Spanish American War + Japanese Expansion

Spanish Civil War – A civil war (1936–1939) between Republicans and Nationalists; ended with Franco’s fascist victory.

Causes – Deep political division, economic crisis, and military rebellion against the elected Spanish Republic.

Franco – Nationalist leader who won the Spanish Civil War and ruled Spain as a fascist dictator until 1975.

Republicans – Supported the Spanish Republic; included liberals, socialists, and communists fighting against Franco.

Blitzkrieg – German “lightning war” tactic using fast, overwhelming attacks combining air and ground forces.

Guernica – Spanish town bombed by German planes in 1937; symbolized civilian suffering and Nazi involvement.

International Brigades – Volunteers from around the world who fought for the Republicans against Franco’s forces.

Japanese Expansion – Japan expanded aggressively in Asia to gain resources and power, leading to major conflicts.

Meiji Constitution – 1889 constitution giving the emperor supreme power and supporting military expansion.

Special Mission – Japan’s belief it had a duty to lead Asia and free it from Western control through conquest.

Ultranationalist – Japanese extremists who supported imperial expansion, militarism, and emperor worship.

Shidehara Diplomacy – Japan’s peaceful foreign policy in the 1920s that emphasized diplomacy and cooperation.

Zaibatsu – Powerful industrial families in Japan that influenced the economy and supported military expansion.

First Sino-Japanese War – War between Japan and China (1894–1895) over Korea; Japan won Taiwan and more influence.

Kwantung Army – Japanese army unit in Manchuria that acted independently and led aggressive actions in China.

Manchukuo – Puppet state created by Japan in Manchuria in 1932 after the invasion, with little international support.

Marco Polo Bridge Incident – A clash near Beijing in 1937 that sparked full-scale war between Japan and China.

Second Sino-Japanese War – A brutal conflict (1937–1945) between Japan and China, starting with the Marco Polo Bridge.

Nanjing Massacre – Japanese troops killed and raped thousands of Chinese civilians in Nanjing in 1937.

Tripartite Pact – Alliance between Germany, Italy, and Japan in 1940, creating the Axis Powers.

Oil Embargo – The U.S. cut off oil exports to Japan in 1941 to protest its aggression in Asia, worsening tensions.

Pearl Harbor – Japan attacked the U.S. naval base in Hawaii on December 7, 1941, bringing the U.S. into WWII.

Hirohito – Emperor of Japan during WWII; seen as a divine figure and symbol of Japan’s militaristic expansion.