January 5—Write an identification for the Nazi-Soviet Nonaggression Pact.

Causes of WWII in the Pacific

Key Terms

21 Demands

Washington Conference

The Manchurian Incident

Lecture Outline

I. Causes of WWII in the Pacific

A. Causes of imperialism

B. Japan and WWI

C. Attack on Manchuria

Causes of Imperialism

The desire to be treated equally by the West

Economic incentive of maintaining access to the raw materials and markets of East Asia especially in China.

Japan and WWI

Japan joined the Allies to enable it to seize German territories in the Pacific and it seized German holdings on the Shantung Peninsula and the German held islands in the South Pacific.

21 Demands

In 1915 Japan presented its 21 Demands to China.

The Japanese demanded that China recognize its control of the ex-German territory of Shantung, that Japan be allowed to construct and control railroads in China, that China purchase its military weapons from Japan, and that China allow the Japanese to “advise” the Chinese government.

21 Demands

These demands caused an international crisis because they threatened the spheres of influence that other countries had established in China, and the US policy of the Open Door for China.After negotiations with the US, Japan withdrew its demand for Japanese advisors and China accepted the other 20 demands.

Japan and the Versailles Peace Conference of 1919

At the conference, Japan requested that a clause advocating racial equality be inserted into the League of Nations Charter but the US and European countries refused.

President Wilson objected to Japan’s refusal to relinquish the Shantung Peninsula to the Chinese.

Versailles Peace Conference

The conference helped convince Japanese leaders that they were still not treated like equals by the Western world.

A Naval Arms Race

After WWI, a naval arms race threatened to develop between the US, Great Britain, and Japan.

The US planned to construct a huge fleet and Britain and Japan would have to expand their fleets or fall behind.

The US was uneasy about the 1905 British-Japanese military alliance and wanted a navy that could defeat the combined Japanese-British fleet.

Washington Conference

The Harding Administration called a conference in November 1921.

At the conference a 5:5:3 ratio in battleships and aircraft carriers for the US, Great Britain, and Japan was set.

Washington Conference

In return for Japanese acceptance of the smaller ratio, the US promised Japan it would not increase its fortifications in the Pacific west of Hawaii and Britain pledged it would not increase them east of Singapore and north of Australia.The British-Japanese alliance was terminated.

Japan and Manchuria

During the Great Depression, the Japanese army wanted to take strong measures against China in Manchuria, fearing that if they did not, the opportunity to secure hegemony in that region would be lost.China was weakened by a civil war between the Nationalists and Communists.

The Manchurian Incident

The Manchurian Incident of September 18, 1931 is viewed by many historians as the beginning of WWII.A small explosion on the tracks of a Japanese controlled railway in Manchuria was used by the Japanese Army as a pretext to take control of all of Manchuria.

Manchukuo

The Japanese set-up a puppet state which they called Manchukuo.

Effects of the Manchurian Incident

The victories in China engendered much enthusiasm in Japan and by 1936 the military had gained control of the Japanese government.

After 1931 the Nationalist government completely neglected land reform and the terrible poverty of the Chinese peasant.

Effects (con.)

Japan abandoned its policy of cooperation with the Western powers and chose to pursue its own destiny in East Asia.The military leadership now spoke of an “Asian Monroe Doctrine,” declaring Japan’s responsibility for maintaining the peace and controlling the economy of Asia.

Japan’s goals

To defeat the Soviet army, whose strength on the borders of Manchukuo had been strongly increased.To protect the home islands against the forces of the US navy and air forceTo induce the Chinese government to accept Japan’s hegemony in Manchuria and northern China.