"The Move to Global War" - Unit 1: Japanese Expansionism in East Asia

Shogun

In feudal Japan, a noble similar to a duke. They were the military commanders and the actual rulers of Japan for many centuries while the Emperor was a powerless spiritual figure.

Daimyo

A Japanese feudal lord who commanded a private army of samurai; hierarchical rank below the Shogun

Commodore Matthew Perry

A navy commander who, on July 8, 1853, became the first foreigner to break through the barriers that had kept Japan isolated from the rest of the world for 250 years. Returned ruling power to Japanese emperor and established a limited form of democracy in Japan.

Treaty of Kanagawa

1854 treaty between Japan and the US. Japan agreed to open two ports to American ships

Tokugawa Yoshinobu

last shogun, ending the reign of the shogun and the Tokugawa family. Forced to sign Treaty of Kanagawa in 1854 with Commodore Perry

Meiji Period

Japanese period between (1868-1912):

-power retuned to emperor-established limited democratic system

-opened up trade to US

-reformed industry, education, fashion, and military

-promoted nationalism and unity to catch up with West

-modernized army with German military tactics

-made new navy with help from the British

Sino-Japanese War

(1894-1895) Japan's imperialistic war against China to gain control of natural resources and markets for their goods. Ended with Treaty of Shimonoseki

Treaty of Shimonoseki

1895 treaty between Japan and China following China's defeat in the Sino-Japanese war.

-Korea effectively became a Japanese protectorate

-China ceded Taiwan, the Pescadores islands, the Liaodong region of Manchuria

-added four more treaty ports

-promised to pay Japan 200 million taels in war indemnities

-negotiated commercial treaty

Triple Intervention

An "intervention " by a combination of Russia, France, and Germany that pressured Japan to renounce the Liaodong peninsula in Manchuria in 1895. (Following this, Russia took the Liaodong peninsula and Germany took the Shandong Province)

Amur River Society

patriotic society established to promote the idea of Japanese expansion on the mainland

Anglo-Japanese Alliance

1902 alliance of British and Japanese against Russia. Ended Japanese isolation. First time a military alliance had been signed between a Westen and Non-Western Nation. Replaced with Four Power Treaty

Russo-Japanese War

1904-1905 war between Russia and Japan over interest in Manchuria and Korea. Decisive victory for Japan in naval Battle of Tsushima. Ended with Treaty of Portsmouth. Japan earned respect from the West and admiration from Asia while affirming its belief in being the leader of Asia.

Treaty of Portsmouth

1905 treaty between Russia and Japan ending the Russo-Japanese War:

-gained Korea, South Manchuria, south half of Sakhalin Island, and Port Arthur

-gained railway rights in Manchuria

*Disappointed many Japanese who expected more

Results of WWI for Japan

Results of conflict:

-Japan secured former German Islands and economic privileges in Shandong Peninsula

-League of Nations did not treat Japan equally, angering it

Interventionalism

Japanese foreign policy in 1920's:

-develop economy peacefully

-keep relationship with US

-seek economic advancement in China

Four-Power Treaty

1921 treaty between US, Great Britain, France and Japan:

-respect interests of others in Pacific Islands

-confer if any rights or possessions were threatened in the Pacific

-agreed to cease battleship production for ten years and reduce fleet of capital ships to a fixed ratio.

*It was expected to produce a balance of forces in the Pacific.

Nine-Power Treaty

1922 treaty signed by US, Japan, China, France, Great Britain, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, and Portugal

-respected Chinese government integrity

-Japan returned German concessions in Shandong from WWI

Five-Power Naval Treaty

1922 treaty resulting from the Washington Armaments Conference signed by US, Britain, Japan, France, and Italy

-limited to a specific ratio the carrier and battleship tonnage of each nation

-created a moratorium for 10 years, during which no battleships would be built

-countries agreed to refrain from further fortification of their Pacific Possessions

Washington Treaty System

Combined system of treaties made up of the Four-Power Treaty (1921), Nine-Power Treaty (1922), and Five-Power Treaty (1922)

Kellogg-Briand Pact

1928 agreement in which nations agreed not to pose the threat of war against one another

National Diet

Japan's parliament and House of Councilors whose members were popularly elected by all adults

Tashido Democracy

series of reforms in the latter years of Emperor Tashido's reign that made Japan more liberal. Prime Minister position was now given to the leader of one of the two main political parties in the Diet. Made political power based of experience rather than elite status.

Gunboat Diplomacy

The use or threat of military force to coerce a government into economic or political agreements. Used by European powers to control China.

Showa Era

the time in which Hirohito was emperor of Japan

-revival of idea that the emperor was a god

-revival of nationalism and belief in Japan's destiny to rule Asia

Mukden Incident

September 18, 1931; Kwantung soldiers feigned an attack from the Chinese and set of an explosion on the South Manchurian Railroad. Kwantung Army used this as an excuse to first take over city of Mukden and then invade the rest of Manchuria

Manchuria Crisis

1931-1932 Japanese invasion Manchuria following the Mukden Incident

*led to Japan's abandonment of international cooperation and the Washington Treaty System

Lytton Commission Report

report by Lord Lytton published 1 year after Mukden Incident stating:

-Japan's special interests in Manchuria were unacceptable and unjustified

-Japan should return the territory to China

-Manchukuo was not an independent state

-Manchuria should become independent but under Chinese sovereignty

-encouraged improvement of Sino-Japanese relations and recommended the negotiation of a non-aggression pact

*Japan rejects report and leaves League of Nations

Jiang Jieshi

Leader of the Guomindang, or Nationalist Party in China. Fought to keep China from becoming Communist, and to later resist the Japanese during World War II. Believed that fighting civil war against Communists was more important than resisting Japanese invasion. Eventually forced to work with Communists to resist Japan.

Mao Zedong

Leader of the Communist Party in China. Attacked by Jiang Jieshi and the Nationalists during Chinese civil war. Eventually worked together with Nationalists to resist Japanese invasion during WWII.

Northern Expedition

a campaign to unite China and defeat the warlords. Consolidated both Nationalist and Communist efforts.

*Worried Japan who backed Manchurian warlord Zhang Zuolin

Kwantung Army

The Japanese army posted in Manchuria to guard the South Manchurian Railway and other Japanese interests:

-Stronghold of radical "Kodo-ha" or Imperial Way faction advertising violent overthrow of Chinese government

-increasingly acting without authorization from the government

-assassinated Zhang Zuolin in 1928 and seized Manchuria in 1931. Then refused government orders to withdraw.

-created Mukden Incident as excuse to invade Manchuria

-perpetrators of Nanking Massacre

London Naval Disarmament Conference

1930 conference held in London to discuss naval disarmament and to review the treaties of the Washington Conference of 1921-22. Agreed to limit Japanese naval growth.

*angered Japanese military who hoped to expand Japanese naval power

Treaty of Tanggu

1933 treaty signed by Jiang Jieshi accepting Japanese control of Manchuria

Asia Monroe Doctrine

Japanese propaganda belief that it is Japan's job to make sure that Asia does not fall to Western ideals, keep peace, and rule all of Asia

Stimson Doctrine

1932 US Doctrine stating the US would not recognize any agreement that violated China's territorial integrity, went against the open-door policy, or the Kellog-Briand pact

the Dark Valley

1932 division between the military and the politicians and also within the military itself. Led to establishment of an unstable military government ("military junta") and a power struggle between Koda-ha and Tosei-ha factions. Period of wartime Japan.

Kodo-ha

Imperial Way faction:

-gained power following the Dark Valley period starting 1932

-more radical

-believed in military dictatorship led by emperor and state socialism

-saw Soviet Union as main enemy and war with Soviets inevitable

-believed conquest of Manchuria was first step to war with Soviet Union

-emphasized national "spirit" and "spiritual training" over material force of the army

Tosei-ha

Control Faction:

-gained power following the Dark Valley period starting 1932

-against terrorism and force in removing government

-wanted to use legal power to foster military and government power

-saw war with Soviet Union as preventable and wanted to maintain good relations

-main objective was conquest of China with mobilization of entire nation and modernization of military

May 15th Incident

1932 attempted coup where Navy and Army officers attacked government centers in Tokyo and killed Prime Minister Inukai. Trial for conspirators shoed widespread support for their actions resulting in enhanced influence of the army, undermining democracy.

Anti-Comintern Pact

1936 treaty signed between Japan and Germany in response to Japan's concerns about the Soviet Union's relationship with China. Amended to include Italy in 1937.

Rape of Nanking

late 1937, Japan defeated the Chinese Nationalist capitol Nanking. Thousands were massacred and raped. The event shocked Western powers and contributed to sanctions against Japan.

New Order in East Asia

November 1938, Japanese strategists proposed a political, cultural, and economic union between Japan, Manchukuo, and China. Jiang Jieshi refused to agree and continued the war.

Imperial Rule Assistance Association

1940, association founded by Prime Minister Konoe Fumimaro designed to become a new and unifying political party. Association replaces multi-party politics.

Tripartite Axis Pact

September 1940; Japan, Italy and Germany agreed that Germany and Italy would dominate Europe, while Japan would dominate "Greater East Asia." Also committed the three countries to support each other against the USA if it entered the war. Led Hitler and Mussolini to declare war on the USA in December 1941 following Pearl Harbor attack.

Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere

1940 propaganda plan outlining Japan's ambitions extending from Manchuria to the Dutch East Indies in which Japan planned expand its influence and co-prosper

ABCD Encirclement

1941; America, Britain, Chinese, and Dutch united to fight Japan

Xi'an Incident

1936, event where Jiang Jeishi was abducted by his General, Zhang Xue-liang:

-Zhang protested Jiang's policy of fighting Communists instead of Japanese

-prominent Communist leader Zhou Enlai flew to Xi'an to negotiate his release.

-did not sign formal agreement but agreed to suspend civil war

-formed Second United Front against Japan

Second United Front

the alliance between the Nationalists and Communists during the Second Sino-Japanese War that suspended the Chinese Civil War from 1937 to 1946. Followed Xi'an Incident of Jiang Jieshi's kidnapping

Neutrality Acts

4 laws passed in the late 1930s that were designed to keep the US out of international incidents

1935- US would not supply arms to either side of wars

1936- no loans can be made to belligerents

1937- established "cash and carry" policy for export of materials other than arms

1939- expands "cash-and-carry" policy to include the export of arms

Cash-and-Carry

Provision passed by US Congress in 1937 and 1939 Neutrality Acts which allowed a nation at war to purchase goods and arms (added in 1939) from the US as long as they paid cash and carried the merchandise on their own ships.

Benefited the Allies, because Britain was dominant naval power.

*Prevented US involvement

Lend-Lease Act

1941 act allowing the United States to lend or lease war supplies to any nation deemed "vital to the defense of the United States"