1. Showdown in the Pacific: Japan and the USA
EQ: How did Japanese aggression in Asia and the Pacific lead to conflict with the United States of America?

2. Emperor Meiji: He became the new emperor in September of 1868
He modernized the Japanese economy and the Japanese military
This was considered by some in Asia and the USA as a threat to the trade status-quo
The USA began to have a trade rivalry with Japan

3. The Spanish-American War: 1898
While the United States and Japan had relations before the Spanish-American war, the United States gained an empire after the war
This included Guam, The Philippines, and several islands in the Eastern Pacific
The United States would use these territories to enhance their trade in Asia and Pacific thus intensifying the rivalry with Japan

4. Russo-Japanese War: 1905
Japan’s defeat of Russia in strengthened their trade position
They also gained territory and resources within China and Korea
This further strained trade in the area and trade between the USA and Japan

5. Annexation of Korea: 1910
This gave more resources to Japan and strengthened their position in Asia
The United States deeply protested this move and the brutality the Japanese used toward the Korean population

6. Invasion of Manchuria: 1931
Japan invaded Manchuria in 1931 to gain access to vital supplies such as iron and oil
Up to this point, most of these resources came from trade with the USA
Britain and the USA were both concerned for their territories within the area

7. The Second Sino-Japanese War: 1937
When Japan invaded China in 1937, this disrupted American trade with China
This helped to intensify the rivalry between us and Japan
Rape of Nanking: Chinese troops slaughter more than 300,000 civilians and rape an torture women

8. East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere: 1939
Japan instituted this program in order to “unite” all Asian nations against “outside aggression”
In reality, they were trying to create an empire in Asia
Th United States and others refused to accept this idea

9. Oil Embargo: 1940
Due to continued deterioration between Japan and the United States, we instituted an embargo
We refused to sell oil and metals to Japan
The Japanese responded by cutting off all relations with the USA

10. US Fleet Moves to Pearl Harbor: 1940
In response to continued Japanese aggression in the Pacific, the United States Pacific Fleet moves from San Diego to Hawaii
Japan considers this as preparation for American entrance into the war

11. Isoroku Yamamoto: Attack on Pearl Harbor Planned
Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto was the head of the Japanese Navy
In 1940, he went before the Emperor and Minister Tojo, Hideki and encouraged them not to go to war with the USA
He was punished by being made responsible for the attack
He and his staff created real-life replica of Pearl Harbor to practice

12. December 7, 1941: “A date which will live in infamy”
Just before 8 am on Sunday, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor (Also the Philippines)
They killed more than 2400 people and sunk most of our Pacific Fleet
The aircraft carriers were out of the port
The leaders of Japan assumed that we would surrender
“I fear that all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill it with a terrible wrath”-Yamamoto

13. WAR!!! The next day, we declared war against Japan and her allies
The American populace was outraged, because Japan had attacked before an official declaration of war
For the next six months, we would lose several key battles