1. Focus 3/4
Under the slogan “Asia for Asians” Japan created the Great East Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere. Its self – proclaimed goal was to help Asian people escape Western imperialism. Japan’s real goal was to create a Japanese Empire.
Point for Discussion: Explain how the Meiji Restoration would eventually lead to Japanese aggression in the Pacific.
Term to Know: Aggression
Critical Lens: “Japan needs to free Asia from the West and restore ‘Asia for Asians’.”

2. From Rural to Urban
What does Japan need to do in order to become urbanized?

3. Meiji Period
Explain how the above illustration represents the Meiji Period in Japan.

4. Japanese Expansion

5. War in the Pacific
Dec. 7, 1941 – Japan attacks United States at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii

6. War in the Pacific Japan scores early victories in Pacific
Pearl Harbor
Singapore
Hong Kong
Burma
Philippines

7. World War II: War in the Pacific

8. War in the Pacific
By 1942, Japanese Empire stretched from Southeast Asia to western Pacific Ocean

9. War in the Pacific
Battle of Coral Sea May 1942 – U.S. loses outweigh Japanese, but U.S. manages to stop Japanese advance.

10. War in the Pacific Battle of Midway – June 1942
- Japan attempts to lure U.S. navy into a naval battle in which U.S. Navy would be outnumbered

11. War in the Pacific
Battle of Midway – American Admiral Chester Nimitz wins first decisive victory against Japanese

12. Closure Explain Japan’s Meiji Restoration.
Illustrate key reasons Japan started wars of aggression in the 1930s.
Identify rationale used by Japan to justify their imperialism in Asia
Explain why Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941.