Lesson 4 - Post-World War One Japan

Question 1

How did Japan feel after the Treaty of Versailles?

Answer 1

Angry that their request for the inclusion of a Racial Equality Clause had been ignored and frustrated at only being given Shandong Province in China.

Question 2

What was the impact of the Great Depression on Japan?

Answer 2

• Value of Japanese goods dropped by 50%.
• Businesses went bankrupt and 3 million people were unemployed.
• The government were unable to manage the crisis.
• The military increased their role in Japanese politics and decided that the best way to recover was with an aggressive foreign policy to take the resources they needed.

Question 3

What region did Japan invade in September 1931?

Answer 3

Manchuria

Question 4

Why did the Japanese invade Manchuria?

Answer 4

• The Japanese already had forces located in Southern Manchuria.
• A successful invasion would provide them with a strong position to launch a future invasion of the rest of China.
• Manchuria was rich in natural resources including coal, iron and aluminium.

Question 5

What were the consequences of the invasion of Manchuria?

Answer 5

• Japan turned Manchuria into Manchukuo = a Japanese puppet state.
• Japan left the League of Nations with no economic or military sanctions placed on them.
• The influence of the military in the government was reinforced.
• It gave the Japanese confidence of their military prowess in Asia.
• It provided them with the resources they needed to help support the recovery of the economy and the expansion of the military.