The Rise of Japanese Militarism

The Interwar Years

Post-World War I Japan

After World War I, Japan saw itself as the dominant power in the East

It began to pursue policies that would increase their territory and their influence in Asia

Ultimately, these policies would lead to the outbreak of war in the Pacific

Motives for Japanese Expansion

Economics Japan was in desperate need of natural resources

to fuel its industry and military Extreme Nationalism

Many Japanese citizens believed that Japan was the most superior country in Asia and therefore had the right to rule everyone else

Acts by Western Powers Several actions by Western powers were motivated

by the belief that Japan was not equal; these insults fueled imperialistic desires in Japan

The Invasion of China Begins In 1931 Japan invaded the northern area of

China, Manchuria, which had huge deposits of natural resources like coal

The League of Nations did nothing

1937: The Invasion Spreads

After a few years, Japanese forces moved south and invaded China

During this invasion they took control of the Chinese capital, Nanking (also written as Nanjing—same place)

Go to this site and read the Japanese ambassador’s justification for this invasion

Answer the three questions at the bottom of the document

http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/ps/china/japanese_ambassador.pdf

Go to this site and read the Japanese ambassador’s justification for this invasion

Answer the three questions at the bottom of the document

http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/ps/china/japanese_ambassador.pdf

The Rape of Nanking, 1937

During the invasion, the people of Nanking were treated horribly by the Japanese soldiers

Go to this website and read the short history. http://www.historyplace.com/worldhistory/genocide/nanking.htm

Then look at some of the pictures in the this photo gallery. Be warned, some of them are very horrific:

http://www.cnd.org/njmassacre/page1.html

The Japanese Government

Though Japan had an emperor, the military had taken control of the government by this time

Emperor Hirohito could not stand up to the powerful generals, but he was worshipped by the people, who often fought in his name

The military leader of Japan was General Hideki Tojo

The need for more resources

Next, Japan began to look towards Southeast Asia for more resources

Their quest for territory and resources in this part of Asia would lead the US to become involved with stopping their expansion

But more on that later….

Imperial Japan in 1939