Japan Builds an Empire 24.1

By the 1850s, Japan had strengthened its military and modernized its economy Developed a constitutional government, although the emperor remained a respected figure and the divine leader of the nation Engaged in wars against China ( ) and Russia ( ) Took control of Korea Japan gained influence over the northern Chinese province of Manchuria By WWI, Japan was the strongest nation in East Asia and one of the most powerful nations in the world BACKGROUND

Growing Military Power During WWI, Japan joined with the Allies and conquered several German possessions in the Pacific Japan’s economy prospered After WWI, Japan enacted political reforms that allowed more people to vote Japan also slowed its territorial expansion It was part of the League of Nations Signed the Kellogg-Briand Pact in 1928

Democracy in Crisis A series of economic recessions ruined Japan’s economy in the 1930s Many nations were placing high tariffs on Japanese products so international trade came to a halt Massive layoffs, strikes, and widespread political discontent resulted Many blamed politicians and the democratic system for their problems

Rise of Nationalism Several radical nationalist groups formed in response to the government's perceived weaknesses They demanded a return to traditional ways and an end to multi-party rule, powerful businesses, and other Western- style institutions Overall, a military takeover of the government was supported and accepted

The Manchurian Incident By 1930, the population neared 65 million, and it was growing by about one million people per year Japan lacked the food and raw materials needed to support this growing population and looked to Manchuria as a solution to these problems In September 1931, a Japanese army claimed that Chinese soldiers had tried to blow up a railway line The Japanese then seized several cities in southern Manchuria By February 1932, the army had seized all of Manchuria World leaders and most Japanese were shocked at what came to be called the Manchurian Incident

In response to the outrage, Japan announced that Manchuria was now the independent state of Manchukuo, under Japanese protection Japan installed a new head of state and had Japanese advisors run the government Manchukuo was a puppet state – a supposedly independent country under the country of a powerful neighbor Japan wanted Manchuria as its colony

REACTION US and Britain knew what was going on, but did not halt Japan’s aggression The League of Nations ordered Japan to end its occupation of Manchuria Japan refuses and withdraws from the League

CHAIN REACTION The Manchurian Incident greatly increased the army’s power over the government, but some radicals in the government wanted complete control In 1932, naval officers helped assassinate the prime minister In 1936, several high government officials are murdered Japanese military is gaining more and more power Civilian politicians begin to fear for their lives and do not criticize the military Although the military never had complete control of the government, the military was very influential in Japan’s foreign policy Japan’s military began to develop Manchuria as a base for even further Japanese expansion in Asia

WAR AGAINST CHINA

In 1937, Japan resumed its invasion of China By the end of the month, Japanese forces occupied the major cities of Beijing and Tianjin and threatened the rest of northern China Japan’s superior weapons overcame China’s huge manpower advantage During the “Rape of Nanking,” Japanese soldiers brutalized or killed at least 100,000 civilians

US RESPONDS FDR spoke out against Japan’s actions Congress passed a series of Neutrality Acts that prevented the US from becoming involved in foreign conflicts The Soviet Union also backed China Britain sent a steady stream of supplies to the Chinese over the Burma Road, a 700 mile-long highway linking Burma to China The war brought two enemies together – Jiang and Mao Zedong – both from China - they put their differences aside to defeat Japan By 1939, the war in China reached a stalemate

LOOKING BEYOND CHINA The war in Europe distracted the Allies from dealing with Japan and Japan took this as an opportunity to expand its influence In 1940, Japan’s prime minister announced a Greater East Asia Co- Prosperity Sphere to be led by the Japanese, extending from Manchuria in the north to the Dutch East Indies in the south, declaring Japan would liberate Asia from European colonizers In reality, Japan needed the region’s natural resources to carry on its war against China Japan’s want for expansion resembled Hitler’s invasion of other countries for lebensraum In 1940, Japan allied itself with Germany and Italy through the Tripartite Pact In 1941, the Japanese signed a neutrality pact with the Soviet Union The stage was now set for Japan to challenge the Europeans and Americans for supremacy in Asia

The Fall of France

Dunkirk The German offensive trapped almost 400,000 British and French soldiers on the French coast of the English Channel The German offensive trapped almost 400,000 British and French soldiers on the French coast of the English Channel More than 800 Allied vessels ferried about 330,000 British and French to safety across the Channel A few days later, Italy invades France from the south A few days later, Italy invades France from the south Significance: the Allied forces were fleeing France…going to Britain for safety Significance: the Allied forces were fleeing France…going to Britain for safety

Germans swept through France Germans swept through France The French government abandoned Paris The French government abandoned Paris Italy then declared war on France and Britain Italy then declared war on France and Britain France surrendered France surrendered Hitler journeyed to France to join the armistice negotiations Hitler journeyed to France to join the armistice negotiations

Germany occupied the northern 3/5ths of France and the entire Atlantic Coast southward to Spain Germany occupied the northern 3/5ths of France and the entire Atlantic Coast southward to Spain The French government supervised Vichy France The French government supervised Vichy France Under General Petain, Vichy France adopted a policy of collaboration, or close cooperation, with Germany Under General Petain, Vichy France adopted a policy of collaboration, or close cooperation, with Germany

Led by Charles de Gaulle, Free France, a government-in-exile- in London, continued to struggle against German invaders Led by Charles de Gaulle, Free France, a government-in-exile- in London, continued to struggle against German invaders The Free French also backed the underground Resistance movement in France The Free French also backed the underground Resistance movement in France The Resistance consisted of groups of French citizens The Resistance consisted of groups of French citizens By 1940, German armies conquered Western Europe By 1940, German armies conquered Western Europe

The Battle of Britain Luftwaffe (German Air Force) vs RAF (Royal Air Force) Blitz – Germany’s constant attack on the United Kingdom from September 1940 – May 1941 (London was bombed for 57 consecutive nights) The British had radar, the ENIGMA (German code-breaking machine), and the morale of the British citizens to their advantage SIGNIFICANCE: Britain was able to block Hitler’s advances and it showed that Hitler could be stopped