Japan’s Modern History

Shoguns and Samurai Warriors For years, Japan was ruled by Shoguns Shoguns were very powerful military generals Samurai Warriors were Japan's warriors from its military.

Meiji Restoration In 1868 the Tokugawa Shogun (Great General) lost his power and the Emperor was restored to the supreme position as the head of Japan. As the Emperor regains power the military was weak forcing Japan to sign treaties and limit control over its own foreign trade.

Meiji Restoration When the Meiji restoration period ended in 1912 Japan had a Constitution with a Parliament, a highly educated population, and had established a rapidly growing industrial sector based on the latest technology It also had a powerful army and navy to protects its interests.

Japan flexes its military muscle Japan began to want to build its empire. This began in the early 1900’s. In 1905 the Russo –Japanese war ended with a sound beating of Russia by Japan and Japan capturing the Port Arthur Naval Base on the coast of China. This gives Japan the confidence to seek other areas like the Koreas and Manchuria. Japan sees the Koreas and Manchuria as areas for industrial and agricultural expansion. Japan Annexes the Koreas (this mean it took control of it) and then sets its sites on trying to occupy China in the area of Manchuria (Northeast part of China/Russia)

Japan Annexes Korea

Spheres of Influence Beginning in the late 19 th century there was a general race for colonies among the major imperial powers as each nation tried to carve out a sphere of influence.

Japan Is a Player in China

► The emperor throughout most of the Twentieth Century was __________________ Emperor Hirohito

Review: 1) Manchuria Incident (1931): Ultranationalist take over democracy, military fakes attack on Japanese railroad in Chinese Manchuria, Jap invades. 2) Japan Invades Rest of China (1937): KMT forced to join with CCP to fight Japan.

Competition from Another “Pacific” Power Is on the Horizon

Tensions Rise Japan withdrawals from the League of Nations in 1933 because they were heavily criticized for their actions in China (Manchuria). By the end of the 2 nd Sino- Japanese war of 1937 (wars between China and Japan), Japan controlled most of the Chinese eastern coast. By 1940 Japan controlled the Koreas, China Coast, and French Indochina (Vietnam). This caused tensions with the US and Great Britain, which reacted with an Oil EMBARGO, This Oil shortage in Japan made them decide to capture the Oil Rich Dutch East Indies (Indonesia), and stat a war with the US and Great Britain.

Japan’s Vision of the World United States Japan Germany & Italy

Great White Fleet The "Great White Fleet" sent around the world by President Theodore Roosevelt from 16 December 1907 to 22 February 1909 consisted of sixteen new battleships of the Atlantic Fleet. The battleships were painted white except for gilded scrollwork on their bows. The Atlantic Fleet battleships only later came to be known as the "Great White Fleet."

The U. S. “Great White Fleet”

► Emperor Hirohito was the man that ordered the attack on __________ which forced the US to join WWII. Pearl Harbor

Because they saw the US as a threat, Japan attacks Pearl Harbor on December 7 th, 1941 Pearl Harbor is a US naval base in Hawaii (at the time a U.S. territory, not a state). The assault, which lasted less than two hours, claimed the lives of more than 2,500 people, wounded 1,000 more and damaged or destroyed 18 American ships and nearly 300 airplanes. This act causes the US to enter WWII.

14) 8/1942-4/1945: Island Hopping: US moves from island to island, establishes airbases as they go.

Japanese Kamikaze Planes: The Scourge of the South Pacific Kamikaze Pilots Suicide Bombers

18) All of 1945: Japanese Firebombing: US bombs Jap. cities, 80,000 to 100,000 each run.

“I hear that the enemy is boasting of his demand for unconditional surrender of Japan. Unconditional surrender means that our national structure and our people will be destroyed. Against such boastful talk there is only one measure we must take, to fight to the last.” –Pr. Suzuki, 6/09/1945

Despite great loses in men and equipment, Japan continued to fight savagely. US fighter pilots also fought on the side of the Chinese of which they called themselves the “Fighting Tigers.” The US flew supplies over the Himalayas to help the Nationalist Chinese fight against Japan One by one, the US began recapturing islands from the Japanese The US became convinced that only a direct invasion of Japan would lead to an end to the war. The US estimated that it would lose 1 million men in the invasion

7/1945: Atomic Bomb: New US Pres. Truman notified $2 bil (08: $25 bil) bomb project successful

Col. Paul Tibbets & The A-Bomb

Title: “WWII: Asia” 8/06/1945: Hiroshima:

Hiroshima – August 6, ,000 killed immediately. 48,000 buildings. destroyed. 100,000s died of radiation poisoning & cancer later.

“ We are in possession of the most destructive explosive ever devised by man. A single one of our newly developed atomic bombs is actually the equivalent in explosive power to what 2000 of our giant B-29s can carry on a single mission. This awful fact is one for you to ponder and we solemnly assure you it is grimly accurate. We have just begun to use this weapon against your homeland. If you still have any doubt, make inquiry as to what happened to Hiroshima… we ask that you now petition the Emperor to end the war. Our president has outlined for you the thirteen consequences of an honorable surrender.”

Nagasaki – August 9, ,000 killed immediately. 60,000 injured.. 100,000s died of radiation poisoning & cancer later.

Japanese A-Bomb Survivors

Notes #14b, Title: “WWII: Asia” 7) 8/15/1945: Japan Surrenders: Emperor Hirohito orders surrender. US General MacArthur controls Jap.

After the Destruction Japan surrenders one week after the Hiroshima bombing MacArthur is named Supreme Allied Commander of the Pacific and begins the occupation of Japan