1. Japan Overview
Mullin

2. Warm Up and HW
HW: Read pg and answer yellow source questions on a separate sheet of paper!

3. Japan: Cause of Expansion - Domestic Issues
Democracy was weak (strong military doesn’t listen)
US passes immigration laws banning Japan = insult
Japan’s population was growing, needed more room
Emperor Taisho died → Emperor Hirohito celebrated as “Living God” increases nationalist sentiments
Economy hurt: farmers hurt by falling price of rice, laborers hurt by police crackdown, Great Depression hurt economy further

4. Japanese Invasion of Manchuria
September 18th Japan blew up its railroad near Mukden and blamed China
Sent the Kwangtung Army to take over Manchuria
Japanese government told them to stop...they don’t listen
Military declared Manchuria to be an “independent” state of Manchukuo (it was a puppet state of Japan)
Government told LoN they would leave...but they didn’t which made international community not trust Japan
Chiang Kaishek’s nationalistss continued to fight the communists rather than defend against the Japanese.

5. Sino Japanese War 1937
July 7th 1937, fighting broke out at Marco Polo Bridge (near Beijing)...Japan took over
Rape of Nanjing - 30,000 women raped...40,000 Chinese murdered
Promotes idea of South East Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere
Chinese 2nd United Front (Nationalists + Communists) now fight the Japanese and refuse to negotiate surrender
Militarists take control of government, multiparty politics were suspended
1941 Prince Konoe resigned as Prime Minister & is replaced by General Tojo

6. Closer with Italy & Germany
Neutrality Pact w/ USSR - Secured Japan’s northern border and signed AFTER the Nazi-Soviet Non- Aggression Pact in 1939
Three Power Tripartite Pact Germany & Italy get Europe, Japan gets Asia and European colonies in Asia
December 7th Japan attacks Pearl Harbor after US froze Japan’s assets and embargoed oil which hurt Japan’s ability to fight China.

7. International Response: Manchuria Crisis
Manchurian Crisis was 1st significant challenge for League of Nations to show they would support Collective Security.
LoN told Japan to retreat, sent fact finding mission: Lytton Report...Took a YEAR to get published...Japan was at fault...completely ineffective
West still wanted to trade with Japan
US was isolationist and stayed out of it

8. International Response: 2nd Sino-Japanese War 1937
US still not willing to get involved, rejected 10 British appeals to intervene
FDR acts more aggressively, gives support to Chinese
US creates Moral Embargo on planes and parts to Japan while US gave millions to China
US freezes Japan’s assets, creates Oil Embargo
LoN condemns, but does nothing

9. Japan’s Move Toward War
Increase in frustration over Chinese influence in Japan, desire to create a Japanese identity, recognition of need to create a unified Japanese culture and a strong military to protect interests
Move away from isolation to internationalism during Meiji empire, rise in nationalism in response to influx of western culture, strengthening of military and creation of ‘sphere of influence’
Nationalist military begins move toward empire following economic crisis of Great Depression, justifying it through need for self-sufficiency and independence. Goes unchallenged by League of Nations.

10. Nationalism Rising: When and Why Nationalism Beats Globalism
Article is from The American Interest, which claims to be a non-partisan journal that attempts to analyze American politics from every angle
It definitely has shortcomings and blind spots, which is to be expected to some extent in any source. But it is provocative in the sense that it addresses the question of how to achieve balance between the seemingly competing philosophies of globalism and nationalism. This is the same issue Japan faced during the Meiji Restoration – “eastern morals, western science”
As you start to formulate your own worldview, it is essential that you question everything. Take in information from all sides, weigh each opinion and come to decide what are principles you believe in strongly and areas in which you believe there is room for compromise. You need a “Devil’s Advocate” to help you find your own blind spots!

11. Nationalism Rising: When and Why Nationalism Beats Globalism
Discussion Questions (within your groups):
In what ways does Japan during the Meiji Restoration ( ) represent the changes that can take place as a society industrializes, particularly the quote by Christian Welzel from his book “Freedom Rising”?
Could you make an argument that Japan was “existentially threatened” during this time period? How was the increase in nationalist sentiment a reaction to globalism (internationalism)?
The Japanese nationalists saw themselves as true patriots who were advocating for what was best for Japan. What is the difference between ‘patriotism’ and ‘nationalism’? Or between ‘nationalism’ and ‘populism’?
Article response questions (on Padlet):
What are the benefits of nationalism? Is there a time when a nation should embrace this over globalism? Use examples from the text to support your answer.
In your group’s opinion, what are the two biggest takeaways from this article. Use specific examples to support your opinion.