APUSH Notes 3/26

Introduction:

-            As totalitarian regimes took over in Europe and Asia the western democracies and the US were paralyzed

-            Depression and Isolationism ruled public opinion polls with over 90% saying that the US should not get involved in Europe or China. So what changed our minds?

-            As early as 1931 tensions were evolving in the Far East and by 1933 Fascism was a fact of life in Europe.

Preconditions:

-            US Japanese relations had been tenuous for many years.

-            The “gentleman’s agreement” 1903

-            The Russo-Japanese War 1905

-            The Washington Naval Conference 1922

-            The League of Nations and the Kellog-Briand Pact

-            Additionally, Japan’s lack of resources led them to imperial demands in the western Pacific

Political Tensions in Japan

-            There was a growing split between more Democratic forces and the military

-            There was also a split between the Army and Navy staffs

-            Emperor Hirohito

-            Prince Konoe

-            Prince Konoe was assassinated with a samurai sword à This was basically a coup.

Japanese Attack Manchuria (1931)

-            League of Nations condemned the attack, so Japan leaves the League. Soon Italy will do the same following their invasion of Ethiopia.

-            Hoover Administration issues the Stimson Doctrine but no action!

Sino-Japanese War 1937-1945

-            The Japanese invade the rest of China and horrible atrocities follow (The Rape of Nanking)

-            The Japanese were faced with a determined resistance from China, and it turned into house-to-house fighting

-            The Japanese soldiers started committing these atrocities as a result, such as live targets, decapitation, and cruel experiments.

-            When the Japanese bomb the city of Shanghai several times, there were videos of the explosion, where a baby crawls to the decapitated mom, which will later be used as a way to shift American public opinion (negative towards Japanese).

Panay Incident (1937)

-            Japan bombed USS Panay gunboat & three Standard Oil tankers on the Yangtze River, an international waterway.

-            Japan apologized, paid US an indemnity, and promised no further attacks. Most Americans were satisfied with the apology. Do you think that this made Japan bolder?

US Reaction:

-            The US enacts an embargo of Oils, fuels, and metals in 1937

-            Some Americans join a volunteer squadron called the flying tigers!