IB History, Japanese Expansion

Mostly Events

Treaty of Kanagawa, 1854

Commodore Perry opened Jpn to US trade (Jpnese mindful of what happened to China; Power returns to Emperor (Meiji); Patriotism + nationalism promoted by govt

First Sino-Japanese War, 1894-1895

Jpn defeated China; inc in nationalism + militarism, reinforced that Jpn had to protect from West; caused Jpnese military expansion; inc industrial production; patriotic society est.

Treaty of Shimonoseki

Ended the Sino-Japanese war. Japan gained control over Pescadores islands, Formosa, Liaodong Peninsula, Korea gained independence, China paid indemnity, China open ports.

Triple Intervention, 1895:

Response to the Treaty of Shimonoseki; Russ. Fr. + Ger. forced Jpn to give the Liaodong Peninsula to Russ., Ger. control Shandong Province, Fr. + Br. seize port cities

China's Open Door Policy, 1899

Created by the US to protect China from rival imperial countries (Japan). Equal privileges and equal trading between the nations.

Anglo-Japanese Alliance 1902

Ended Jpnese diplomatic isolation, 1st military alliance between western + non-western nation

Russo-Japanese war, 1904-1905

Jpn beat Western nation + earned respect from West + Asia (seen as role model to Asian countries); reaffirmed idea of destiny to lead Asia

Impact of WWI on Jpn

Secured former Ger. pacific islands + Shandong Peninsula; Jpn est. as imp. economic power; failed to get racial equality clauses in charter of LoN

Good parts of democracy in 1920s Jpn

changes in foreign policy = inc liberal democratic Jpn; electorate = all adult men 1925; more open society so more influenced mass media; PM was leader of 1 or 2 of main political parties

Bad parts of democracy in 1920s Jpn

financial scandals, election violations --> less public support; parties linked to big businesses or landlords in countryside --> inc suspicions; fear of left-wing radicalism; 2 laws passed causing Meiji govt dilemma on how much political freedom allowed

Political instability in Jpn 1920s

Conservative groups + army advocated for more aggressive for. pol. in China + Jpnese destiny to lead Asia; US passed bill excl. Asian immigrants, provoked protest from Jpnese press, military + other opponents of PM saw as provocation of West

Jpnese Economy 1920s

economic boom lasted until 1921 - Eur. rebuilt itself; strikes suppressed by police; disconnect poor farmers + big business companies + landlords; 1929 Wall St Crash, Great Depression, Jpnese govt fell on repression rather than democracy

Political instability in China

Forcibly opened for trade by west in 19C; 1/2 colonised by West + Jpn; lost Sino-Jpnese ware, then revolution + land dominated by warlords; Guomindang Nationalist Party (GMD) + Chinese Communist Party (CCP) caused rivalry + more instability; Jpn able to colonise parts of China + got raw materials + markets

Strategic + Economic concerns of Jpn by 1931

Destiny to lead Asia; depression caused 3 mil. unemployment bc Jpn dependent on exports; Manchuria abundant, Jpn already controlled Port Arthur, so more living space + materials to get through depression

Jpnese relation w/ West by 1931

doubts on democratic nations' trustworthiness bc of depression; rise of fascism in Eur. --> respectable countries deciding against democracy, so Jpn wouldn't be wrong

Jpnese Political Situation by 1931

Military stronger than govt; General staff unwilling to damage military prestige; New PM Hamaguchi had not enough funding, cut military salaries, was shot by right-wing radical + resigned

Jpnese relation w/ China by 1931

Jpn est. in China bc of wars; instability in China encouraged expansion; govt wanted Kwantung Army in Manchuria to disarm Zhang Zuolin but military took actions + killed Zhang to stop Jiang Jieshi (GMD)

Role of army in Jpn by 1931

military ignore govt; Kwantung army advocate for military dictatorship + more aggressive for. pol.; when Zhang succeeded by son who allied w/ Jiang, Kwantung officers hatched plot to seize Manchuria, emperor ordered General to stop but order held back deliberately and plan executed anyways

Manchurian Crisis, 1931

army went against PM orders so Jpn deceitful to other countries; puppet govt set up and then called Manchukuo

Int. relations after Manchurian Crisis 1931

relations w/ US + Brit. dec; Jpn isolated; West seen as racist + hypocritical; inc military power + admiration for Nazi Ger.; Russ. = communist threat --> Anti-Comintern pact signed; for. criticism inc Jpnese nationalism

Jpnese politics after Manchurian Crisis 1931

inc taxation; military involved in governing; public support to military; inc nationalism

Jpnese military after Manchurian Crisis 1931

inc power; inc admiration of Nazi Ger.; public support; military involved in governing

China after Manchurian Crisis 1931

Jiang called on LoN for help; inc anti-Jpnese sentiments + Chinese nationalism; Jiang accepted Jpnese control of Manchuria w/ Treaty of Tanggu --> wanted to sort out communism first

League Crisis after Manchurian Crisis

China expected help bc of collective security; LoN's response took several months + Kwantung army cont. to expand in Manchuria --> became Manchukuo

Outcome of Lytton Report

Jpn had special interests in Manchuria but unjustly used force; Jpn should withdraw + give up Manchuria; Manchukuo not independent; Manchuria should be independent under Chinese sovereignty

No bigger reaction from LoN abt Manchurian Crisis bc:

Fr. could gain from weakened China; Br. unwilling to act when own interests not at stake + lacked military means to resist Jpn; Br. + Fr. suffering from depression; Fear of communism in Br. + Fr. --> Jpn potential ally against Russ.

Stimson Doctrine, 1932

The US, after recognizing Japan's invasions, stated that it would continue trading with Japan, but would not recognize any territorial changes.

Dark Valley, after 1932

The dark days in which the government was becoming a military government.

Marco Polo Bridge Incident, 1937:

Japanese claimed that the Chinese fired on them close to the Marco Polo Bridge. Japan attacked several army bases around Beijing, but a small Chinese force effectively defended the Bridge. Prime Minister Konoe (Japan) publicly blamed the Chinese for the incident and sent more troops.

Rape of Nanjing, Dec 1937- Jan 1938

Over 200,000 civilians killed, thousands of women raped, city looted and burned.

Second Sino Japanese War, 1937-1945

Japan gained Inner Mongolia, Beijing Nanjing, Wuhan, Guangzhou and the island of Hainan. Japan had less troops than China, and the US stopped supporting Japan.

Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere, 1940

Want to control and strengthen Asia against white imperialism. and emphasized military growth. This worried the US.

Tripartite Pact, 1940

Germany, Italy, Japan. Defensive military alliance hoping to keep the US out of the military conflicts.

Japan invaded Indochina, 1940

Japan invaded Indochina after France was defeated by Germany after reaching an agreement with Vichy French authorities, ending China's supply of weapons and supplies to the French. Japan then threatened Siam, Malaya and the Dutch East Indies.

Japanese-Soviet Neutrality Act, 1941

To end the border war because the Soviet Union was strong.

Pearl Harbor, 1941

Japan had to head south towards the Pacific where the US was trying to increase their influence. The Japanese hoped that the attack would destroy much of the US' navy supplies and ships to keep the US out of the war (counterproductive)

Life line

Manchuria was seen as a lifeline, since it was bigger than the Japanese islands, had raw materials, and could be a line of defense against Russia.

Zaibatsu

The Big Four production companies controlled more than 30% of Japan's chemical, metal and mining industries. The Mitsui Corp had strong connections with the army, while the Mitsubishi had strong connections with the Navy.

May 15th Incident, 1932

Military officers attacked banks, party officers, and police to assassinate Prime Minister Inukai.

226 (February 26th, 1936) Incident

Radicals in the army attempt a coup d`etat; fails. Saito Makoto, Takashi Korekiyo are killed. Kodo-ha loses favour but army increases control over government.

Koda-ha (Imperial Way Faction)

Informal extremist faction of Japanese military seeking authoritarian militaristic government. Expansionist ideals. Confrontational.

Tosei-ha (Control Faction)

Informal, more moderate and conservative branch of military led by Hideki Tojo. Still expansionist but want to properly prepare for total war.