Authoritarian Regimes_Japan

Authoritarian RegimesAuthoritarian Regimes

Case Study: Fascist Japan

Chapter 5

Chapter ObjectivesChapter Objectives

• The beginnings of Fascism and how it became popular

• Factors contributing to the failure of the democratic government in Japan

• Reasons for the rise of Fascism in Japan

Essentially…The Chapter is about…Essentially…The Chapter is about…

WHAT LED TO THE RISEOF FASCISM IN

JAPAN

Failure of the Democratic Government•Weakness of the Japanese Parliament•Corrupt Politicians •Lacked Support of Workers and Peasants

Impact of Economic Problems•Problems at the end of World War I•1929 Great Depression

Fear of Chinese Nationalism•Anti-Japanese Protests

Unhappiness with JapaneseLeaders who wanted Friendly

Ties with the formerAllied Powers

Unhappiness with Former AlliedPowers1919 Versailles Treaty1921-22 Washington Naval ConferenceMid-1920s Immigration Issues

Chapter AssignmentDue in Week 4

Chapter AssignmentDue in Week 4

a) To what extent did a weak Japanese parliament contribute to the failure of the democratic government in Japan? Explain your answer. (12m)

b) “Unhappiness with the former Allied Powers was the most important reason that led to the rise of fascism in Japan.” How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. (13m)

Activity 1Activity 1

• What is Fascism?• In groups of 4, come

up with a mind-map on what Fascism is about

• You may use your textbook as a guide

• You have 10 minutes

What is Fascism?What is Fascism?

Comes from the Italian word “Fascio”

Founded by Benito Mussolini in 1919

Fascism believed in “Nation First” and that Democracy

was weak as power was in the hands of the people.

Fascism believed in having strong leadership Popular with the people as they believed that Democracy

was ineffective and inefficient and that its leaders were

weak

FASCISM

Founded at a time when Italy was having social disorder

and economic problems

Fascists also believed that the nation should grow

strong and expand hence they were popular with

young men and WWI veterans

Fascism also brought About a sense of belonging

Fascism was spreadthroughout the worldand in Japan, the ideawas strongly influenced by the Military

• Why did Fascism seem so attractive?• The Japanese democratic leaders were weak,

corrupt and inefficient• As a result, they were unable to solve the

economic problems that plagued the people of Japan

• Since Fascism valued the nation and worked towards its progress through strong leadership, the idea appealed to many Japanese

What led to the Failure of the Democratic Government in Japan?




• The Factors:1. The Limited Power of the Diet2. The Damage of Democracy’s Reputation

by Corruption3. Failure to Solve Economic Problems

• Farmer’s Economic Problems• Workers’ Economic Problems• Trade Imbalance• Great Depression of 1929



1. The Limited Power of the Diet• Although there was a parliament (Diet),

power remained with the Emperor and the Genro (retired statesmen who served the Emperor)

• No power to make decisions or policies• Could not control the ministers as they

were under the control of the Emperor



1. The Limited Power of the Diet

• As the Diet had no control over the government, it’s recommendations were usually overruled

• As a result, the military wielded much power over the government



2. The Damage of Democracy’s Reputation by Corruption

• As Democratic leaders had to be elected into the Diet, political parties were formed with large sponsorship from the Zaibatsus

• The Zaibatsus sponsored politicians in order to use the close ties to make the government pass laws that would benefit them



2. The Damage of Democracy’s Reputation by Corruption

• Because of these close ties, there were many rumours of corruption

• Due to these accusations, many political parties fought in parliament and disillusioned the Japanese people



3. Failure to Solve Economic Problems

• Farmers’ Economic Problems• Lack of land which led to a lack of profits

as the plots were too small to grow more rice

• Landlords rented land at very high prices which made life difficult for the farmers

• Tenant unions used violence and tenant-landlord violence was very common



3. Failure to Solve Economic Problems • Workers’ Economic Problems

• Poor living and working conditions• Crowded and unhygienic quarters• Worked long hours• Locked in working compounds• Could only leave their working compounds a few

times each month

• Fed up, most workers joined Communist-sponsored unions



3. Failure to Solve Economic Problems • Trade Imbalance

• Despite its internal problems, Japan prospered from global trade

• Japan exported silk textiles, china (plates, cups, etc) and porcelain

• However, there was a trade imbalance because Japan had to import many raw materials and food from abroad to feed its growing population



3. Failure to Solve Economic Problems • The Great Depression of 1929

• Led to a decrease in Japan exports due to protectionism policies (increase in taxes on foreign goods to protect home-made products in difficult economic times)

• Japan was badly affected because the demand for Japanese silk fell drastically

• This led to economic depression



High Taxes on Japanese Silk

High prices of Japanese silk

People in other countries could not afford to buy Japanese silk

More people bought silk or other type of cloths produced by their home countries thus reducing the demand for Japanese silk

Effect of Protectionism

onJapan



80% Fall in

Silk Prices

Impact ofdecrease insilk Price

Businessmen whoOwned silk factories

Went bankrupt

Lower prices led tofewer goods being

produced

Fewer workers wereneeded in factories and

more Japanese became unemployed

The Japanese hadless money to

buy other goods

Other businesseswere affected

Effects of the Great Depression on JapanEffects of the Great Depression on Japan

CRASH! Loss of Paper Profits

Less Money in Circulation

Less Demand

Less Employment

Less EmploymentLower Prices

Less Production

Less Bank Credit

Less Building of Factories and HomesLess Demand

DEPRESSION



3. Failure to Solve Economic Problems

• The Great Depression of 1929• The farmers were very badly hit because

they produced silk to earn more income• Worse still, they were hit by a drought in

1932 and made even less money• Desperate they even resorted to selling

their daughters to make ends meet



3. Failure to Solve Economic Problems • The Great Depression of 1929

• When the economy failed to improve, they joined the army or patriotic societies

• The peasants felt that democracy wasn’t working and instead believed in national reconstruction, military strength and respect for authority

• Many young rural men enlisted in the Japanese army


What led to the Failure of the Democratic Government in Japan?a) To what extent did a weak Japanese parliament contribute

to the failure of the democratic government in Japan? Explain your answer. (12m)

• Step 1: Explain how the weak Japanese parliament contributed to the failure of the democratic government in Japan (Remember to EXPLAIN HOW IT HAPPENED and NOT WHAT IT IS…)

• Step 2: Explain 2 OTHER FACTORS In this case, Damage to Democracy’s Reputation and the Failure to Solve Economic Problems

• Step 3: Weigh your answer. How far was the weak Japanese parliament responsible for the failure of the democratic government AS COMPARED TO the 2 OTHER FACTORS?

What led to the Rise of Fascism in Japan?


External Reasons• American expansion in the

Asia-Pacific region threatened Japanese plans to control the area

• Paris Peace Conference 1919

• Washington Naval Conference 1921-22

• London Disarmament Conference 1930

• Immigration Laws in the USA in the mid 1930s

• Resurgence of Chinese Nationalism

Internal Reasons• The Showa Restoration• Patriotic Societies• Military’s great influence

over the government• Military take-over of Japan



External Reasons• American expansion in the Asia-Pacific region

threatened Japanese plans to control the area• Since the opening of trade with Japan by the American

Commodore, Matthew Perry, American businessmen were interested in doing business in the Asia-Pacific

• The US took control of many Pacific islands to obtain Guano (bat shit)

• Other islands were used as bases for American trading ships

• By the 1930s, more of the Pacific region came under American control including Hawaii and the Philippines

• Japanese militarists believed that Japanese and American economic and military interests would come into conflict over who would control the Asia-Pacific



External Reasons• Paris Peace Conference 1919

• As Japan had fought with the Allied Powers in WWI, they requested that the League of Nations formally recognise that all races were equal

• As the League of Nations refused, the Japanese, particularly the Japanese Army, were unhappy



External Reasons• Washington Naval Conference 1921-

1922• The WNC aimed to reduce the naval

forces of the world’s major powers• For every 5 ships Britain and the USA

could build, Japan could only build 3• The Japanese felt that this was an

unfair treaty and an attempt to restrict Japanese naval power



External Reasons• London Disarmament Conference 1930

• Many Japanese were unhappy when PM Hamaguchi Osachi wanted to ensure further naval arms reduction with Britain and the USA where he agreed, at the LDC to further limit Japan’s smaller battleships

• They were also unhappy that he was trying to improve ties with China

• The PM also reduced spending on the Army to end the Great Depression

• He was accused by the Army of being too soft and betraying the country

• He died in 1931 from wounds sustained in an assassination attempt in 1930



External Reasons• Immigration Laws in the USA in the mid 1930s

• In 1924, the USA restricted Asian immigration as part of its isolationist and protectionist policies

• All Asian immigration (except for Filipinos) was banned

• Asian immigrants could not become US citizens even if they had been living there for a long time

• Asians could not marry Caucasians and were not allowed to own land



External Reasons• Immigration Laws in the USA in the mid 1930s

• There was also Asian Segregation (California Alien Law 1931)

• These new immigration laws angered the Japanese who saw these policies as a sign that the Americans thought the Japanese were inferior

• These laws combined with the effects of the Great Depression caused many Japanese to turn away from Democracy and support Japanese expansion overseas



External Reasons• Resurgence of Chinese Nationalism

• Since 1894, Japan had taken advantage of China’s weak political situation to gain special trading rights and privileges within China

• The Chinese were angered by the dynastic decline and the giving of foreign concessions

• Subsequently, there were struggles between the Chinese warlords and the KMT and CCP (who both tried to unite China). These struggles weakened the country




• When the KMT succeeded in uniting China, the Chinese demanded an end to the special concessions to Westerners and Japanese in China and Manchuria

• Strikes and boycotts hurt Japanese economic interests in China and Manchuria




• Japanese Kwantung Army Officers in Manchuria realised that a strong and united China could prevent further Japanese expansion in the country

• They urged Japan to occupy Manchuria and North China before anti-Japanese feelings became too strong

• The Japanese military’s call for action was supported by many Japanese



Internal Reasons• The Showa Restoration

• From the 1890s the Japanese education system emphasised:

• Nationalism• Loyalty to the Emperor• Self-Sacrifice• Obedience

• Japan’s response to the Great Depression and foreign opposition to its growing empire was the “Showa Restoration” (Bright Harmony)

• Western values were characterised to be selfish, greedy and individualistic and Japanese virtues such as self-sacrifice for the nation were promoted



Internal Reasons• The Showa Restoration

• The slogan “Sonno Joi” (Restore the Emperor and Expel the Barbarian!)

• The SR produced youths who were blindly loyal to the Emperor and the nation

• These youths also believed in militarism and an aggressive military policy



Internal Reasons• Patriotic Societies

• Since the 1920s, many patriotic societies with links to the military were set up in Japan (Black Dragon Society, Cherry Blossom Society)

• They were extremely nationalistic and believed in Japan’s superiority to other nations

• They wanted to use an aggressive foreign policy to make Japan strong again

• These societies wanted to get rid of democratic leaders and set up a military dictatorship on behalf of the Emperor



Internal Reasons• Army and Navy’s Great Influence over the

Government• The Army and Navy had a great influence over

political decisions and acted independently from the government

• They wanted to copy the West and acquire more colonies in China and Manchuria

• Military success made the Army and Navy popular (e.g. Russo-Japanese War) and helped them gain even more influence over the government.

• Leaders who did not support the military’s ambitions were often assassinated

Japanese Military GainsJapanese Military Gains

1905 Treaty of Portsmouth• Gained the right to build a railway in Manchuria which was rich in oil and coal• Took over Port Arthur, the Liaodung Peninsula and the southern Sakhalin Island from Russia

1894-1895 Sino-Japanese War• Japan defeated China• It took over Taiwan and demanded that China give up control over the Liaodung Peninsula in Manchuria•This started the Japanese presence in Manchuria

1904-1905 Russo-Japanese War• Japan defeated Russia• First Asian power to defeat a major European power• Signed the Treaty of Portsmouth in 1905

1905-1910• Japan’s control of Korea is achieved

1914 Japan joined the Allies in WWI• When Japan entered the war on the side of the Allies, it occupied the German territories of Shantung and parts of the Pacific islands

1915 – Japan Issues the 21 Demands to China• Weak Chinese government is forced to accept Japanese advisors• Japan is able to keep Shantung



Internal Reasons• Military Take-over of Japan

• In 1930, the military brought down the Hamaguchi government by shooting the PM

• In May 1932, the new PM, Inukai, was killed for criticising the actions of the Japanese Army in Manchuria

• Succeeding PMs felt pressurised to support the Kwantung Army in Manchuria or were already strong supporters of the military

• After 1932, after the Manchurian Incident, the Japanese government began to follow the aims of the Army


What led to the Failure of the Democratic Government in Japan?b) “Unhappiness with the former Allied Powers was the most

important reason that led to the rise of fascism in Japan.” How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. (13m)

• Step 1: You can start by saying that “Unhappiness with the former Allied Powers was a reason for the rise of fascism in Japan” BUT there are other factors as well (e.g. See Slide 23)

• Explain how unhappiness with the former Allied Powers was led to the rise of fascism in Japan.” Remember to EXPLAIN HOW IT HAPPENED and NOT WHAT IT IS…)

• Step 2: Explain 2 OTHER FACTORS (Aqmal ~ 2 more factors…not ONE…)

• Step 3: Weigh your answer. How important was unhappiness with the former Allied Powers responsible for the rise of fascism in Japan AS COMPARED TO the 2 OTHER FACTORS?



External Reasons• American expansion in the

Asia-Pacific region threatened Japanese plans to control the area

• Paris Peace Conference 1919

• Washington Naval Conference 1921-22

• London Disarmament Conference 1930

• Immigration Laws in the USA in the mid 1930s

• Resurgence of Chinese Nationalism

Internal Reasons• The Showa Restoration• Patriotic Societies• Military’s great influence

over the government• Military take-over of Japan

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