WW2 in the Asia Pacific

start

world war 2

in the asia pacific

Short term factors (1939 - 1941)

Long term factors (1800s to 1932)

1. Samurai legacy

12. Link to WW2

11. Lead up to Pearl Harbour attack

10. War in Europe

9. American embargo

8. Weak LON

7. Expansionist policy

6. Economic and political crises in Japan

5. Paris Peace Conference

4. American racism

3. Japanese ambition (China)

2. Japanese ambition (Russia)

REASONS

Traditionally, Japanese society was organised based on a four-tier social system with samurai warriors on top. This made the people open to strong military leaders influencing political events. Samurais were a source of national pride. People valued the honour-based samurai code and saw surrendering as dishonourable. State religion - Shintoism was also used by the imperial government to create national unity centred on the emperor. Loyalty was absolute. How does this cultural legacies influence Japan's attitude and actions that eventually led to WW2 in the Asia Pacific?

Seppuku or Harakiri was a ritual suicide by samurais to die with honour instead of accepting defeat in the hands of their enemy.

How did Japan's victory over Russia in 1905 influence its decision to start WW2 in the Asia-Pacific?

JAPAN'S AMBITION (1)

The Russian Empire wanted to establish a permanent military and naval base in Manchuria (northeastern China). Japan saw this as a security threat due to its interests in Korea (in proximity). Japan offered to accept Russian influence in Machuria if Russia accepted Japanese influence in Korea. Russia did not want to negotiate with an "inferior" country. Angered, Japan declared war on Russia.

The Russo-Japanese War (1904-05). Click on the + button for more info!

How did gaining Taiwan and Korea influence Japan to start WW2 in the Asia Pacific some 40 years later?

Japan's ambition (2)

In 1894, Japan fought a successful war (1st Sino-Japanese War) against China over the control of Korea. Korea was initially under the weak Qing dynasty. After signing the Treaty of Shimonoseki in 1895, China was forced to give up Korea and Taiwan to Japan. Taiwan became Japan's first overseas colony. The Korean queen, Myeonseong asked the Russians to help rid of the Japanese. She was assassinated by Japanese agents and Japan controlled Korea directly in 1910.

American discrimination against the Japanese contributed to the tense relations between the USA and Japan. Laws were passed to protect American jobs and to exclude the Chinese. Korean and Japanese immigrants. America passed the Chinese Exclusion Act to suspend Chinese immigration, followed by the Japanese and Korean Exclusion Act in 1905. Americans feared competition for jobs from Japanese immigrants and the Japanese were greatly offended by this policy. How did these racist policies influence Japan to start WW2 in the Asia Pacific close to 40 years later?

AMERICAN RACISM AGAINST THE JAPANESE

HUMILIATION AT THE PARIS PEACE CONFERENCE

This caused unhappiness amongs the Japanese as they were not given equal respect.

Appointed Prime Minister from 1937 - 1941. Prince Konoe was chosen by the Emperor to keep the army under control. He pursued an aggressive policy against China. Read up more about the 2nd Sino-Japanese War in 1937 later.

At the 1919 conference (recall TOV), Prince Fumimaro Konoe who later became the Prime Minister of Japan proposed a racial equality clause to be included in the covenant of the League of Nations. This was in response to the racial discrimination against Japanese immigrants in the USA. Britain and Australia did not approve of the idea. Woodrow Wilson, President of the USA would not pass the proposal without full agreement. Thus, the proposal was rejected.

How Japan reacted?

What's the issue?

So, how did this episode in 1919 influence Japan's action some 20 years later?

What else encouraged Japan to respond with aggression?

Causes of internal economic problems

How these crises influenced Japan to start WW2?

ECONOMIC and political CRISIS IN JAPAN

How did Japan respond to the crises?

Japanese expansionist foreign policy

What was Japan's plan for Southeast Asia?

Why did Japan embark on expansionist policy?

How did this lead to WW2 in the Asia Pacific?

Why Japan wanted to occupy more?

(2) LON unable to stop the Second Sino-Japanese War (1937): Japanese troops were doing training near Marco Polo Bridge in Wanping, outside Beijing. A few shots were fired and the Chinese retaliated in defense. The Japanese accused the Chinese of capturing one of its soldiers. Tensions arose and the Japanese used it as an excuse to attack China. China asked LON for help but LON was not willing to get involved as Western powers were busy fighting Hitler.

(1) LON unable to stop the invasion of Manchuria (1931): Manchuria was important to Japan for its raw materials for Japan's industries and served as a crucial location to invade China later. Mukden incident happened near the Japanese-owned railway where a bomb exploded. The Japanese army blamed the Chinese and used it as an excuse to invade. China was preoccupied with its own civil war to resist the attack. Japan established a satellite stated called Manchukuo. China protested and the LON started investigation known as the Lytton Report. LON condemned Japan as aggressor. Japan simple quit LON and LON could not enforce anything on Japan.

How this influenced Japan to start WW2 in the Asia Pacific?

weakness of the league of nations

How did the turn of events led Japan to start a war in the Asia Pacific?

1. Japan needed those resources to support Japan's war effort in China in the 2nd Sino-Japanese war. USA became Japan's enemy.
2. All the more Japan needed to conquer to oil-rich countries in the Southeast Asia to take the resources and finish their mission to take over China.
3. Japan must hasten the expansion plan.

1. America initially adopted isolationism, did not want to be involved in international conflict. So, Japan had a free hand attacking China.
2. The Japanese atrocities known as the Nanking Massacre shook the world and the American public pressured American President Roosevelt to stop Japan and send aid to China.
3. Roosevelt cancelled commericial treaty with Japan, restricted trade and placed embargo to ban the sales of steel, iron and fuel to Japan

impact on japan

AMERICAN EMBARGO

How this led to Japan starting WW2 in the Asia Pacific?

The outbreak of war in Europe in 1939 meant that British and French defences in the Asia Pacific were critically weakened and depleted. As the colonial powers focused on fighting Germany, Southeast Asia was left defenceless. This made our region an easy target for the Japanese.

war in europe

The American Pacific Fleet was moved from San Diego to Pearl Harbour in Hawaii in 1939 as a deterrent to Japanese attack. The fleet even had the necessary sea and air power to defend Southeast Asia, why do you think the military planners failed disastrously? Read textbook page 184 to find out why.

The attack on Pearl Harbour (Hawaii) was Japan's concrete step towards waging war in the Asia Pacific.

LInk to ww2 in asia pacific

At 7.55 am on 7 December 1941, Japanese planes struck Pearl Harbour, sinking 5 of the 8 battleships at anchor, destroying its aircraft fields. Over 2.400 Americans were killed. Roosevelt declared on Japan the next day. WW2 in the Asia Pacific formally began.

WHY PEARL HARBOUR?

Japan would never yield to USA and withdraw from China, so to make up for the loss of resources and resume its war in China, Japan had to occupy Southeast Asia and its raw materials. American Pacific Fleet in Hawaii was the only obstacle left that could have stopped Japan. So, Japan thought a quick 'knockout' blow at Pearl Harbour would cripple the Americans while they quickly conquer the defenceless Southeast Asia.

LINK TO PEARL HARBOUR ATTACK AND WW2

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