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Japan's Involvement in WWI and Aggression in the Interwar Period

This text discusses Japan's reasons for getting involved in WWI, its growth as a leading power in East Asia, and its subsequent aggression in the interwar period. It covers topics such as territorial gains, racial equality, domestic problems, growing military influence, and the Second Sino-Japanese War.

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Japan's Involvement in WWI and Aggression in the Interwar Period

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  1. Based on this map, discuss: What reason did Japan have to get involved in WWI?

  2. Imperial Japan Unit 7: Interwar Period

  3. Leader of the East • Japan believed it their destiny to rule Asia after victory in Russo-Japanese War

  4. Japan in WWI • Japan joined Allies in order to gain German territory in the Pacific • After the war, Japan had a seat at the negotiating table in Versailles • Gained desired territory • Asked for racial equality clause in Treaty; denied • Japan becomes leading power in East as result of WWI • Joined League of Nations (LoN)

  5. The equality of nations being a basic principle of the League of Nations, the High Contracting Parties agree to accord as soon as possible to all alien nationals of states, members of the League, equal and just treatment in every respect making no distinction, either in law or in fact, on account of their race or nationality.

  6. Problems at Home • Post-war gov’t in Japan was plagued by scandal • Lost public’s trust • Conservatives begin to question Japan’s involvement in world affairs • U.S. set quotas on Asian immigration; Japanese citizens insulted, distrust the West • Fear of communism led to suppression of freedoms • China begins to get its act together in 1920s • Seen as threat to Japan

  7. Growing Military Influence • In response to communism and Chinese threat, Japanese military became influential as a means to stop both • Great Depression also hit Japan • Public came to believe military conquest would solve economic problems by creating new markets and acquiring resources • China became target of military ambition

  8. Japanese Aggression • Japanese military invaded Manchuria without permission from gov’t • Western powers denounce Japan’s aggression • Japanese public support military even more after Western criticism • Also happy with military success • Gov’t now unable to control military • Japan leaves LoN due to “unfair” criticism • “The West taught Japan poker, but after winning all the chips, declared the game immoral.” • Hitler takes notice of anti-LoN belief in Japan

  9. Japanese Aggression • Japan pushes for expansion into SE Asia • Argued for creating the Greater Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere • Front for domination of Asian continent • Still based on racism and genocide

  10. Second Sino-Japanese War, 1937-45 • Japan’s military and economy pushed to the limit • Supplies of rubber, oil almost depleted • West abandons all trade with Japan in protest • China fought back stronger than anticipated • China suffered extreme losses, refused to surrender • Stalemate until end of WWII

  11. Second Sino-Japanese War, 1937-45 • Japanese military in near-complete control over Japanese Parliament by 1940 • Emperor Hirohito still in power (no control over military) • General Hideki Tojo becomes leader in 1941 • Not technically a dictator, but still had significant power

  12. Rape of Nanjing • Part of 2nd S-J War • Japanese captured Nanjing, committed mass murder and rape against Chinese residents • 40,000-300,000 dead; ~20,000 raped • Today, Japanese gov’t still denies any atrocities; claims massacre was “military in nature”

  13. “The slaughter of civilians is appalling. I could go on for pages telling of cases of rape and brutality almost beyond belief. Two bayoneted corpses are the only survivors of seven street cleaners who were sitting in their headquarters when Japanese soldiers came in without warning or reason and killed five of their number and wounded the two that found their way to the hospital. Let me recount some instances occurring in the last two days. Last night the house of one of the Chinese staff members of the university was broken into and two of the women, his relatives, were raped. Two girls, about 16, were raped to death in one of the refugee camps. In the University Middle School where there are 8,000 people the Japs came in ten times last night, over the wall, stole food, clothing, and raped until they were satisfied. They bayoneted one little boy of eight who [had] five bayonet wounds including one that penetrated his stomach…”

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