on Non
aggression pact
Japan did agree and withdrew from the
League in protest in March 1933

Why did not League take strong

actions ?
France felt no reason to fall out with Japan
As colonial power it had much to gain from
week china
Britain was unwilling to act when its own
interests were not at stake
It lacked military means to resist Japan

 The countries were hit by great depression

which them hesitant to spend resources
Japan was viewed as an ally in containing
communist Russia in the Far East

What was the impact

The failure of the League to respond to the
Manchurian incident meant the Japan was
able to continue with its expansion: it may
also have contributed to Mussolini's
decision to invade Abyssinia in 1935