Japan

Question 1

What are some different interpretations of the intentions of Japan? [3]

Answer 1

• David Bergamini argued in Japan’s Imperial Conspiracy that expansion was part of a long-term strategic plan to conquer Asia.
• Japan had a more imperialist policy in Asia, planned to carry out diplomatically. ‘Stumbled into war’ after taking a step too far with their gambles.
• Japan had defensive intentions of liberating Asia from Western dominance & provocation. Aiming to create a sphere of influence outside of western involvement.

Question 2

What were some long-term causes of Japanese expansionism? [3]

Answer 2

• Modernization & reforms that came with changes of gov’ saw industrial and military growth, creating powerful army and navy.
• Success in war with China (1894-95), and Russia (1905) supported and then further encouraged a turn to expansionist foreign policy, as well as nationalism in Japan. Inspired respect from the west.
• Further attempts at territorial gain in China during the 20th century created a bad relationship w USA, whose interests were threatened by strong Japanese influence in the region.

Question 3

How did political instability in China precipitate the Manchurian crisis of 1931? [3]

Answer 3

• Chinese nationalism grew in the late 20s, towards the behavior of foreigners in China and unequal treaties.
• The Nationalist Party (led by Jiang Jieshi) gained popularity was initially aligned with the Communist Party in the goal of consolidating central government, but they turned against each other, escalating the conflict into civil war.
• From 1927, civil war directed Jiang Jieshi’s focus and energy to defeating the communists instead of Japan. Also, the Northern Expedition threatened Japanese interests in Manchuria.

Question 4

What were some economic issues in Japan that influenced their foreign policy towards Manchuria? [3]

Answer 4

• Japan was dependant on world trade, and suffered as other countries put up tariffs during the Great Depression.
• The price of silk fell by 80% from ‘23 to ‘32, and farmers were badly hit.
• This resulted in increased poverty and unemployment, which rose to 3 million.

Question 5

Why was Japan attracted to Manchuria? [2]

Answer 5

• From economic issues: Manchuria thus became important to Japan’s interests. It had a wealth in resources (coal, iron, timber), and Japan would gain the market for manufactured goods, helping Japan withstand impact of global depression.
• Manchuria was four times larger than Japan and could provide living space for the overpopulated country.

Question 6

What were the events in Manchuria, 1931? [2]

Answer 6

• A section of Japanese owned railway was blown up near Mukden. The Kwantung Army accused the Chinese of being responsible and used this as an excuse to take control of Mukden and expand North.
• Ignoring orders from Tokoyo, the Kwantung army continued to conquer Manchuria, declared the state of Manchukuo in 1932

Question 7

What were the effects of the Mukden incident on Japanese foreign relations? [2]

Answer 7

• Following the incident, there was a deterioration in relations between the USA, Britian, & Japan. who condemned Japan, and forced them to leave the LON in 1933.
• Tensions with the USSR increased, as they also had interests in Manchuria—Japan saw them as a potential threat, the USSR also opposed them ideologically.

Question 8

What were some political issues in Japan leading up to the Mukden incident? [2]

Answer 8

• During this time, the Japanese army became increasingly independent of the government’s control, notably the unilateral assassination of Japanese backed warlord Zhang Zuolin in 1928.
• Criticism of the gov’ grew as they struggled to deal with the Great Depression.

Question 9

What were the results of the Mukden incident for Manchuria and China? [3]

Answer 9

• By 1932, Manchuria was wholly under Japanese control, renamed the state Manchukuo.
• Fighting broke out in Shanghai 1932, and Japanese bombings brought thousands of casualties and refugees.
• China called on the LON. However, Jiang took little action against the Japanese, relinquishing territory in , in 1935 agreeing to remove troops from Hebei province.

Question 10

What happened in Japan’s descent into ‘the Dark Valley’? [3]

Answer 10

• After 1932, divisions between politicians and the military and within the military itself destabilised the political situation, and lead to a military gov’.
• In the power struggle between the Toesi-ha and Kodo-ha (more radical) imperialist military factions, three major assassination plots destabilised the gov’.
• Of these, an attempted coup in Tokyo 1936 led to an increase of power of the Tosei-ha faction, and gave greater military control of the gov’.

Question 11

What was and what were the causes of the Sino-Japanese war? [3]

Answer 11

• With the military gaining power in Japan, Japanese and Chinese forces clashed athletes the Marco Polo bridge in Beijing 1937, an excuse for Japan to broaden their attack on mainland China.
• Japan pushed the Chinese nationalist gov’ out of Nanjing in The Rape of Nanjing (1937), when soldiers and civilians were subjected to atrocities of violence and cruelty.

Question 12

What was the significance of the Sino-Japanese war? [3]

Answer 12

• Increased tensions between USA and Japan, concerned by Japanese expansion, perhaps threatened; USS Panay sunk ‘37.
• Resulted in complete takeover of military in gov’ by ‘41
• Japan announced in ‘38 plan to create the Greater East Asia Co-prosperity Sphere, new order.

Question 13

What was the Tripartite Pact? [2]

Answer 13

• In 1940, Japan, Italy, & Germany agreed to allow each other to dominate the respective regions of Europe and Asia, and to support each other if they went to war with any new countries.
• Japan could easily occupy the colonies of the Western democracies defeated by G or I - they moved into Indochina. Britain and the USA were disturbed by this move, increasing aid to Jiang, and halting trade with Japan.

Question 14

What was the Neutrality Pact? [1]

Answer 14

• Foreign minister Matsuoka was able to secure the northern border with the Soviet Union twice previously contested over border disputes. Was mutually beneficial as the USSR could concentrate on Europe, and J on moving forces further south.
• From ‘41 the relationship calmed as the Soviets focussed on Germany.

Question 15

What were factors that put Japan on the road to war?

Answer 15

• Japan viewed Britain and the USA as obstacles in their territorial ambitions.
• civilian gov’ gradually collapsed as military gained influence.
• Sino-Japanese war: Japan was trapped in a war too big to win and impossible to abandon.

Question 16

Why did Japan attack Pearl Harbour? [2]

Answer 16

• The US trade embargo from the expansion into Indochina jeopardised their long term prospects in war, no option but to secure more oil resources through further expansion in SEA. The navy were adamant in the necessity to disable the American Pacific fleet to do this.
• Negotiations with the US over the embargo through ‘41 were unsuccessful - Japanese unlikely to accept American terms; withdrawing from China would provoke rebellion in Japan.

Question 17

What are reasons why the USA was responsible for the war in the Pacific? [3]

Answer 17

• The USA made an enemy of Japan in their attempts to contain her through limiting Japanese gains in TOV, and ending her relationship with Britain.
• Siding with and supplying aid to China in Sino-Japanese war increased tension.
• See embargo gave Japan no alternative.

Question 18

What was and what were the effects of the LON response to the Mukden incident? [3]

Answer 18

• The LON responded cautiously, commissioning a report on the incident lead by Lord Lytton, which took 17 months to complete, while Japan continued to expand through Manchuria.
• The report condemned Japan’s actions, and demanded that they withdraw from Manchuria. Japan did not accept the report, leaving LON in ‘33. They saw the judgement as hypocritical given British & French historical imperialism.
• B & F were unwilling to act when their own interests were not at stake, furthermore hesitant to spend resources after the great depression.

Question 19

What was China’s response to the Manchurian crisis after 1932? [4]

Answer 19

• Jiang’s failure to stand up to the Japanese lost him support and resulted in uprisings in China & within his own party, notably in Beijing ‘35.
• Negotiations between the CCP and Jiang created a Second United Front between Communist and Nationalist party, as civil war was suspended to deal with Japanese (1936). Change of policy for Jiang.
• The United Front suffered badly, and by 38, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou & Nanjing had fallen.
• However the SUF drew the Japanese further into conflict, and by ‘40 had committed over 750000 troops.

Question 20

What was the USA’s response to Japanese actions from 1931-37? [4]

Answer 20

• They maintained a policy of isolationism, taking minimal action towards the Japanese.
• The US interests and security were not directly threatened.
• The US had much stronger trade ties with Japan than with China, which they wanted to protect.
• The Stimson non-recognition doctrine in ‘32 declared that they would not recognise any agreement violating China’s rights. Allowed Hoover to uphold intl law, yet avoid placing economic sanctions.

Question 21

What was the American policy towards Japan in 1938?

Answer 21

• They continued to take limited action, despite growing influence of the Japanese in the Pacific, in coherence with their isolationism. Indeed, the lack of sanctions actually supported Japan’s war effort, supplying oil and scrap iron.

Question 22

Why did the USA change its policy towards Japan after 1938? [2]

Answer 22

• Roosevelt did not support the isolationists with regards to the Neutrality Acts, and using presidential powers chose not to apply them to China. The USA then began to give monetary and oil loans, beginning at $25 mil.
• Pushed by announcement for ‘a new order in East Asia’, and also the international context of German victories in Europe and the Tripartite Pact.

Question 23

How did the USA pressure Japan from 1939-41? [2]

Answer 23

• The USA continued to supply aid to China, including millions of dollars and fighter planes ‘41
• At the same time, they kept increasing embargoes on Japanese trading industries, including scrap metal, aviation fuel, and in November, oil.