RUN-UP TO WWII What We’ve Learned Thus Far…

How Could Japan Change So Fast??? From isolationist to imperialist? From looking up to the West to looking down at it? From isolationist to imperialist? From looking up to the West to looking down at it? Japanese Expansion - Internal Factors:

Gov’t setup by a few –Genro picked other genro to cabinet Society in crisis –Rapid social change = uneven change (old/young, city/country) –Western learning valued over Japanese learning –Rise of merchants/zaibatsu –Entry and rejection of socialism Economic crisis –Boomed in the 20s, then crashed in the 30s –Needed new trading partners -> empire –Crowded Gov’t setup by a few –Genro picked other genro to cabinet Society in crisis –Rapid social change = uneven change (old/young, city/country) –Western learning valued over Japanese learning –Rise of merchants/zaibatsu –Entry and rejection of socialism Economic crisis –Boomed in the 20s, then crashed in the 30s –Needed new trading partners -> empire –Crowded

“Yellow Man’s Burden” Rise of nationalism –Indoctrination of samurai heritage/ancestors –Anti-western propaganda –Anti-individualistic –Pro-loyalty –Patriotism Growing realization of what Japan needed to become powerful – natural resources -> empire “Yellow Man’s Burden” Rise of nationalism –Indoctrination of samurai heritage/ancestors –Anti-western propaganda –Anti-individualistic –Pro-loyalty –Patriotism Growing realization of what Japan needed to become powerful – natural resources -> empire

Japanese Expansion - External Factors: Desire to imitate West in imperialism and other things –Asia carved up by West –Frustration at denial of opportunity by West (“bottled up”) Ex Sino-Japanese War: gained Taiwan, influence over Korea, S.Manchuria/Liaotung Peninsula <- forced to give up by G&F, & taken by Russia 2 years later Anger at discriminatory policies of West –Immigration policies to GB & US –Unequal military treaties Desire to imitate West in imperialism and other things –Asia carved up by West –Frustration at denial of opportunity by West (“bottled up”) Ex Sino-Japanese War: gained Taiwan, influence over Korea, S.Manchuria/Liaotung Peninsula <- forced to give up by G&F, & taken by Russia 2 years later Anger at discriminatory policies of West –Immigration policies to GB & US –Unequal military treaties