1. The Japanese Campaign in the Pacific

4. Background Info of Japan
Meiji Restoration-1868
At the time of the emperors restoration, Japan was
Militarily weak
Agricultural
Not technologically advanced
Limited in foreign trade by the West (Europe and the US

9. Background Info on Japan
By the end of the Meiji Period-1912, Japan had
Highly centralized government
Constitution and elected parliament
Transportation and Communication systems
Educated population without feudal class systems
Growing industrial sector
A powerful army and navy

10. Japan’s Pacific Campaign
As Japan was rapidly industrializing, the needed materials
The areas of China and Manchuria were the closest to imperialize
Although the west used these same measures for industrialization, they condemned Japan for the Imperialist drive

13. Japan’s Pacific Campaign
At the end of WWI, Japan was suffering a severe economic depression.
As a result, the military grew stronger and the parliament grew weaker
They felt more compelled than ever to compete with the West for resources in East Asia

18. Japan’s Pacific Campaign
Japan’s need for natural resources paved the way for militarists to rise to power
Tense international relations allowed a militarist faction to control all foreign affairs and then domestic affairs as well
When the Japanese military had total control of the government, Japan began an aggressive military campaign throughout Asia
Japan allied with other aggressors in the world; Italy and Germany

21. Japan’s Pacific Campaign
Japan rapidly took control of areas such as China, Manchuria, Korea, Philippines, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Burma
There next strategic area of conquest in the Pacific would be the Hawaiian Islands.