Crisis and Conflict Chapter 5: Authoritarian Regimes — Case Study: Fascist Japan An Enquiry Approach to Modern World History Secondary 3

2 Crisis and Conflict: Fascist Japan Copyright 2006 What led to the failure of the democratic government in Japan? What led to the rise of Fascism in Japan? Factors that contributed to the failure of democracy in Japan Factors that assisted the rise of Fascist factions to gain control of Japan Was the rise of Fascism in Japan inevitable?

3 Crisis and Conflict: Fascist Japan Copyright 2006  The 1920s saw the spread of Fascist ideas around the world.  Fascism grew to be a popular alternative to democracy.  People began to lose confidence in democratic leaders when they saw that they were not able to handle the economic problems that came after the 1930 Great Depression.  In Japan, Fascist ideas were strongly influenced by its powerful military.  Another idea advocated by the Japanese Army officers was Japanese superiority over other Asians. In a Nutshell

4 Crisis and Conflict: Fascist Japan Copyright 2006  The term Fascism, was first used by Mussolini who founded the Fascist movement in Italy,  Fascists believed that all individuals and groups in a nation should put aside their interests and look after the needs of the nation first.  Power and violence were advocated by the Fascists. These seemed very attractive to young people and World War I veterans.  Fascists also believed that a nation’s goal was to grow strong and expand. People began to feel that Fascism gave them a sense of belonging to a great nation.  Events such as World War I and global unemployment increased the popularity of Fascism. The beginnings of Fascism

5 Crisis and Conflict: Fascist Japan Copyright 2006 What led to the failure of the democratic government in Japan? The Diet’s limited power The Diet’s limited power Corruption damaged democracy’s reputation Corruption damaged democracy’s reputation Democratic leaders failed to solve economic problems Democratic leaders failed to solve economic problems

6 Crisis and Conflict: Fascist Japan Copyright 2006 The Diet’s limited power  The Diet/Parliament was set up in late 19th century.  Real power however remained in the hands of the Emperor and genro.  The Diet did not have the power to make decisions or policies. The members of the Diet did not even have control over the nation’s budget.  Furthermore the Diet could not control the ministers as they were directly under the control of the Emperor.  Limited power of the Diet made it possible for the military faction to grow unchecked. Ba ck Ba ck

7 Crisis and Conflict: Fascist Japan Copyright 2006  Corruption among the politicians was common during the 1920s.  In order to fund their election campaigns, many democratic leaders turned to zaibatsus, or powerful and wealthy Japanese companies, for sponsorship.  These zaibatsus were able to influence the policies of the government.  Such close ties led to many rumours of corruption within the government.  The Diet was hence unable to gain support of ordinary Japanese due to its negative image. Ba ck Ba ck Corruption damaged democracy’s reputation

8 Crisis and Conflict: Fascist Japan Copyright 2006 Democratic leaders failed to solve economic problems The farmers’ difficult living conditions Trade imbalance Great Depression The workers’ difficult working conditions

9 Crisis and Conflict: Fascist Japan Copyright 2006  Less than half of the farmers had less than one and one quarter acres of land.  Most of the land belonged to landlords who rented out the land at exorbitant prices.  Between 1920 and 1929, rice prices fell sharply, further reducing farmers’ earnings.  Disputes between tenant farmers and landlords were common throughout the 1930s. The farmers’ difficult living conditions Ba ck Ba ck

10 Crisis and Conflict: Fascist Japan Copyright 2006  The workers in Japan were unhappy with the democratic government for lack of improvement in their working and living conditions.  Workers lived in crowded, miserable conditions.  Many joined trade unions, some of which were supported by Communists.  Frequent strikes were common.  Such activities affected the government’s stability. The workers’ difficult working conditions Ba ck Ba ck

11 Crisis and Conflict: Fascist Japan Copyright 2006  While Japan’s economy was growing, there was a trade imbalance.  Japan’s exports were electronic products, china, porcelain and textiles.  However Japan needed many raw materials for their major industries.  Most of the raw materials had to be imported.  The trade imbalance grew further when Japan had to import more food to feed its growing population. Trade imbalance Ba ck Ba ck

12 Crisis and Conflict: Fascist Japan Copyright 2006  The Wall Street Crash in the USA triggered a world wide economic depression.  It also led to a fall in Japan’s exports due to protectionism (especially in the USA).  Due to protectionism, countries such as the USA imposed high taxes on Japanese goods like silk.  This led to a fall in demand for silk. Silk farmers in Japan suffered the most.  As economic problems mounted, many farmers joined the Army or patriotic societies. Great Depression 1929

13 Crisis and Conflict: Fascist Japan Copyright 2006 Crash Loss of paper profits Less demand Less building of factories and homes Less bank credit Less money in circulation Less employment Less production Lower prices Less employment Depression Ba ck Ba ck Great Depression 1929

14 Crisis and Conflict: Fascist Japan Copyright 2006 What led to the rise of Fascism in Japan? External reasons External reasons Internal reasons Internal reasons

15 Crisis and Conflict: Fascist Japan Copyright 2006  Since 1853, American businessmen had taken interest in doing business in the Asia-Pacific region.  The USA took control of many tiny islands and used them as bases for American trading ships.  By 1930s, American control spread to the Philippines.  Japanese militarists believed that the economic and military interests of Japan and the USA would run into conflict over who would control this region. American expansion in Asia-Pacific region threatened Japanese plans to control the region

16 Crisis and Conflict: Fascist Japan Copyright 2006  Japan had fought alongside the Allies during World War I.  During the Paris Peace Conference, Japanese representatives made a request that the League of Nations formally recognise that all races were equal.  This was however rejected making Japan feel discriminated. Paris Peace Conference, 1919

17 Crisis and Conflict: Fascist Japan Copyright 2006  This was held between 1921 and  The Conference aimed to reduce naval forces of major naval powers.  The ratio of warships that were allowed for Japan was lower than that of the USA and Britain.  Many Japanese felt that this was an unfair treaty aiming at restricting Japanese power. Washington Naval Conference,

18 Crisis and Conflict: Fascist Japan Copyright 2006  This was held in  Many Japanese were unhappy that PM Hamaguchi Osachi agreed to further limit the number of Japan’s battleships as he wanted to improve ties with China.  In addition to that, he tried to solve the problems of the Great Depression by reducing spending on the Army.  He was accused of being too soft and trying to betray Japan. London Disarmament Conference, 1930

19 Crisis and Conflict: Fascist Japan Copyright 2006  In 1924, the USA tried to prevent Asian immigration as part of its isolationist and protectionist policies.  Asian immigrants could not become citizens even if they had stayed in the USA for a long time.  In California, the California Alien Law ordered that all Asian children attend schools separate from the Americans.  Such laws angered the Japanese who formed the main bulk of the immigrants.  They saw such laws as regarding them as being inferior.  This combined with other factors such as the Great Depression, made many Japanese turn away from democracy. Immigration laws in the USA in the mid-1920s

20 Crisis and Conflict: Fascist Japan Copyright 2006  Since 1894, China had been weakened by many internal struggles.  This however changed in 1927 when the KMT and CCP formed an alliance to eliminate all internal enemies like the Chinese warlords.  General Chiang gained control of China and demanded an end to all concessions that foreign powers had enjoyed in China.  Frequent strikes and boycotts of Japanese goods hurt Japan’s economy.  The Kwantung Army stationed in Manchuria proposed that Japan occupy Manchuria and North China before anti-Japanese feelings became too strong.  This was supported by many Japanese. Resurgence of Chinese nationalism Ba ck Ba ck

21 Crisis and Conflict: Fascist Japan Copyright 2006  From the 1930s, the education system of Japan emphasised nationalism, loyalty to the Emperor, self- sacrifice and obedience.  Japan’s response to the Great Depression and foreign opposition to Japan’s growing empire was the inauguration of the Showa Restoration.  This movement characterised all things Western in a negative light and stressed the glorification of the Emperor.  This movement produced youths who were blindly loyal to the nation.  This further developed Japan’s militarism. The Showa Restoration

22 Crisis and Conflict: Fascist Japan Copyright 2006  Patriotic societies had been growing since the 1920s in Japan.  Many of them had close connections with the Army.  They were extremely nationalistic and wanted Japan to adopt an aggressive foreign policy.  Some societies such as the Black Dragon Society wanted to eliminate democratic leaders so that Japan would adopt a more aggressive foreign policy. Patriotic societies

23 Crisis and Conflict: Fascist Japan Copyright 2006  The Army and Navy had great influence over the government.  Since the late 19th century, they had been pressing the government to acquire more colonies like what the Western nations were doing.  Military successes in Manchuria and parts of China made them even more ambitious to pursue an expansionist policy.  Leaders who did not support the military ambitions were often the subjects of assassination attempts. Army’s and Navy’s great influence over the government

24 Crisis and Conflict: Fascist Japan Copyright 2006  1894–1895 : Sino-Japanese War. Japan gained Taiwan and parts of the Liaodung Peninsula.  1904–1905 : Russo-Japanese War. Japan was the first Asian power to defeat an European power.  1905 : Japan gain rights to build a railway in Manchuria. It also gained the southern Sakhalin Island.  1910 : Japan gained full control of Korea.  1914 : Japan joined the Allies in World War I and occupied German territories in Shantung and parts of the Pacific Islands.  1915 : Japan issued 21 Demands on China. Ba ck Ba ck Army’s and Navy’s great influence over the government

25 Crisis and Conflict: Fascist Japan Copyright 2006 The considerable successes of the military made many people in Japan think that supporting the military would solve many of Japan’s economic problems.

26 Crisis and Conflict: Fascist Japan Copyright 2006  In 1930, the Army brought down Hamaguchi’s government. He was shot and wounded. He died a year later of the wounds.  Hamaguchi’s assasins were left off with a light jail sentence.  In May 1932, the Army assassinated PM Inukai for criticising the Kwantung Army’s actions in Manchuria.  Succeeding PMs either felt pressured to support the Kwantung Army or were already strong supporters themselves especially after the Mukden Incident in Military takeover of Japan

27 Crisis and Conflict: Fascist Japan Copyright 2006 Impact of growth of Fascism in Japan on the World For Germany and Italy Japan started to forge closer ties with these Fascist States. For Japan For the next 13 years, Japan became more aggressive in its foreign policy. It disregarded the Washington Naval Conference and expanded its Navy. For the USA, Britain and France These countries were too preoccupied with the Great Depression. Furthermore they had a common enemy in the Communists. They were hence generally more cordial. For China Japan became bolder towards China and took steps to expand Further into China. Most importantly, it was the growth of Fascism in Japan that led Japan into World War II.

28 Crisis and Conflict: Fascist Japan Copyright 2006 What led to the rise of Fascism in Japan? Impact of economic problems Problems at the end of World Problems at the end of World War I War I 1929 Great Depression 1929 Great Depression Fear of Chinese Nationalism Anti-Japanese protests Anti-Japanese protests Unhappiness with former Allied Powers 1919 Versailles Treaty 1919 Versailles Treaty 1921–1922 Washington Naval Conference 1921–1922 Washington Naval Conference Mid-1920s immigration issues Mid-1920s immigration issues Unhappiness with Japanese leaders who wanted friendly ties with former Allied Powers Failure of democratic government Weakness of the Japanese Weakness of the Japanese parliament parliament Corrupt politicians Corrupt politicians Lacked support of workers Lacked support of workers and farmers and farmers Summary