Rise of Authoritarian Regimes Fascist Japan

日本国 Nihon-koku

The Emperor

Japan Small Country Not enough farmland especially (for rice production)‏ No Raw materials such as iron and coal Rapidly industrialising nation Looked to the West for trade and ideas Went to war with Chin in 1894 and Russia in 1904

WWI Japan went to war in August 1914 Took the side of the Allies Took part in the Treaty of Versailles Benefited from treaty by keeping captured German possessions Was not treated as an equal by Western powers

Washington Naval Conference

Japanese Economy Zaibatsu Big firms favoured by the government Controlled the economy Conducted trade with the west Japan exported cheap goods to the West Had to import raw materials from the West Major cause of corruption in the government

Zaibatsu The Big Four Mitsubishi ( 三菱財閥 )Mitsubishi Mitsui ( 三井財閥 )Mitsui Sumitomo ( 住友財閥 )Sumitomo Yasuda ( 安田財閥 )Yasuda

Great Depression  Protectionism  Silk  2/3 of population from rural areas  Many farmers joined the army or patriotic societies

International Relations Suspicion of the West Disarmament USA China

Rise of Nationalism Showa restoration Patriotic societies Popularity of the Military (Army / Navy)‏ Political assasinations

Activity The date is 3 rd July Write a diary entry from the perspective of either a Japanese: Farmer Factory worker Soldier

Fascism First used by Italian dictator Benito Mussolini Fascism revolved around the nation Fascist argued that Democracy was inefficient What was needed was a powerful leader The nation’s goal was to grow strong and expand

Why did Democracy fail? Diet’s limited power Corruption (remember the Zaibatsus..?) Failure to solve economic problems (farmers, factory workers, trade imbalance, Great Depression)

What led to the Rise of Fascism? External Reasons - Animosity with the West (especially America) - Resurgence in Chinese nationalism Internal Reasons - Showa Restoration (values, patriotism, education, loyalty, self-sacrifice) - Patriotic Societies - Army and Navy’s influence over the government - Military takeover of Japan

WAR IN THE ASIA PACIFIC In the 1930s Japan started building an empire. It needed land to feed its people and fuel its industries. In 1931, Japan took over Manchuria in Northern China. It tried to take over the rest of China in Fighting extended for the next few years. To continue fighthing, Japan would need more resources…resources that could be found in Southeast Asia. However, to take over Asia, Japan would have to challenge the USA which had a fleet in the Pacific…

Why was peace in the Asia Pacific threatened? Japan’s Foreign Policy - To build an empire - To free Asia from the West - Land - Resources Japan’s Military Agression - Manchuria - The Mukden Incident - The Marco Polo Bridge incident Weakness of the League of Nations

Why Did War Break Out In the Asia Pacific? War in China dragged on for years Japan’s neutrality with the USSR War in Europe Worsening relations with the USA

Pearl Habour