Buildup to WWII

Mrs. BoydMt. Lebanon

10th Grade World Cultures

The Meiji Success

• Japan Modernizes – Still keeps traditional values

• Japan’s confidence goes up.– renegotiates unequal treaties.– They want more – they want what the

west has

• First Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895)• Gained:• Taiwan• Manchuria• Foothold and Influence in Korea

• Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905)• Destruction of a Russian fleet• Finally respected as a world power• Japan is seen as a growing threat

• Annexation of Korea (1910)• World War I (1914-1918)• Second Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945)• Included the Rape of Nanjing

Asia for Asians

“Liberating” Asia from Western imperialism

Japanese Imperialism

• Why?– Need for the raw

materials of industry? – NO oil

– Lack of fertile land for agriculture?

– Markets for finished products?

– Population growth?– Response to

Western imperialism?“Enrich the country, strengthen the military”

1920s

• Peace and Happiness – Japanese business leaders and people

are happy

• Decide that they have expanded enough!– Fighting is not always good for business

• Leaders sign a pact with the U.S. and Britain to reduce their navy

Effects of the Great Depression

• Decreased the number of exports to foreign countries. – tariffs placed on imports to protect their

own industries • 1929-1931 – Value of Japanese exports fell

by 50%– Results: Factories closed and

unemployment rose• Japan could not handle the changes

– Many people started blaming the government

– “If we would have continued expansion we would have been fine.”

– Mad at American anti Asian Immigration laws

Japanese Militarism on the Rise

1930s – Japan becomes a military dictatorship– New leaders promote glorification of the military – Revival of Samurai traditions (Bushido Code)

• Mission: Free Asia from western imperialism – get resources from China

Decision to Attack

• Japan joins the Axis Powers – Germany, Italy, and Japan.

• Attacks China for resources.• The U.S. response by cutting off

Japan’s oil supply– Needs oil supply to continue expanding

and to operate their own country– New leaders will lose the people.

The Sleeping Giant Awakes