Rise and Fall of the Japanese Empire

Rise and Fall of the Japanese Empire

An End to Isolation

“The condition of foreign states is not what it once was; they have invented the steamship and introduced radical changes in the art of navigation. They have also built up their armies… and risen to be formidable powers. If, therefore, we persistently cling to our outdated systems, heaven only knows what disaster may befall our Empire.”

—Lord Koroda

Meiji Restoration

1700 20001800 1900Civil WWI WWII VietnamRevolutionary

• Japan signs “unequal” trade treaties w/ USA Ends 200+ years of isolation

• Negative feelings against foreigners & Tokugawa shogun grew• 1868—Rebels force shogun step down

Emperor restored to power New goal: “Enrich the country, strengthen the

military”• To modernize itself, Japan…

Adapts Western technology Studies Western culture Adapted Western government to Japanese

needs Created a constitution (USA) Two-house Diet, or parliament (Germany) Legal system (Europe) Organized executive departments

(Education, Finance, Military, etc)

A Visit to the “Western Barbarians”

“Even high-ranking officials do not show contempt towards men of lower classes. Neither do they act in a domineering manner. Therefore the ordinary people need not flatter high officials.”


“One day, on a sudden thought, I asked a gentleman where the descendants of George Washington might be. He replied, ‘I think there is a woman who is directly descended from Washington. I don’t know here she is now, but I think I have heard she is married.’ His answer was so very casual that it shocked me.”


“In garbage piles, on the seashores—everywhere—I found lying old oil tins, empty cans, and broken tools. This was remarkable to us, for in Edo, after a fire, there would be hundreds of poor people swarming in the ruined district, looking for nails in the charred wood, so valuable metal was metal in Japan.”


“We had not entirely been wrong to call them western barbarians… I would forgive their impoliteness because of their friendliness.”

Imperialism* Begins


• By 1900, Japan = modern industrial nation• Japan looks to gain overseas empire• Defeat China in war over claims to Korea• Also gain rights to Taiwan• Defeat Russia & gain foothold in

Manchuria (China)• By expanding, Japan sought equal political standing with western powers.

*a policy of extending a country’s power and influence through diplomacy or military force

Extreme Nationalism• Peace and prosperity during 1920s• Business leaders favored strengthening Japan by diplomatic means rather than military expansion• Great Depression hits USA, spreads around world• Countries aren’t buying Japan’s goods• Value of goods falls 50%

• Failure to solve crisis led to unrest• Military leaders gained power, create military dictatorship• Promoted militarism: glorification of the

military and readiness for war• Mission was to “free Asian nations from western imperialism”

20001800 1900Civil WWI WWII Vietnam

WWII Begins


• Asia: Japan conquering China• Europe: Germany & Italy plunge Europe into WWII• 1940: Japan forms alliance w/ Germany & Japan (Axis Powers)• Opponents of Axis = USA, Britain, USSR, France (Allied Powers)• Japan takes over French Indochina (Vietnam)• USA responds by cutting off oil & other supplies to Japan• Essential for Japanese military• Reason why Japan invaded SE Asia: Needed oil

• Japanese diplomats negotiate with USA to avoid war• Meanwhile, Japan was preparing for war.

WWII: 1939-1945

“A Date Which Will Live in Infamy…”

20001900Civil WWI WWII Vietnam

•FDR wanted to go to war with Germany due to dire situation• Ironically, Japan attacks instead.• December 7, 1941: Japan bombs Pearl Harbor (US Naval base in Hawaii)• Destroyed 8 battleships; killed 2,500 Americans

• FDR didn’t want war with Japan; wanted war w/ Germany• “Luckily” Hitler declares war on US soon thereafter

• Japan believed that if they weakened us enough, they could easily conquer SE Asia

“December 7, 1941, a date which will live in infamy… No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people, in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory.”

--President Franklin D. Roosevelt

Japanese Internment Camps

20001900Civil WWI WWII Vietnam

• FDR issues executive order that forces all Japanese-Americans on West Coast into internment camps• Due process, but court rulings usually unfair

because immigrants were “foreign” and “associated with the enemy”

• Real fear of invasion on West Coast• Japanese-Americans politically and

economically insignificant on West Coast (~1.5% of population); significant in Hawaii (~35%)

• Blatant racism; not “white”

Japanese Defeat


• US emerges w/ unity after WWII• “Island-hopping” military strategy• After defeat of Germany & Italy on V-E Day (May 8, 1945), Allies call on Japan to surrender.• Japan refuses

• August 6, 1945: American bomber drops atomic bomb on Hiroshima.• Killed 80,000 instantly; leveled 4 square

miles• Japan STILL refuses to surrender• 3 days later: Atom bomb #2

• Killed 40,000• August 14: Japan surrenders• For the first time in its history, Japan

becomes occupied by a foreign power.

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Documents

Rise and Fall of the Japanese Empire