IB History, Japanese Expansion

Treaty of Kanagawa, 1854

Signed by US representatives and Japan's government, opening up ports in Japan. This made Japan less isolated.

Treaty of Kanghwa, 1876

Japan forced Korea to sign this treaty to give Japan preferential treatment over Korea. This angered China, as it saw Korea as part of its protectorate.

First Sino-Japanese War, 1894-1895

Began through a Korean rebellion against Japan. Japan won.

Treaty of Shimonoseki

Ended the Sino-Japanese war. Japan gained control over Korea, Manchuria, and Taiwan. Reverted by the Triple Intervention

Triple Intervention, 1895:

In response to the Treaty of Shimonoseki that ended the First Sino-Japanese war, stating that China had to give up land and pay Japan. Russia, France and Germany intervened and forced Japan to give the Liaodong Peninsula to Russia.

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.

China's Boxer Rebellion, 1899-1901

Was caused by China's being pushed around by Western nations, and suppressed by Japan. Led by college students in Beijing which spread to others.

Russo-Japanese war, 1904-1905

War for Manchuria. Japan launched surprise attack in 1904 and won, but lost many lives and negatively affected the economy.

China's May 4th movement, 1919

Created by China's anger towards the fact that Japan got concessions from former German lands (Treaty of Versailles) that were meant to be China's

The Equality Clause, 1919

A rejected clause due to the fear of increasing Japanese immigration. The Japanese saw this as discrimination.

Washington Treaties, 1921-1922:

Treaties that basically included the US, Britain, Japan and France. Included three treaties.

Four Power Treaty

US, Japan, Britain and France, to communicate if there was a Crisis in the Pacific.

Nine Power Treaty

Recognized China's independence and integrity. Japan agreed to return German concessions in Shandong from WWI.

Five Power Naval Treaty

Restricted the number of battleships and aircraft carriers the nation's could have. 5:5:3. Britain:US:Japan.

Great Kanto Earthquake, 1923

Brought down buildings and started fires that spread, burning down 45% of Tokyo, Japan. A blockade killed thousands of koreans.

Peace Preservation Law, 1925

Punished anyone that was against the political structure. This was aimed towards the Communist party.

Great Depression, Late 1920's

Declined top industry sales like silk, cotton and mining. Discriminating tariffs were placed on Japan. Over 50% of Japan's industries were out of business, and 50% of factories closed.

Jiang's 5 Extermination Campaigns, 1930-1934

Campaigns to exterminate communists because Jiang saw them as a larger threat than the Japanese. This distraction allowed the Japanese to expand into Chinese territory.

Mukden Incident/Manchurian Crisis, 1931

Japanese army planted a bomb on the track of a Japanese Manchurian railway. The army blamed "chinese terrorists" and attacked and seized Mukden. This was not approved by the government.

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.

Treaty of Tanggu, 1933

Japan formally got Manchuria

Asian Monroe Doctrine:

If Asia was to be controlled by Japan, it would have to protect itself from the Western Powers and the USSR.

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.

Shanghai Incident, 1937

In response to Marco Polo Bridge, Japan sent troops to take over Shanghai, China's most important port. The Chinese government had to get involved, leading to the Second Sino-Japanese war.

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. This stopped public support for the military.