1. JAPANESE EXPANSION IN ASIA
“…to preserve world peace and benefit the welfare of the human race.”
JAPANESE EXPANSION IN ASIA
PRELUDE TO WWII
HIROHITO

2. GROWTH & EXPANSION Sino-Japanese War 1894-95 Russo-Japanese War 1904-5
Annexes Korea (1910)
During WWI Japanese
economy grows
Exports to Allies soars
Becomes industrial power
Expands influence throughout East Asia

3. UNREST GROWS
1929, Great Depression hits Japan as foreigners cannot afford Japanese goods—unemployment skyrockets.
Ultranationalists angry at govt. for stopping overseas expansion
Resent treatment as second class citizens in U.S., Canada, Australia—racist policies
Military govt. imposes censorship, fires liberal profs, creates secret police, press & schools promote absolute obedience, glorify war & empire above all else

4. Lack of Natural Resources
Empire in Asia would provide raw materials and increase markets to solve financial problems
Japan has poor resource base
Only 16% of land is usable for farming
Most significant natural resource is fish, not great for industry!

5. THE MANCHURIAN INCIDENT
Japanese army officers blow up tracks on Japanese RR line in Manchuria China and put blame on Chinese (1931).
Japanese officers use excuse to conquer all of Manchuria w/o permission from govt, in order to obtain rich coal and iron deposits in area
Puppet state set up—Manchukuo. Japan’s public side w/officers
League of Nation condemns, Japan resigns from League
League fails to take action as Japan violates agreement

7. JAPANESE INVASION OF CHINA
Chinese Communists and Nationalists unite to fend off Japanese invasion of Manchuria (1931)
1937 Second Sino-Japanese War
Chinese cities air bombed, Japanese troops overrun eastern China
Rape of Nanjing (Dec 13, 1937)
Hundreds of thousands massacred in two week period
Soviets, Brits, French, U.S. send aid

8. Rape of Nanjing

9. U. S. RESPONSE TO JAPAN
Stimson Doctrine—moral lecture on not invading sovereign nations. No sanctions imposed.
Japan continues to attack China, kills tens of thousands of civilians bombing Shanghai
U.S. cancels commercial treaty w/Japan
FDR’s Quarantine Speech—must isolate fascist aggression. Speech meets w/criticism. Fear of war.

10. TRADITIONAL VALUES REVIVE
Japanese people support ultranationalists
Politicians & business leaders who oppose expansion are assassinated
Military leaders plot to overthrow govt
Military domination prevails, democratic freedoms suppressed
Cult built around Emperor Hirohito—son of sun goddess
Govt uses schools to teach absolute obedience to emperor and state

11. MORE EXPANSION IN ASIA
Japan expects to conquer China during 1930’s playing on China’s civil wars
WWII breaks out in 1939, spreads to Asia
Japan allies with Germany and Italy
Tripartite Pact signed in Sept 1940, Japan becomes an Axis Power

12. ROAD TO WAR Japan strongest power in Asia
Little hope of outside help for China as Euros experience crisis of WWII
Japan takes over French Indochina
US builds up forces in Philippines.
US stops selling scrap metal and oil to Japan
General Togo becomes Prime Minister of Japan
Americans know Japan has engaged in surprise attacks on enemy naval bases in past
Most likely to strike Philippines

13. Pearl Harbor, Hawaii December 7, 1941

14. Japanese Aggression Japan tries to negotiate w/U.S.
Decides to attack. Needs oil, rubber, & food to wage war in China. U.S. naval power in Pacific is threat to this goal.
December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii attacked. 2,300 Americans killed
U.S. declares war on Japan!
Germany & Italy declare war on U.S. as part of Axis Alliance.