Causes of Expansion

Where did Japanese militarism and nationalism originate from?

Where did Japanese militarism and nationalism originate from?

Desire for equality with the West

Belief in destiny as leader of Asia

Popular enthusiasm for militarism and expansion

Need for strategic security

Need for raw materials and markets

Desire for equality with the West

• Failed to get racial equality clauses included in LoN charter

• Unfair ratio set by 5 power treaty shows inequality

Belief in destiny as leader of Asia

Sino-Japanese War 1844-1895 victory

• japan defeated china 3x size positioned them as world power

Russo-Japanese War 1904 victory

• Treaty of Portsmouth gave japan Korea and most of manchuria + railway rights

Both cases showed evidence of dominance- led to belief that Japan was better + should be dominant

Popular enthusiasm for militarism and expansion

• After Treaty of Kanagawa 1854, New Meiji government promoted national unity + patriotism as well as STRONG modernisation

• Didn’t want to be forced into trade, humiliated like China

• Military success of Sino-Japanese war + gained land- fact they had to GIVE UP land for western powers led to FRUSTRATION

Who was Matthew Perry?

American naval officer arrived in 1853 on coast of japan with several US steamships determined to get Japan to open up to US trade

• japan was mindful of humiliations faced by china trying to resist west

• so signed Treaty of Kanagawa with USA in 1854 (protect US seamen + open up trade)

Need for raw materials + markets

During WW1 Japan:

• Exported goods to allies

• Exported goods to other Asian countries that allies couldn’t export to

RESULTED IN INCREASED SELF SUFFICIENCY- no longer reliable on outside sources- promoted NATIONALISM + UNITY

Japan in 1920s

After Washington Naval Conference

• Acceptance of lower battleship ratio required the abandonment of the imperial navy’s plans for expansion

• Gave Shadong province back to germany (took it in war) + accepted Chinese sovereignty under international framework

• Joined League of Nations Council

Showed internationalism adopted by PM Hara’s government under a ‘Taisho democracy’

Taisho democracy

liberal democratic rise amongst japanese gov- reforms

• all men can vote

What were the economic and political issues in Japan and their impact on foreign relations?

Underlying problems in the 1920s paved the way for military dictatorship in 1930s

1. Fragile democracy

2. Opposition to Shidehara’s internationalism and the growing influence of the military on foreign policy

3. Growing economic crisis

Fragile democracy

• Financial scandals and election law violations eroded public support for political parties

• Parties connected to big businesses increased public suspicion + lost respect

• Fear of left-wing radicalism: Peace Preservation Law + franchise extension showed conflict in Meiji gov- how much political freedom to allow

Opposition to Shidehara’s internationalism and the growing influence of the military on foreign policy

• Many conservatives saw Shidehara’s policies as a betrayal

• Confirmed by US 150,000 yearly bill limiting especially Asian immigration

Growing economic crisis

• Unemployment + industrial unrest grew

• 1921 strike paralysed J docks

• Large divide between city + rural areas

• Farmers suffered falling price of harvests + tried to organise themselves- HIT BY gov opposition- fuelled resentment

• Wall Street Crash 1929 led to outbreak of global depression

What was the role of Chinese political instability in encouraging the Japanese nationalists before the 1930s?

• Encouraged Japanese imperial competition on its mainland

• Prevented Japanese expansion into Korea + Manchuria

Chinese political instability

• At mercy of global powers + their treaties since defeat by British in Opium Wars- subject to ‘gunboat diplomacy’

• Flooded by Christian missionaries

• Split between Guomindang Nationalist Party and the Communist Party of China

gunboat diplomacy

Typically European intimidation of other, less powerful countries into granting concessions through a demonstration of Western superior military capabilities (eg Matthew Perry + steamships)

How did Chinese instability help promote Japanese nationalism?

Japan saw Western powers sharing out spoils of China

• Wanted own piece as a global power

• After Perry’s arrival, Japanese able to borrow Western ideas to their own advantage to become a strong country after 1868