Paper 1 - Japanese Expansion (1931-1941)

1926

Emperor Taisho (Yoshihito) dies. The Showa era begins with the coronation of Crown Prince Hirohito.

1868

January: Restoration of the Meiji rule is declared. The Meiji period was the name adopted by the Emporer when he got back to power after overthrowing the traditional shogun (great general) rule. The Meiji rule propelled the country into the modern era.

1914

Japan enters World War I on the side of the Entente powers (Russia, France, Britain, Italy)

1915

Japan presents the Twenty-One Demands to China. Twenty-one Demands, (Jan. 18, 1915), claims made by the Japanese government to special privileges in China during World War I. The major European powers, which already enjoyed similar privileges in China, could not oppose Japan's move because of their involvement in the war. Context: Japan demanded recognition of its seizure of the German spheres of influence in China, and also wanted new powers over the Chinese government that had the potential of making China little more than a puppet state. China had to accept at the end 15 demands, providing japan with the right to commercially explore parts of northern china.

1933

Japan withdraws from the League of Nations as consequence to the Lytton Commission report.

1941 07 - July

July​ - The 'Magic' US code-breaking project succeeded in cracking Japanese Foreign Office correspondence, providing access to all encrypted Japanese diplomatic correspondence 24 July​ ​- 140,000 Japanese troops invaded Southern Indochina in preparation for the invasion of the Dutch East Indies. The UK and US responded by freezing all Japanese assets and increased their support for Jiang in China. 26 July​ - US freezes all Japanese assets in the US in response to the invasion of southern Indochina.

1873

Mass conscription is introduced.

Japanese expansion after 1931?

Mukden incident 1931 Manchurian invasion 1931 Descent into the dark valley 1932-37 Marco Polo bridge incident 1937 Sino-Japanese war 1937

What was the Reaction of the League of Nations on the Japanese Aggression?

There was a principle of collective security in the LON, however this was ignored even when China went to the LON on multiple occasions (Mukden incident) to remind the LON of their principle. A conference was held to cautiously assess the situation (in attempt to prevent creating an enemy). Although Japan was condemned, they continued to expand in Manchuria. LON sent fact-finding commission to Manchuria. This took several months for Journey and completion of research. The research report stated that Japan did in fact have interests in Manchuria and it was unacceptable. Basically condemning Japan and not being bothered to do anything. First, the post-invasion 'Manchurian Crisis' ended with the dramatic walk-out of Japanese delegates from the League of Nations in 1933. This was in reaction to the findings of the Lytton Commission, which had upheld China's appeal against Japanese aggression, thus leaving Japan effectively isolated in the world. By this time, however, the Japanese had successfully detached Manchuria from the rest of China, creating the puppet state of Manchukuo under the deposed Qing emperor Pu Yi.

1937 (October)

President Roosevelt of the United States delivers his Quarantine Speech. Marked a change in American Foreign policy from isolation / neutrality to actively work against agressive nations.

What were the possible causes for Pearl Harbour?

Reason #1: An Increased Need For Natural Resources Japan had an increased need for natural resources like oil, minerals and steel as their goals for expansion in Asia and the Pacific increased. Reason #2: Restrictions The United States also had an obvious interest in these natural resources, and in response to the Japanese aggression, the U.S. Congress placed restrictions on doing business with Japan. And, if that weren't enough, Japanese assets in the United States were frozen. Reason #3: Expansion in the Pacific President Roosevelt moved the US Pacific Fleet from California to Pearl Harbor in 1939. This move was a threat to Japan, who wanted to expand in the Pacific. Military leaders and politicians saw a war between the U.S. and Japan as inevitable, with the solution being to attack first. Japan did just that.

1902

The Anglo-Japanese Alliance is signed. The nature of the Anglo-Japanese alliance meant that France was unable to come to Russia's aid in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904 as this would have meant going to war with Britain

1936 Anti-Comintern Pact

The Anti-Comintern Pact was an anti-communist pact concluded between Nazi Germany and the Empire of Japan (later to be joined by other, mainly fascist, governments) on November 25, 1936 and was directed against the Third (Communist) International. Context: The pact provided for mutual assistance should any of the signatories suffer attach by any nation not already involved in the war. Italy joins in 1937 the Anti-Comintern Pact with Japan and Germany.

Explain the events and causes of the "Rape of Nanjing." (1937)

The Chinese Nationalist government had moved its capital from Beijing via Shanghai to Nanjing but abandoned this as the Japanese advanced. Chinese soldiers and civilians were subjected to death, rape, and torture by Japanese forces. Following a bloody victory by Japanese troops in Shanghai (3 months) during the Sino-Japanese War. The resistance of Chinese forces, however, shocked the Japanese, who had been indoctrinated with notions of cultural and martial superiority, and dramatically demoralized the Imperial Japanese Army.

General reasons for lack of response to Japanese Aggression by the USA?

The Great depression (left countries vulnerable and unable to take action). Popular anti-war feelings in Europe. Trade with Japan Isolationism Fear of repeating WW1 'Open Door' policy in China. League of Nations more afraid of Hitler. Military weakness Failure of collective security Fear of communism US: lack of naval influence in Pacific.

What was the result of the 2nd Sino-Japanese war for Japan?

The Japanese army wanted war with the Soviets, not the Chinese. Initial the Japanese army attacked Soviet troops in Mongolia but were badly defeated. However, once the Marco Polo incident took place, things escalated (Jiang (KMT) commitment to stop the Japanese) in the South. Japan hoped that China would accept Japanese leadership, but there was so much rage from the Nanjing rape and a strong nationalist view. Lack of effective weapons and industrial support meant Japan was becoming vulnerable to Chinese attacks. 1938, Japan offered a new union that would offer political, economic and cultural cooperation, but this was rejected so the war continued.

Japanese Expansion - Pacts

The Japanese signed the Tripartite Axis Pact which agreed that Germany and Italy would dominate Europe and leave Japan to dominate East Asia. If the Axis powers could defeat the Western democracies in Europe their colonies in Asia could be easily seized by Japan. Japan was able to secure its northern border after signing a pact with the Soviet union. During the war with China, there were border siputes with Japan and the soviet union. The Nazi-soviet pact had been a set-back for Japan. however, the neutrality pact of 1941 with the soviets allowed them to focus their forces in Europe and for Japan to could move forced further south.

Kwantung Army

The Kwantung Army was an army group of the Imperial Japanese Army in the first half of the 20th century. It became the largest and most prestigious command in the IJA. Context: Largely responsible for the creation of Manchuko

1932

The League of Nations sends the Lytton Commission to investigate the Manchuria incident.

1931 Manchurian crisis

The Mukden Incident, or Manchurian Incident, was a staged event engineered by Japanese military personnel as a pretext for the Japanese invasion in 1931 of northeastern China. Japanese troops garrisoned in Manchuria placed explosive along a railroad track. When they detonated a 1.5 meter section of track was destroyed.

Japanese domestic issues before 1932 (This is a long one).

The Northern Expedition of China was regarded with some degee concern by the Japanese government. The japanese had backed up Warlords in Manchuria, Zhang Zuolin. Zhang has become very powerful and had attempted to expand into Northern China, Which made him a target for Jiang. This could possibly impact Japans interests for Manchuria. The Japanese government planned to use its army in Manchuria to disarm Zhang and to force him to retreat back t Manchuria before he was defeated by Jiang. The policy was to let Jiang to have China whilst Japan focused on manchuria. This would have gone accordingly if the Japanese army in Manchuria had not forced Jiangs Northern expedition to halt in Jinan and thought that assassinating Zhang would be a better idea. This would provide the excuse they wanted to conquer Manchuria. This showed how the army would be able to undermine the government and therefore have power.

1904-05

The Russo-Japanese War breaks out in 1904. It ends in 1905 with the Treaty of Portsmouth being signed in 1905. The Russo-Japanese War was a war between the Japanese Empire and the Russian Empire. It started in 1904 and ended in 1905. The Japanese won the war, and the Russians lost. The war happened because the Russian Empire and Japanese Empire disagreed over who should get parts of Manchuria and Korea.

1936 Second united front

The Second United Front was the brief alliance between the Chinese Nationalist Party (Kuomintang, or KMT) and Communist Party of China (CPC) against Japan. Nationalists were forced into this alliance.

1894-95

The Sino-Japanese War breaks out on 1 August 1894 and ends with the Treaty of Shimonoseki on 17 April 1895. War was fought over inlfuence in Korea and Manchuria. Japan won!

1921-22

The Washington Naval Conference takes place leading to the Washington Naval Treaty and the Nine-Power Treaty. Japan had maintained a smaller and less powerful navy, but was offended by being asked to accept a lesser ratio under the terms of the Five Power Pact. Acceptance was gained only at the price of a promise by Britain and the United States not to further fortify their bases in the Pacific. Several exceptions were made, however, including the right for the U.S. to effect military improvements in Hawaii.

What was the Washington Treaty system?

The Washington Naval Treaty, also known as the Five-Power Treaty, and including the "Four-Power Treaty" and the "Nine-power Treaty" was a treaty among the major nations that had won World War I, which agreed to prevent an arms race by limiting naval construction.

1928

The assassination of China's warlord, 'Old Marshal' Zhang Zuolin, in Mukden by Japanese Kwantung Army. He was defeated by the Chinese Nationalists under Chiang Kai-shek in May 1928. Although Zhang had been Japan's proxy in China, Japanese militarists were infuriated by his failure to stop the advance of the Nationalists.

Nationalism

The strong belief that the interests of a particular nation-state are of primary importance Context: Assets that the Japanese are THE Nation and promotes the cultural unity of Japan

1928 Kellog Briand pact

a 1928 international agreement in which signatory states promised not to use war to resolve "disputes or conflicts of whatever nature or of whatever origin they may be, which may arise among them, signed by US, GB, FR, JP....

Explain the political instability in China. Because China was all kinds of unstable.

by late 1920's, encouraes by the public outrage concerning the behaviour of foreignners in China, Chinese nationalusm had grown. The Nationalist party (of China) led by Jian jieshi began a campaign of national unification. This included anti-foreigner rhetoric and demands to end the unequal treaties that the great powers had forced China to sign. By 1921, a new political part, the communist party led by Mao Zedong joined with Jian Jieshi to form a united front. This led to the "Northern Expedition" to consolidate central government control and wrest power from the warlords. Eventually the nationalists and the communists were to crash in a civil war, which meant the focus was to defeat communism rather than the Japanese.

1932 Manchukuo (State of)

"State of Manchuria" was a puppet state in Northeast China and Inner Mongolia, which was governed under a form of constitutional monarchy. In 1931, the region was seized by Japan following the Mukden Incident and a pro-Japanese government was installed one year later with Puyi, the last Qing emperor, as the nominal regent and emperor. The Chinese Qing dynasty actually originated from Manchuria. Japanese Prime Minister Inukai withholds formal diplomatic recognition out of concern for worsening relations with the US. This displeased the militarists and the general public.

Reasons for Japanese expansion after 1931?

-Ruler of pacific region -Political instability in China (civil war) -world economic crisis after 1929 and the sharp fall in Japanese export to USA (thus need for new raw materials). -role of the militant Japanese Kwantung army in Manchuria, acting independently from the Japanese government

1933 08 - August

1 August​ - Comintern instructs all Communist parties across the world to form United Fronts with other anti-fascist parties

1940 08 - August

1 August​ ​- The Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere is formally announced by Foreign Minister Yosuke Matsuoka which called for a self-sufficient and Japanese dominated bloc of Asian nations. Building on earlier ideas of Pan-Asianism, in essence, it was an imperialist propaganda concept designed to legitimise Japanese dominance in the region in clear opposition to the US Open Door concept. USA, called for all nations to have equal access to China's markets, wanted to protect this policy in Japan's invasion

1941 12 December

1 December​ ​- Final Imperial Conference sanctions war. Naval task force informed that attack will take place on 7 December. 6 December​ - Final attempt for peace by President Roosevelt, asking for withdraw from Indochina. Emperor did not receive telegram until 3pm, task force could not be recalled. 7 December​ - Pearl Harbour is attacked. Nomura and Kurusu deliver declaration of war 50 minutes after attack, at 1:50pm. Malaya and Hong Kong also attacked. 8 December​ - Britain and the Netherlands Government in Exile declares war on Japan. 11 December​ ​- Germany and Italy declare war on the USA.

1937 05 - May

1 May​ ​- Third US Neutrality Act passed, stipulating that travel on belligerent ships in times of war was unlawful. 'Cash-and-carry' rule also required belligerent nations to pay in cash for all purchases and transport them on their own ships

1927

1) Start of the banking crisis and onset of the Great Depression/Wall Street Crash. 2) In 1927 the Chinese Communists revolted against Kuomintang following a purge of its members in Shanghai by National Revolutionary Army commander Chiang Kai-shek, which marked the end of the KMT's four-year alliance with Soviet Union and its cooperation with the CPC during the Northern Expedition to defeat warlords and unify China.

1919

1. Paris Peace Conference takes place. 2. Japan lays claim to Shandong province in China. 1919 officially transferred the former German concessions in Shandong to Japan rather than returning sovereign authority to China

1925

1. The Peace Preservation Law is passed in Japan to suppress political dissent. 2. Universal male suffrage (rigth to vote) is introduced to all males aged 25 and over in Japan.

1889

11 February: The emperor presents the Constitution of the Empire of Japan. On the same day, the House of Representatives Election Law is passed giving the vote to men over 25 who pay at least 15¥ in national taxes (just over 1 percent of the population).

1941 03 - March

11 March​ - The US Lend-Lease Act launched a programme for supplying Britain and other allies with 'surplus' armaments in return for bases. Over $50 billion in supplies were given, ending any pretense of neutrality.

1939 06 - June

14 June​ - The Tientsin Incident (Tianjin) occurs as Japan blockaded the British Concession in Tientsin due to British non-compliance over a murder investigation. Seeking to avoid war, Britain eventually handing over the four suspects, demonstrating British weakness in China. In response and support the United States announces the abrogation of the 1911 Treaty of Commerce and Navigation with Japan.

1939 09 - September

15 September​ ​- The Battle of Khalkhin-Gol (Nomonhan) finishes in ceasefire as over 20,000 Japanese die in border skirmishes with the USSR. Defeat convinced the Imperial Japanese Army to abandon its 'strike north' strategy and support the 'strike south' policy favoured by the navy.

1938 January - March

16 January​ - Prime Minister Konoe announces Japan will no longer seek negotiation with Jiang Jieshi's regime but seek to 'eradicate it' after Jiang rejects Japanese peace terms. 24 March​ - The National Mobilisation Law is passed to implement a total-war economy by dissolving labour unions, nationalising strategic industries, introducing price controls and rationing and nationalising the media. This was supplemented by the National Service Draft Ordinance which empowered the government to draft civilian workers where it deemed necessary.

1938 05 - May

17 May​ ​- The US Naval Act of 1938 passed by Congress providing $1billion for naval rearmament to match the Axis powers by increasing the US Navy by 20%.

1941 10 - October

17 October​ - Konoe resigned due to the failure of his peace overtures with the US. General Tojo Hideki is appointed Prime Minister. Tojo sets 30 November as the final deadline for talks with the US to succeed.

1940 07 - July

19 July​ - The US Two-Ocean Navy Act passed by Congress to increase the size of the US Navy by 70% and cost $8.55 billion. It authorised the procurement of 18 aircraft carriers, 7 battleships and over 100 other ships.

1930 - April

22 April​ ​- First London Naval Conference concludes with the signing of the London Naval Treaty. Japan demanded an increased tonnage ratio from 5:5:3 to 10:10:7 and regulates submarine warfare. Despite strong opposition from the US, the ratio was finally granted although Japan still suffered some restrictions, infuriating the military further.

1941 06 - June

22 June​ - Operation Barbarossa begins when Germany invades the USSR. The presented Japan with a final opportunity to also attack the USSR, yet this idea was abandoned in favour of the strike south towards the Dutch East Indies.

1936 02 - February

29 February​ ​- Second US Neutrality Act passed, stipulating that in a state of war, the US would refuse war loans and credits to belligerent nations.

1938 11 - November

3 November​ ​- Prime Minister Konoe announces 'New Order in East Asia' political union between Japan, China and Manchukuo. As a statement of political and war aims, the New Order speech announced to the world Japan's ambitions.

1940 03 - March

30 March​ ​- Creation of the Reorganised National Government of China headed by President Wang Jingwei in Nanjing. Wang's government collaborated with the Japanese, in reality existing merely as a puppet state.

1890

30 October: The Imperial Rescript on Education is issued. This document is distributed to all schools. It emphasizes civic responsibility and imperial loyalty as the moral basis for education. It will be displayed together with a portrait of the emperor and read on ceremonial occasions until its repudiation in 1948.

1935 08 - August

31 August​ - First US Neutrality Act passed, stipulating that in a state of war, the president was required to declare an arms embargo on all belligerents.

1939 11 - November

4 November​ ​- The fourth US Neutrality Act is passed in Congress, repealing earlier acts and allowing belligerents to buy arms on a cash-and-carry basis.

1941 11 - November

5 November​ ​- Emperor Hirohito agrees at Imperial Conference that plans should be made for the attack on Pearl Harbor, but negotiations should be pursued to their end. 17 November​ - Japanese Ambassador Nomura Kichsaburō and Kurusu Saburō meet with President Roosevelt. Kurusu asked to discuss possibility of Japan leaving the Tripartite Pact, to which he refused. 20 November​ ​- Pearl Harbour task force ready to sail. Final note for consideration presented to Cordell Hull, but US still insisted that Japan withdraw from China and Indochina. 26 November​ - The Hull Note passed to Japan, stipulating that Japan should withdraw from China before trade embargo is lifted. Interpreted by Tojo as declaration of war. Pearl Harbour task force sets sail.

1941 09 - September

6 September​ ​- 'Guidelines for the Implementing National Policies' adopted at the Imperial Conference. Agreement between army and navy that Japan should be ready for war with the US, UK and Netherlands by October if negotiations fail.

1937 08 - August

7 August​ ​- China officially declares a war of 'self-defence' on Japan

Chinese Civil War

A civil war fought from 1927 to 1950 Context: War was fought because of a difference in thinking between the Communist "Chinese Communist Party" and the Nationalist "Kuomintang"; this led to a fight for legitimacy as the government of China.

1941 - April Japanese-Soviet Neutrality Pact

A pact between the Soviet Union and the Empire of Japan signed on April 13, 1941 Context: The pact was signed to ensure the neutrality between the Soviet Union and the Empire of Japan during World War II, in which both sides hoping to concentrate their attention elsewhere, enabling Japan to embark on its 'strike south' policy. April​ - Admiral Yamamoto Isoroku begins planning Pearl Harbour contingency.

Communism

A political theory derived from Karl Marx, advocating class war and leading to a society in which all property is publicly owned and each person works and is paid according to their abilities and needs. Context: Japanese Communist Party (JCP) advocates the establishment of a society based on socialism, democracy, peace and opposition to militarism.

1940 - September Tripartite Pact

An agreement between Germany, Japan, and Italy signed in Berlin on 27 September 1940 by, respectively, Joachim von Ribbentrop, Sabaro Kurusu and Galeazzo Ciano. All agree to aid each other in the event of an attack by a power not 'involved in the European war or in the Sino-Japanese conflict', meaning the US and Russia.

1937-1945 What was the Sino-Japanese war?

At the Marco polo bridge, fighting broke out between Chinese and Japanese forces (July 1937). The army had drawn forces into China from Korea without consulting the government in Tokyo. The minister of war demanded that more forces were deployed from Korea and Manchuria, and although Prince Konoye attempted to contain the army, reinforcements were sent. This led to a full scale war. End July 37, Japanese forces had taken Beijing and the following month there was fighting in Shanghai.

1853

Commodore Perry (USA) sails into Nagasaki harbor to open trade negotiations with the Japanese emperor.

1872

Compulsory elementary education is introduced.

What was the Reaction of France and Britain on the Japanese Aggression?

Condemming the Japanese aggression against China as part of the LON, but no actual sanctions were implemented.

When did The bombing of Pearl Harbour take place?

Dec,1941

1931 What was the Manchurian crisis?

Explosion on Japanese-owned South Manchurian Railway. officers of the Kwantung Army (Japanese army in Manchuria) claimed railways blown up by the Chinese. Excuse" to retaliate, Forced Chinese to retreat from Mukden. Japan (Wakatsuki's) government tried a policy of "non-expansion of hostilities," but Kwantung army ignored this. government wanted army to return to the railway zone, ignored and pushed into Manchurian countryside.

China's actions following the Marco Polo Bridge incident.

Following the Invasion, a conference was held which included both the communists and the Nationalists. Mao declared a policy of "total resistance by the whole nation." Despite this new policy, the Chinese did poorly in the war. By 1938, Beijing, Shanghai, Ghangzhou and Nanjing has all fallen to Japan. Escalation of war brought the Japanese further into a war they did not want, because their resources were being exhausted. Japan were forced to consolidate their position by adopting a policy of living off the land with the help of puppet governments. The most important of these was led by Wang Jingwei (former GMD colleague of Jiang). Thinking that China could never defeat Japan, Wang agreed to become hear of the new government of China. This regime recognized by Manchukuo and three axis powers, but not the western powers. This meant that China was divided into three main areas: Nationalist China based in Chongqiung, Communist China based in Shaanxi, and Japanese-occupied China in the East and North. Despite a "united" front, Communists and nationalist tensions were high. After the Pearl Harbour attack, and the declaration of war by the USA on Japan would ultimately lead to Japanese defeat. The Sino-Japanese war was now a global war (WWII).

1933 - March

Franklin Delano Roosevelt becomes US President defeating Herbert Hoover in a landslide election. His liberal New Deal policies would kickstart the American economy yet he was initially hampered in his foreign policy and limited in response to Japanese aggression by isolationists within Congress who passed a series of Neutrality Acts from 1935-37.

What was the outcome of WW1 for Japan? and How did it impact its relationship with the west? The west isn't that into you Japan.....

Gave Japan an opportunity to expand its influence in Asia further. Japan demanded German colonial territory in China and when ignored, war was declared giving Japan military bases on the Shandong peninsula in the North of China. Allies distracted, Japan could issue China with the "Twenty--one demands". The most important of these required china to agree to the Japanese remaining in Shandong and grant Japan extra commercial privileges in Manchuria. Japan was able to supply goods to allies during WW1 and also by supplying orders to Asian markets that the allies were unable to fulfil. Thus, exports flourished. Japan became more self-sufficient by developing industries to produce goods previously imported. Japan, however, was reminded that it was not fully a member of the "Western club" by its failure to get racial equality clauses included in the charter of the LON. The Western countries were afraid of Japanese immigration into their countries.

1940 Sept

In September 1940, the Japanese invaded Vichy French Indochina (仏印進駐 Futsu-in shinchū) to prevent the Republic of China from importing arms and fuel through French Indochina along the Sino-Vietnamese Railway, from the port of Haiphong through Hanoi to Kunming in Yunnan. Vichy France quickly capitulated and by 26 September, it was agreed that Japan could station up to 40,000 troops. When Japan invaded French-controlled Indochina in 1940 the United States furthered its "Moral Embargo" by expanding the restrictions to scrap metal. Along with these restrictions the United States also closed the Panama Canal to the Japanese effectively cutting off an efficient trade route from the Atlantic Ocean.

Manchuria, what was all the hype about? She's totally basic right..?

Not really. Manchuria was rich in raw materials such as Coal, Iron and timber. Security wise: Buffer to Russia. Markets helped to withstand impact of global depression. Four times larger than Japan (size matter apparently...). Living space for japan's growing population.

1940 10 - October

October​ - The US Export Control Act was widened to also ban the trade of iron, scrap steel, and certain types of oil to Japan. On 8 October, Japan warned the US that this might be considered an 'unfriendly act'. 12 October​ - Imperial Rule Assistance Association created a unity party by Konoe in an attempt to unite domestic politics behind the war effort and limit the power of the military. Existing multi-party politics was suspended in an attempt to create a totalitarian one-party state.

1941 08 - August

Responding to Japanese occupation of key airfields in Indochina: 1 August​ - US implements a total oil and gas embargo on Japan. 80% of all Japanese oil imports came from the US. USA cut oil to Japan and without it Japan would collapse within 18 months, helped lead to war with USA and Japan It was viewed by some in Japan as an 'act of war', giving Japan no choice but to strike south. The US Oil Embargo only led Japan to seek for different means to acquire their fuel. The Dutch East Indies had a quantity large enough to warrant a Japanese invasion. However to expand to this area Japan would need to invade the Philippines, a US territory. 14 August​ - The Atlantic Conference takes place off Newfoundland as Churchill and Roosevelt agree common interests in the Atlantic Charter, seen by Japan as an ultimatum on whether to accept the 'Anglo-American' worldview or to oppose it. The Charter stated the ideal goals of the war—no territorial aggrandizement; no territorial changes made against the wishes of the people, self-determination; restoration of self-government to those deprived of it; reduction of trade restrictions; global cooperation to secure better economic and social conditions for all; freedom from fear and want; freedom of the seas; and abandonment of the use of force, as well as disarmament of aggressor nations.

1932 Stimson Doctrine (USA)

The Stimson Doctrine is a policy of the United States federal government, enunciated in a note of January 7, 1932, to the Empire of Japan and the Republic of China, of non-recognition of international territorial changes that were executed by force.

1912

The Taisho era begins, following the death of Emperor Meiji (Mutsuhito).

1929 Japan Economic crisis

The global economic crisis that started in 1929 with the wall street crash harmed international economic order. Japan was dependent on the world trade and its exports fell drastically as countries put up tariffs to protect their own industries. The worst hit industry was the silk industry. Farmers were hard hit because over half of them relied on silk production. The result was poverty and extreme unemployment. The impacts of the economic disaster was a higher interest in Manchuria. In the 1930's Hamaguchi Yuko became prime minister and with the Great Depression, he was forced to not fund industries and cut government salaries along with salaries for both the civil and military sectors. Th military were unhappy and then outraged when Hamaguchi agreed to limit Japan's naval growth at the London Naval disarmament conference. This led to him being shot by a right-winged radical and resigning in 1931.

What was the Reaction of the USA on the Japanese Aggression? (1937-38)

US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt set to enact harmful economic laws against Japan by 1940. Beginning with the Export Control Act which banned US shipment of airplane parts and fuel to Japan. The act was labeled the "Moral Embargo" criticizing Japan's actions taken against the Chinese. When Japan invaded French-controlled Indochina in 1940 the United States furthered its "Moral Embargo" by expanding the restrictions to scrap metal. Along with these restrictions, the United States also closed the Panama Canal to the Japanese effectively cutting off an efficient trade route from the Atlantic Ocean. Continuing failed peace negotiations mediated by the United States only led to further embargoes. The refusal of a peace treaty in 1941 by General Tojo led the US to ban shipments of oil to Japan. Oil is one of Japan's most crucial imports to fuel their expansive Navy and Air Force. The US Oil Embargo only led Japan to seek for different means to acquire their fuel. The Dutch East Indies had a quantity large enough to warrant a Japanese invasion. However to expand to this area Japan would need to invade the Philippines, a US territory. Which led eventually to the attack on Pearl Harbor.

1940 - July

US President Roosevelt set to enact harmful economic laws against Japan by 1940. Beginning with the Export Control Act which banned US shipment of airplane parts and aviation fuel to Japan. The act was labeled the "Moral Embargo" criticizing Japan's actions taken against the Chinese.

1933 Treaty of Tanggu aka Tangu Truce

Was a ceasefire signed between China and Empire of Japan in Tanggu District, Tianjin on May 31, 1933, formally ending the Japanese invasion of Manchuria which had begun two years earlier.

Koda-ha or Imperial Way

Was a political faction in the Imperial Japanese Army, active in the 1920s and 1930s and largely supported by junior officers aiming to establish a military government that promoted totalitarian, militarist, and expansionist ideals. It was never an organized political party and had no official standing within the Army.

1937 (August) Sino-Soviet Non-aggression Pact

Was signed in Nanjing on August 21, 1937 between the Republic of China and the Soviet Union during the Second Sino-Japanese War

Japanese Expansion - Treaties

Washington Treaty system 1921 Japan leaves LON 1933 Tripartite Axis Pact 1940 with Germany and Italy Japanese-Soviet neutrality pact 1941