Move to global war japan

Meiji Restoration

From 1868 onwards. Social, political and educational reforms due to the pressure from US and other foreign powers. (fear of domination). Need for autarky and modernisation so couldn't be so easily invaded / colonized like China

Authoritarian democracy

A formal democracy in which, through some mix of fraud, intimidation, and control of communications, the same ruler stays in power indefinitely. Japan summed up in the late 19th century.

Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895)

Over the influence of Korea. Japan won and Taiwan and Liadong were given to it. However Tripartite intervention happened

Tripartite Intervention

Intervention by Russia, Germany, and France who declared that the Treaty of Shimonoseki had to be altered to accommodate their desires. Japan forced to give up Liadong peninsula and Korea would be controlled jointly by both Japan and Russia. One of the reasons for Russo-Japanese war of 1904-1905. This obviously angered the nationalists. (see government by Assassination)

Anglo-Japanese Alliance (1902)

This was Britain's alliance with Japan against Russia. Slowly, cautiously, Brit was ending its isolationism. Saw Russia as threat to its postition in the Near, Middle(Persia) and Far (China) East. Japan, which was imperializing in Korea and China was also in competition with Russian expansionism. Japan was now a recognized power in Asia.

Russo-Japanese War 1904-1905

Russia was blocked in the Balkans and thus at the start of 20th century turned its focus on the far east. Russia had already gained a railway in Manchuria and a 25 year lease on Liadong peninsula - - > next aim Korea. This resulted in a short war which ended in a Japanese victory. This was due to powerful Japanese navy and infantry and miscalculations by the Russians due to prejudice. Japan gains gradually more control over Korea, annexing it in 1910.

21 Demands (1915)

Sent to China by Japan during WW1. Demands included: extension of the lease on Port Arthur and South Manchurian railway, recognizing Japan's position in Shandong and employment of Japanese political and military advisors with a joint police force (see A-H ultimatum to Serbia). Britain and USA protested the last clause and so it was the only one not accepted.

Government by Assassination

political situation in Japan in the 1930s. Most notably, it refers to the death of Inukai Tsuyoshi in the February 26 Incident, as well as the May 15 Incident in which Saitō Makoto and Takahashi Korekiyo were killed. The period saw the rise of Japanese militarism and can be seen as leading to Japan's involvement in World War II. Decisions which involved appeasement or leftist policies were soon followed by killings. e.g signatories of the London treaty were targeted for assassination since they allowed Japan to be undermined and face disarmament. Several prime ministers were assassinated for example Wakatsuki who opposed the recognition of Manchukuo as an independent state from Japan

Zaibatsu

Large conglomerate corporations through which key elite families exerted a great deal of political and economic power in Imperial Japan. By WWII, four of them controlled most of the economy of Japan. Backed the traditional parties instead of the left, e.g trade unions banned in 1940.

CPC

Communist Party of China

GMP

Chinese nationalists

Kwantung Army

The Japanese army posted in Manchuria to guard the South Manchurian Railway and other Japanese interests. It was increasingly acting without authorization from the government. They assassinated Zhang Zuolin in 1928 and seized Manchuria in 1931. When the Japanese government ordered them to withdraw, they refused.

Manchurian Incident

Situation in 1931 when Japanese troops, claiming that Chinese soldiers had tried to blow up a railway line, took matters into their own hands by capturing several southern Manchurian cities, and by continuing to take over the country even after Chinese troops had withdrawn.

Lytton Commission

When Japan took over Manchuria in 1931, China protested to the League of Nations. This is the name of the Commission the League set up to look into the matter. It finally reported in 1933 and recommended that Japan be obliged to give up Manchuria. Japan responded by walking out of the League of Nations. The League took no further action.

Tanggu Truce

1933; recognized that Jehol and Manchuria were now under Japan's control and promised not to fight to remove Japan from these areas and also established a neutral zone between Japanese-controlled territory and that of China's government. Short-lived.

Second United Front

The Second United Front was the alliance between the Kuomintang (KMT) and Chinese Communist Party (CCP) during the Second Sino-Japanese War that suspended the Chinese Civil War from 1937 to 1946. Followed Xian Incident.

Marco Polo Bridge Incident

A clash between Japanese and Chinese troops in the outskirts of Beijing on July 7, 1937. The Japanese government used this as an excuse to occupy Beijing. When Chiang Kai Shek refused to give way, full-scale war broke out between China and Japan aka the second Sino-Japanese war.

Manchukuo

In 1932 Japan established this puppet state in their conquered territories of Manchuria. In 1933 the League of Nations reprimanded Japan, and so the nation withdrew from the organization, which was at the same time as Germany withdrawing as well. Japanese officers placed the former Chinese emperor Puyi to its throne.

Reasons behind the Manchurian incident

Jiang Jeshi busy with GMD in order to bring China under centralized control (warlords)
Chinese nationalism and anti-Japanese feelings on the rise in the important trading regions of China
Threat of Soviet expansion
Need for resources, which was only furthered with the Great Depression of 1929
Officers in the Guandong (Kwantung) army believed it was to be their destiny to expand

London Naval Treaty

1930 - Two conferences in London sought to continue and extend naval armaments pacts initially agreed upon at the Washington Naval Conference of 1921â€"1922. At this conference, the United States, Great Britain, Japan, France, and Italy agreed on ratios for battleship and aircraft carrier tonnage in a successful effort to halt what might have been an expensive arms race; the resulting treaty also allowed the British to let the Anglo-Japanese Treaty of 1902 terminate. Britain thus avoided being caught in a possible future Japanese-American conflict as an ally of each power. 5-5-3 ratio

Shanghai Incident (1932)

Series of anti-Japanese riots broke out and Japanese marines were sent to restore order, resulting in extensive aerial bombing. Jiang Jeshi did not send his own troops, instead a local warlord and a drug triad fought against the Japanese. A ceasefire was agreed upon and Shangai turned into a demillitarized zone.

Stimson Doctrine, 1932

Issued by Secretary of State, Henry L. Stimson, it was in response to Japan's violation of the Open Door policy when it attacked Manchuria in 1931. It stated that United States would not recognize any territorial acquisitions achieved by force. It was ignored by the Japanese and they moved towards to Shanghai in 1932.

Racial Equality Clause

Japan asked for this to be included in the covenant of the League of Nations, but Australia and others objected. A vote was held, and eleven of the seventeen nations represented voted in favour. Britain and the USA were among those who did not vote in favour. They did not call for a vote against the proposal. President Wilson refused to make it part of the covenant of the League because it did not have unanimous support. This refusal helped damage relations between Japan and other members of the League, since Japan took it as an insult. (It seems that Japan had not considered the implications of the clause as covering all races. They proposed it to ensure that the Japanese would be treated as equals within the League.)

Sakurakai (Cherry Blossom Society)

An ultra-nationalistic secret society established within the millitary. Tries to overthrow the government twice in 1931,

Neutrality Acts of 1935, 1936, and 1937

Short-sighted acts passed in 1935, 1936, and 1937 in order to prevent American participation in a European War. Among other restrictions, they prevented Americans from selling munitions to foreign belligerents.

Panay Incident (1937)

Japanese bombers engaged in war with China bombed and sank the marked U.S. gunboat Panay and three Standard Oil ships, which were evacuating American officials from China. Japan accepted responsibilities of bombing the ships, made a formal apology and promised indemnities later set at $2 million. No other consequences.

Quarantine Speech (1937)

FDR encouraged democracies to quarantine their opponents (economic embargos); criticized by isolationists. Marked a turning point for USA's foreign policy from isolationism.

Rape of Nanjing (Nanking)

The Nanking Massacre was an episode of mass murder and mass rape committed by Japanese troops against the residents of Nanjing, then the capital of the Republic of China, during the Second Sino-Japanese War in 1937.

The national mobilization act of 1938

Japan enters a period of total war, all institutions within the nation are primed for the war effort once the government was given total control over the economy.

New Order in East Asia (1938)

Envisioned that the Japanese government would not recognize Jiang Jeshi's government unless the latter accepted the ultimatum which included: Formal recognition of Manchuoko, reparations, neutral zones in northern China and Sino-Japanese cooperation in Japanese occupied areas. Japan would want to establish economic hegemony in the area and act as a guide against the west. Jiang Jeshi refused and so a puppet government for the GMD was set up, thus not ending the war and not bringing about a new period of peace of cooperation.

The tientsin incident (1939)

Tianjin an important Chinese center for trade with British concession. Chinese national working in a Japanese bank is murdered. Japanese authorities demand for Britain to hand over the four suspects for this murder which were residing in the British concession. Britain decided to not show any weakness and thus the Japanese officials started a humiliating strip and search campaign. UK could have retaliated but did not and handed over the four suspects.. This made it clear for the UK that it needed US support for Japanese aggression. Widespread disapproval in the states towards Japan.

Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere

As announced in 1940 by Japan's prime minister, the area extending from Manchuria to the Dutch East Indies in which Japan would expand its influence. Japanese economy etc in exchange for raw material like oil. Fight against imperialism and the west. (Pan-Asianism)

Strike South Faction

Same as Strike North Faction but fighting southeast Asia, in the south there was oil and rubber. If you invade South East Asia, you have to fight the Dutch, English, French, and the U.S. a United Nations of sorts.

Strike North Faction

We have limited raw materials because we are an island nation, if we are going to have a future we are going to have to get territory on the mainland. We have to fight north to survive, that means China and Russia two countries that they have already beaten.

the "ABCD" bloc

An alliance between United States (America), Britain (B), China (C) and the Dutch government in exile (D) which aimed to place economic pressure on Japan with the use of the US fleet on the pasific.

Hull Note

Final proposal delivered to the Empire of Japan by the US before the attack on Pearl Harbor and declaration of war between the two nations. (what was in it?)

Jiang Jeshi or Chiang Kei-Shek

Jiang Jieshi was a Chinese military and political figure who led the Nationalists against the rising Communist forces and was driven from the mainland to Taiwan (1949). He then setup Taiwan because the US liked him. Leader of the nationalist GMD. Could be held responsible for the first signs of appeasement by doing virtually nothing after the Japanese takeover of Manchuria in 1931. (still focused on defeating the communists and the GMD army was no match for the Kwantung army)

Xian Incident (1936)

''Young Marshal'' Zhang Xueliang plotted the kidnapping of his ally Jiang Jeshi due to his inactivity towards the Japanese occupation. Jiang was released once the Second United Front was announced.

Anti-Comintern Pact (1936)

Concluded between Germany and Japan in 1936, in which they agreed to maintain a common front against communism. Italy joined later on.

Imperial Way Faction (A.K.A. Kodo-ha)

This was a faction composed of radical members of the army and some civilian sympathizers. They wanted to eliminate the influence of party politicians, zaibatsu and status quo-minded senior statesmen and court figures. Theu stressed the importance of spiritual education and loyalty to the emperor as foundations of national strength. Although often associated with younger activists, they had support at the very top from people like 1932-1934 Army Minister Araki Sadao. This group launched several coup attempts and assassinated various politicians and business leaders in the early 1930s, culmination in the attempted coup of February 26, 1936. (known as the February coup, shocking right?) This was condemned by the emperor, and the ringleaders were executed. After this, the other faction in the army was in control called the control faction, Toseiha

Control Faction (A.K.A. Tosei-ha)

This was a faction comprising mostly more senior army officers, including General Tojo. They wanted to mobilize Japanese society for what they expected to be an impending war with the West. They rejected the terrorist violence of their rival faction and sought to control the state by legal means and through cooperation with existing elites like zaibatsu. After the failed coup of February 26, 1936, this faction was firmly in control of the army.

Tripartite Pact (1940)

Signed between the Axis powers in 1940 (Italy, Germany and Japan) where they pledged to help the others in the event of an attack by the US. Japan signed due to the growing fear of the US fleet in the pacific (size increased and moved to Pearl Harbor since diplomacy and economic sanctions had not been able to end the Sino-Japanese war) and FOMO of Nazi success in Europe

Nazi-Soviet Pact

A secret agreement between the Germans and the Russians that said that they would not attack each other. One of the key reasons why Japan abandons strike north strategy (along with the costly border skirmishes with USSR)--> non-aggression pact is signed in 1941

Attack on Pearl Harbor

Bombing of Pearl Harbor in Hawaii by Japan on December 7, 1941. The Japanese were hoping to cripple the American fleet, which had been enforcing Embargo, which denied Japan the raw materials it needed to increase their power. (Takeover of Indo-China and oil + all war related equipment embargo.)

Lend-Lease Act

allowed sales or loans of war materials to any country whose defense the president deems vital to the defense of the U.S (UK and the allies + China)

collective security

A system in which a group of nations acts as one to preserve the peace of all, one of League of Nations main principles

Matsuoka Yosuke

(1880-1946) Japanese foreign minister who signed the Tripartite pact with Germany and Italy in 1940. US sees this as a threat and cuts off oil.The same guy who also walked out of the league of nations in 1933, heralded as a hero for it.

bakufu (shogunate)

the feudal military dictatorship of Japan from 1192-1868. Means "tent government" in Japanese. Displaced due to the Meji restoration and for the need of a large centralized conscript army

Warlordism

A condition in which locally-based militarized bands vie for power in the absence of a sovereign state. This was the state of China during the first Sino-Japanese war of 1894-1895

First United Front

(1923-1927) CCP and Guomindang formed an alliance in 1923 to end warlordism. Formed the National Revolutionary Army and lead through Northern Expedition.

Open Door Policy

The Open Door Policy is a term in foreign affairs initially used to refer to the United States policy established in the late 19th century and the early 20th century that would allow for a system of trade in China open to all countries equally.

Us export act of 1940

Selling planes and scrap metal to Japan stopped due to Japan advancing to Northern Indo-China

Brussels conference 1937

China appealed to the signatories of the nine power pact in order to seek support against Japan. Britain considered but without the help of isolationist USA.