3: Rise of Militarist Japan – Lecture Review Flashcards

These question-and-answer flashcards cover the political, economic, social, and military developments that contributed to the rise of authoritarian militarism in Japan from the Tokugawa era through the 1930s.

What were two defining characteristics of the Tokugawa Shogunate (1603-1868)?

A rigid feudal system dominated by the shogun and a policy of national isolation (sakoku) that restricted most foreign contact.

Which 1868 event ended the Tokugawa Shogunate and ushered in rapid modernisation?

The Meiji Restoration.

Name one major political reform introduced during the Meiji Restoration.

Restoration of imperial rule and the creation of a modern constitutional framework (e.g., the 1889 Meiji Constitution).

How did the Meiji Restoration transform Japan’s economy?

It promoted state-guided industrialisation, railway expansion, and the growth of modern factories and banks.

What social consequence of Meiji industrialisation later fuelled unrest in the 1920s-30s?

Widening economic disparities between wealthy Zaibatsu families and ordinary workers/farmers.

How did victories over China (1894-95) and Russia (1904-05) shape Japanese attitudes?

They boosted national pride and convinced leaders Japan could compete with Western powers, encouraging expansionist ambitions.

Which global event beginning in 1929 triggered a severe decline in Japanese exports?

The Great Depression, following the Wall Street Crash.

How did the Great Depression specifically affect Japanese farmers?

Agricultural prices collapsed, cutting farm incomes by roughly 40 %, leading to evictions and hardship.

What impact did the Depression have on small Japanese businesses and workers?

Falling demand caused many small shops to close and unemployment to rise sharply.

Why did public trust in the civilian government plummet during the early 1930s?

People blamed politicians for economic misery, saw them as corrupt, and resented their ties to big business (Zaibatsu).

Define Zaibatsu.

Large, family-controlled industrial and financial conglomerates that dominated Japan’s pre-war economy and politics.

Give one way Zaibatsu influenced Japanese politics.

They financed political parties and lobbied for policies that protected their business interests.

How did Zaibatsu involvement affect ordinary Japanese citizens?

Concentration of wealth in Zaibatsu hands exacerbated inequality, fuelling resentment among workers and peasants.

Why were many military officers hostile toward the Zaibatsu in the 1920s?

They saw Zaibatsu as corrupt elites enriching themselves while the military faced budget cuts and rural Japan suffered.

What is meant by “causation” in historical analysis?

Understanding how multiple long-term and short-term factors interact to produce a specific outcome.

Why must historians consider more than one cause when explaining events?

Events are multi-faceted; focusing on a single cause oversimplifies complex historical processes.

List two reasons for growing military discontent with the civilian government after 1920.

Perceived corruption/favouritism toward Zaibatsu and reductions in the military budget.

What agreement reached at the London Naval Conference (1930) angered Japanese officers?

The London Naval Treaty, which limited Japan’s capital-ship tonnage relative to Western powers.

How did the London Naval Conference weaken civilian control?

Acceptance of naval limits sparked nationalist outrage, leading to an assassination attempt on PM Hamaguchi and undermining civilian authority.

Why was Manchuria attractive to the Japanese military?

Its resources (coal, iron, farmland) and strategic location offered economic security and a buffer against the USSR and China.

What was the Mukden Incident of September 1931?

Kwantung Army officers blew up South Manchurian Railway tracks, blamed China, and used it as a pretext to occupy Manchuria.

What puppet state did Japan establish in Manchuria in 1932?

Manchukuo.

Who were Japan’s ultranationalist groups, and what tactics did they use?

Secret societies of radicals advocating expansion and emperor worship; they used propaganda, intimidation, and political assassinations.

What was the outcome of the 26 February 1936 coup attempt?

Although the revolt failed, the conservative ‘Control Faction’ gained dominance, further increasing military influence in cabinet.

By October 1941, which general had become Prime Minister, signifying near-total military rule?

General Tojo Hideki.

How did military rule shift Japan’s industrial priorities?

Emphasis moved from consumer goods to heavy industries (steel, machinery) essential for war production and self-sufficiency.

What did the Principal Industries Control Law of 1931 permit?

Formation of state-approved cartels, enabling the military and allied Zaibatsu to coordinate production and pricing.

How did the military government deal with labour unions?

It repressed independent unions, imposed pro-military workplace organisations, and curtailed wage disputes.

What was the ‘Campaign for Economic Revitalisation’?

A mix of propaganda and rural aid programs aimed at boosting farm output and winning peasant support for the military.

Why did the 1936 Information and Propaganda Committee institute strict censorship?

To suppress criticism of the army or emperor and control public opinion in favour of militarism.

How was education used to support militarist goals?

Curricula glorified the emperor, stressed loyalty and sacrifice, discouraged individualism, and prepared youth for military service.

Define militarism.

The belief that a nation should maintain a strong military and use it aggressively to advance national interests.

What is ultranationalism, in the Japanese context of the 1930s?

Extreme nationalism asserting Japan’s superiority and calling for expansion to secure its destiny in Asia.

State one long-term economic change from the Meiji era that contributed to 1930s problems.

Rapid industrialisation created urban-rural wealth gaps and empowered Zaibatsu, sowing seeds of later social unrest.

Summarise the main political impact of military rule on Japan by 1934.

Civilian politicians were sidelined or assassinated, cabinet posts filled by officers, and military leaders dictated national policy.