JAPANESE EXPANSION IN ASIA “…to preserve world peace and benefit the welfare of the human race.” JAPANESE EXPANSION IN ASIA PRELUDE TO WWII HIROHITO 1926 - 1989

GROWTH & EXPANSION Sino-Japanese War 1894-95 Russo-Japanese War 1904-5 Annexes Korea (1910) During WWI Japanese economy grows Exports to Allies soars Becomes industrial power Expands influence throughout East Asia

UNREST GROWS 1929, Great Depression hits Japan as foreigners cannot afford Japanese goods—unemployment skyrockets. Ultranationalists angry at govt. for stopping overseas expansion Resent treatment as second class citizens in U.S., Canada, Australia—racist policies Military govt. imposes censorship, fires liberal profs, creates secret police, press & schools promote absolute obedience, glorify war & empire above all else

Lack of Natural Resources Empire in Asia would provide raw materials and increase markets to solve financial problems Japan has poor resource base Only 16% of land is usable for farming Most significant natural resource is fish, not great for industry!

THE MANCHURIAN INCIDENT Japanese army officers blow up tracks on Japanese RR line in Manchuria China and put blame on Chinese (1931). Japanese officers use excuse to conquer all of Manchuria w/o permission from govt, in order to obtain rich coal and iron deposits in area Puppet state set up—Manchukuo. Japan’s public side w/officers League of Nation condemns, Japan resigns from League League fails to take action as Japan violates 1922 agreement

JAPANESE INVASION OF CHINA Chinese Communists and Nationalists unite to fend off Japanese invasion of Manchuria (1931) 1937 Second Sino-Japanese War Chinese cities air bombed, Japanese troops overrun eastern China Rape of Nanjing (Dec 13, 1937) Hundreds of thousands massacred in two week period Soviets, Brits, French, U.S. send aid

Rape of Nanjing

U. S. RESPONSE TO JAPAN Stimson Doctrine—moral lecture on not invading sovereign nations. No sanctions imposed. Japan continues to attack China, kills tens of thousands of civilians bombing Shanghai U.S. cancels commercial treaty w/Japan FDR’s Quarantine Speech—must isolate fascist aggression. Speech meets w/criticism. Fear of war.

TRADITIONAL VALUES REVIVE Japanese people support ultranationalists Politicians & business leaders who oppose expansion are assassinated Military leaders plot to overthrow govt Military domination prevails, democratic freedoms suppressed Cult built around Emperor Hirohito—son of sun goddess Govt uses schools to teach absolute obedience to emperor and state

MORE EXPANSION IN ASIA Japan expects to conquer China during 1930’s playing on China’s civil wars WWII breaks out in 1939, spreads to Asia Japan allies with Germany and Italy Tripartite Pact signed in Sept 1940, Japan becomes an Axis Power

ROAD TO WAR Japan strongest power in Asia Little hope of outside help for China as Euros experience crisis of WWII Japan takes over French Indochina US builds up forces in Philippines. US stops selling scrap metal and oil to Japan General Togo becomes Prime Minister of Japan Americans know Japan has engaged in surprise attacks on enemy naval bases in past Most likely to strike Philippines

Pearl Harbor, Hawaii December 7, 1941

Japanese Aggression Japan tries to negotiate w/U.S. Decides to attack. Needs oil, rubber, & food to wage war in China. U.S. naval power in Pacific is threat to this goal. December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii attacked. 2,300 Americans killed U.S. declares war on Japan! Germany & Italy declare war on U.S. as part of Axis Alliance.