1. By: Benny, Brett, and Mayukh
Japanese Imperialism
By: Benny, Brett, and Mayukh

2. Main Idea
A modernized Japan emerged from WWI as one of the world’s leading powers. Dreams of a united empire however, led the country to brutal and violent battles in China and costed the lives of hundreds of thousands of citizens and soldiers.
Benny Liang

3. Reading Focus Questions
1). How did Japan change in the 1920s?
Rapid industrialization: as industries slowed down people lost their jobs and strikes and labor disputes followed
No raw materials to supply industries with
Rapid shift in society when feudal agriculture changed to a more Urban industrial country
Military leaders thought straying from Japanese traditions would corrupt the country
Brett Marx

4. Reading Focus Questions continued
2). Why did Japanese influence grow?
Military leaders envisioned a united Japan
Foreign relations limited Japan’s Navy and U.S. passed a law concerning Japanese immigration
3). What were the reasons for Japanese aggression in 1930s?
Building up fighting spirit in soldiers, military leaders plotting to take control of government
Conquering Manchuria, new alliances, and war in china
Brett Marx

5. Japan in the 1920s
In the 1920’s Japan was one of the world’s foremost powers.
In the beginning of their imperialism, things didn't go well for them but after complications, they were finally expanding and imperialising.
It was remarkable that they could become a world superpower in just half a century.
Benny Liang

6. Economic Challenges
Japan undergoes Industrialization and they focus most of their financial efforts towards it
Peasants and workers were getting laid off more frequently and that lead to strikes and disputes
The small island was not enough to support industrialism and they decided to expand for more natural resources.
Benny Liang

7. Social Changes
During industrialism, many japanese citizens experienced western traditions and ways of life
Democracy flourished and different political parties arose.
Some young people adapted to the new changes and started to question the old traditional values.
Conservative japanese citizens resented the new traditions and believed that the japanese should not stray from the old beliefs.
Benny Liang

8. Growing Military Influence-Vision and Foreign relations
After the economy epidemic, people began to turn to the military for answers and leadership instead of the government.
Military leaders wanted Japan to expand and to rule more of the world which lead to the seek of power over the government.
The law that prevented Japan from creating a bigger navy angered the military officials. Also, the rejection of japanese immigrants in the U.S led to higher tension between the west and Japan.
Benny Liang

9. Japanese Aggression- Building a fighting spirit
At the end of the 1920’s, Japan’s military gained more and more support and the gap widened between the civilian government.
Japan realised that they couldn’t compete with the other powers using technology
Japanese soldiers was Japan’s main weapon. They fought with a huge sense of pride and nationalism. Japanese soldiers were not taught to accept defeat, surrender, and retreat.
Japanese Children were also taught at a young age that soldiers were respected and were looked up at.
Benny Liang

10. Taking over the government
The military plotted to take control of the civilian government.
Teaming up with nationalist organizations, the military secretly carried out a series of assassinations of civilian government officials.
Even though some of these crimes were punished, the Japanese Civilian Government gave in to the demands of the Japanese military for power. Soon, the Japanese government was dominated by the military.
Mayukh Mondal

11. Conquering Manchuria
In 1931, the military decided that in order to meet the needs for more land and resources, they would invade and take over Manchuria. This was known as the Manchurian Incident.
After the Manchurian Incident, the Japanese Military quickly moved to invade and control Manchuria.
Even though the civilian government was against it, the public supported the invasion. The government had little choice but to accept it.
The world condemned it as did the League of Nations, But no one did anything to stop it.
After conquering Manchuria, the Japanese Military renamed it as Manchukuo, an overseas Japanese State.
Mayukh Mondal

12. Manchuria video
Benny Liang

13. Nanjing Massacre
Chinese and Japanese Soldiers fought each other in the city of Nanjing.
After capturing the city, Japanese soldiers then entered Nanjing and slaughter thousands of Chinese soldiers and civilians.
This is known as the Nanjing Massacre.
Both the Chinese and Japanese had different views on this incident, making it very controversial. Estimates say around 100,000 people died, yet this memorial in China says otherwise:
Mayukh Mondal

14. Anti-Comintern Pact
Japan and Germany agreed to work together to oppose the spread of Communism in Russia and China
Each country would come to their aid if one got attacked
If Japan was attacked Germany would come to Japan’s aid and vise versa
Brett Marx

15. Forming new alliances
The League of Nations condemned Japan’s aggressive behavior
In response to the League of Nation’s condemnation of their actions, Japan simply withdrew from the organization
Japan said they would no longer agree to limits on their Navy
Brett Marx

16. War in China
Japan was worried that China and the nation Guomindang would join forces to oppose Japan
As battles took place Japanese troops brutally murdered Chinese soldiers and civilians calling this event the Nanjing Massacre
Brett Marx

17. A move towards a Wider War
Japan still needed resources after the war with China, and they looked to South Asia for such resources
Rich with rubber, oil, and other key resources that Japan needed
Japan’s foreign ministers established a Great East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere whose combined resources would allow independence from Western Control
Brett Marx

18. Conclusion
Despite growing into one of the world’s leading powers in the early 1920s, Japan’s civilian government had accepted and signed multiple treaties that had limited Japan’s power and influence.
Discontent at these decisions and economic crises gave rise to a military dictatorship in Japan.
The military, ignoring the treaties it had signed, invaded China in order to expand. They then created plans to create a Japanese Empire, which no one welcomed.
Japan entered alliances with Germany and Italy which would become known as the Axis Powers in WWII.