IB History HL Test Review - Move to Global War (Japanese Expansionism)

What was Japanese nationalism rooted in?

The belief that Japan was destined to be a dominant power in Asia.

What did Japanese nationalism foster ideologically?

A sense of racial superiority and a mission to liberate Asia from Western imperialism.

How was Japanese nationalism promoted?

State propaganda, education, and the media.

What did militarism emphasize?

Loyalty to the emperor and the superiority of the military.

Who is in charge in a militaristic state?

Military leaders with, often, disproportionate amounts of political control.

What policies did military leaders push for in Japan?

Expansionist policies.

What were some of the events that happened as a result of Japanese militarism and expansionism?

The invasion of Manchuria, and the Second Sino-Japanese War.

When was the invasion of Manchuria?

1931

When was the Second Sino-Japanese War?

1937-1945.

What needs did the Japanese government use to justify their expansionism?

The need to secure resources and territory for the growing population and economy.

When did Japan withdraw from the League of Nations?

1933

Why did Japan withdraw from the League of Nations?

Due to the condemnation of Japan from the League of Nations after their invasion of Manchuria, as well as perceived racism from the league.

What was the Anti-Comintern Pact?

A treaty between Germany and Japan that jointly resisted Communism.

When was the Anti-Comintern Pact passed?

1936

What ideological and political shift did Japan’s signing of the Anti-Comintern Pact represent?

The shift towards unilateralism and alignment with fascist powers.

What ideologies did the Japanese government use to justify brutal occupations of China and Southeast Asia?

Nationalism and militarism.

What was the culminating result of Japan’s aggressive expansion into the Pacific?

The attack on Pearl Harbor in the United States, which caused the United States to join the war.

When was the attack on Pearl Harbor?

1941

What did the fusion of militarism and nationalism shape regarding Japan’s foreign policy?

The promotion of imperial conquest, undermining diplomacy and leading to widespread conflict in the Asia-Pacific region.

What did the Great Depression cause for Japan in the early 1930s?

Mass unemployment, declining exports, and rising rural poverty.

In early 1930s Japan, were civilians confident in their government?

No

How did Japanese people see civilian politicians in regards to their effectiveness and character?

Weak and corrupt.

Why was the Japanese military able to quickly gain more power in the early 1930s?

Because the current government was seen as ineffective. The military portrayed itself as strong and stable, and the Japanese gravitated towards this perceived relief.

Why did political assassinations and coup attempts happen in early 1930s Japan?

Because many felt that the government was failing them, leading to disillusionment.

Name one assassination and one coup attempt in early 1930s Japan.

The 1932 assassination of Prime Minister Inukai and the 1936 February 26th Incident.

What were the political effects of the assassination and coup attempts in early 1930s Japan?

Further destabilization of democratic institutions and the acceleration of the militarization of Japanese politics.

What were two changes in nature of the Japanese government following its militarization?

Aggressive foreign policy and the suppression of dissent domestically.

Were political parties strong or weak following the militarization of early 1930s Japan?

Weak

By the late 1930s, what type of government was Japan?

A military dictatorship.

What were the two primary wielders of power in the Japanese government in the 1930s?

The emperor and the military.

What role did the emperor play in 1930s Japan?

The symbolic figurehead.

What role did the military play in 1930s Japan?

The real wielders of power, especially in the army and navy.

What event brought about rapid industrialization of Japan?

The Meiji Industrial Revolution.

When was the Meiji Industrial Revolution?

1868-1912.

When did Japan begin to face economic challenges after the Meiji Industrial Revolution?

The 1920s and 1930s.

What economic attribute was Japan lacking following the Great Depression?

Self-sufficiency

How did the Japanese government increase control of the economy after the Great Depression?

The mobilization of industry for war production and the formation of state-managed conglomerates.

What were the economic effects of the Japanese government’s attempt to revitalize their economy after the Great Depression?

Short-term gain, but long-term loss.

What long-term loss did Japan experience following its attempt at economic stability?

Rationing, inflation, and over-reliance on conquest-driven growth.

What did Japan’s economy transform into following its attempts to stabilize it?

A wartime economy that was unsustainable without constant territorial expansion.

What was the turning point in Japanese foreign relations in the 1930s?

Japan’s leave from the League of Nations.

What did Japanese nationalist rhetoric frame the West as?

Hypocritical and hostile.

Why did domestic Japanese rhetoric portray the West negatively?

Because the US and others imposed trade restrictions on Japan following its aggression in China.

What reinforced anti-Western attitudes in Japan?

The rise of Japanese militarism and state-controlled media.

What formalized Japan’s growing alliance with fascist powers?

The Tripartite Pact.

What was the Tripartite Pact?

A military alliance that certified the collaboration of the Axis Powers, both militarily and politically.

Was Japanese foreign policy in the 1930s aggressive or amiable?

Aggressive.

Why did it become increasingly easy for Japan to start conflict and attempt territorial expansion in China?

The fall of the Qing Dynasty.

When was the fall of the Qing Dynasty?

1911

What state was China in after the fall of the Qing Dynasty?

Disarray and confusion. Internal division weakened China’s ability to protect itself against Japanese aggression.

What triggered the Japanese invasion of Manchuria?

The Mukden Incident.

What was the Mukden Incident?

A staged explosion on a Japanese railway that was framed on Chinese citizens.

Other than Manchuria, what territory did the Mukden Incident allow Japan to seize control of?

The puppet state of Manchukuo.

Was the League of Nations’ condemnation of Japan following its initial territorial conquest effective?

No. No real action was taken.

What was the effect on Sino-Japanese relations following the invasion of Manchuria?

Relations worsened significantly, leading to increased nationalist resentments in China.

What was the effect on the popularity of the Japanese military following the invasion of Manchuria and the Second Sino-Japanese War?

The popularity of the Japanese military increased, as Japanese civilians supported their rise in power following a period of weakness.

Was the international response to Japan’s conquests sufficient?

No. The lack of international response emboldened them to continue engaging in aggressive, expansionist policy.

What was the League of Nations’ primary response to Japanese expansionism?

The Lytton Report.

What was the Lytton Report?

A report condemning Japan’s invasion of Manchuria.

What did the Lytton Report conclude?

The report concluded that Japan should withdraw its troops and that Manchuria remained sovereign Chinese territory.

What did the Lytton Report say about Manchukuo?

That its creation was not a result of genuine independent movement, but rather a product of Japanese military force.

When was the Lytton Report released?

1932

What was the first notable event of the Second Sino-Japanese War?

The Marco Polo Bridge Incident, which evolved into a full-scale invasion.

What cities quickly fell to Japanese forces after the Marco Polo Bridge Incident?

Beijing, Shanghai, and Nanjing.

What characterized the Second Sino-Japanese War in regards to Japanese combat?

Extreme violence.

What event was the primary display of extreme violence from the Japanese during the Second Sino-Japanese War?

The Nanjing Massacre.

What was the Ninjing Massacre?

An event during the Second Sino-Japanese war in which hundreds of thousands of Chinese civilians were brutally killed, and tens of thousands of women were raped by Japanese soldiers.

What was Japan’s goal during the Second Sino-Japanese war in terms of gaining power?

They were attempting to subjugate China.

Was Chinese resistance during the Second Sino-Japanese War strong?

Yes

Who were two Chinese resistance groups during the Second Sino-Japanese War?

The nationalist Kuomintang and Mao Zedong’s Communist forces.

What aspect of Japan did the Second Sino-Japanese War strain the most?

The economy.

How were Western powers feeling about Japan during the Second Sino-Japanese War?

Alarmed

What were two foreign responses to Japan during the Second Sino-Japanese War?

Increased support to China and economic sanctions on supplies crucial to Japan’s war effort, like oil and steel.

How was Japan feeling after the West’s response to the Second Sino-Japanese War?

Pressured to respond.

What were the benefits to Japan joining the Tripartite Pact?

Increased legitimacy, solid standing amongst the Axis Powers, and the deterrence of US military action.

Were the Axis Powers truly united under the Tripartite Pact?

No. Germany and Italy focused on North Africa and Europe, while Japan focused on Asia and the Pacific.

What was the primary advantage of the Tripartite Pact?

The demonstrated unified front of powerful, authoritarian states.

Was part of the reason for Japan’s expansionism the need for natural resources?

Yes

What natural resources did Japan need most from Southeast Asia?

Tin, rubber, and oil.

Aside from Pearl Harbor, where else did Japanese forces simultaneously strike?

Dutch and British territories.

What was the goal of the attack on Pearl Harbor?

To cripple Western military power in the region and secure Japanese dominance in the Pacific.

What was the name of the overall group that resisted Japanese aggression during the Second Sino-Japanese War?

The Second United Front.

What groups comprised the Second United Front?

The Kuomintang and Chinese Communist Party.

When was the Second United Front formed?

1937

What was the relationship like within the Second United Front?

Tensions between the two groups were high, and true collaboration was limited.

How long did the Second United Front last?

Until the early 1940s.

Why did the Second United Front begin to unravel?

Because of internal conflicts and a separation of priorities between both groups.