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Militarism in Japan

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1918-1932

Emerged from WWI with strong economy Began making democratic reforms Hit hard by the Depression Military Dictatorship takes control

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Japanese Goals of the 1930’s

Revive economy hit by Depression Lead economic modernization in Asia -

hoping to one day rival Europe and the United States

Free Asia from western colonial influences Set up “East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere” Dominate Asia economically and militarily

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Question

What might limit Japan’s ability to dominate Asia?

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Aggression in Manchuria

September 1931, needing the resources of Manchuria the Japanese army invaded

China protested to the League of Nations

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Aggression in Manchuria

League and United States condemned Japanese action in China, but took no further action

Japan withdrew from the League in 1933

What does the Japanese minister claim?

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Tensions Rise in China

By 1937, Japanese forces overran much of the northern part of China

Rape of Nanking – in 1937 Japanese forces brutalized the population of Nanking – murdering over 300,000 civilians and soldiers in a few months

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WWII in Asia

Berlin, 1940 - Japan joins alliance with Germany and Italy

Looked to European colonies in Southeast Asia for resources

FDR threatened to cut off supplies of scrap metal, rubber, and oil

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Events leading to Pearl Harbor

Believing the United States will not only cut off supplies, but also declare war, the Japanese planned a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor to eliminate the American naval presence in the Pacific

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Events leading to Pearl Harbor

December 7, 1941, the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor

Japanese miscalculated American response – instead of cowering, the American people rallied together

December 8, 1941, the United States declares war on Japan

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Failure of the Co-prosperity Sphere

Original idea involved a system that benefited both Japan and occupied territories - “Asia for Asians”

Instead, Japanese imperial troops simply replaced European troops

Resources were diverted to supply the Japan war machine – in some cases causing food shortages and famine

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Attempted to institute Japanese customs – insulting the native peoples

Forced some to work in factories and on plantations for little or no wages

Some nationalist groups cooperated with Japanese and some secretly assisted the Allies

Failure of the Co-prosperity Sphere

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Japan’s Eventual Defeat