Japan

Slide1: 

Japanese society in 1900s  learning from West Japanese industries - shipbuilding, textiles production of gas, electricity & chemicals  traditionalist attitude Samurai code of behaviour - loyalty to Emperor, stress on honour, die rather than surrender  Government Emperor - revered as a god restricted democracy power in Diet - controlled by wealthy powerful families & military officers

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Japanese economy Japan - small with few resources Industries imported raw materials for production of goods Heavily depended on exports in order to import Imports - Iron, oil, tin, cotton Exports - manufactured goods, silk

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Reasons for Japanese Aggression in Asia Economic factors $ 1920s strains on the economy as population increased food shortages & unemployment $ Great Depression - worsened economic problems USA - Japan’s largest market stopped buying Japanese goods fall in world trade led to collapse of silk industry in cities - factories closed unemployment rose, millions of peasants lived in poverty Solution - Conquest & Empire for economic security

Slide4: 

a belief in militarism - that war and conquest is solution to a problem what led to this belief?  Traditional respect for army  honouring Samurai code of behaviour & boshido spirit  patriotic societies - Black Dragon, Cherry Blossom  nationalism -intense pride in Japan, superiority of Japanese Reasons for Japanese Aggression in Asia Social / Cultural factors

Slide5: 

Worsening relations with USA Washington Naval Conference - limited size of navies USA : Britain : Japan = 5 : 5 : 3 USA persuaded Britain to end Naval Alliance with Japan USA immigration policies in 1920s open to North Europeans, excluded Asians USA seen as an area of employment to Japanese discrimination seen as insult 1930s Great Depression USA no longer wanted Japanese goods Reasons for Japanese Aggression in Asia Political factors

Slide6: 

students bowing to Emperor’s shrine in a pre war school

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Reasons for Japanese Aggression in Asia Political factors - cont. Worsening relations with West Japanese disappointment in Paris Peace Settlements expected recognition as world power - but failed wanted clause “ all races are equal” to be included in League of Nations - but failed A desire to be a world power a sense of humiliation by European & USA RACE ISSUE or GREED?

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Mukden Incident and Seizure of Manchuria, 1931-32 Sep 1931 – bomb explosion in Japanese owned South Manchurian Railway near Mukden Training containing Japanese and others blown up Planned by Japanese army? Immediate seizure of Manchuria by army Japanese government unhappy but could not do much Army’s act supported by people and gave army motivation

Slide9: 

Reaction of League of Nations China appealed to the league Lytton Commission investigated matter 1 yr later commission condemned Japan’s actions All members of league except Thailand and Japan voted for Japan’s withdrawal Japan left the league and no economic and military sanctions as both France and Britain wanted to avoid war New state – Manchukuo only recognised by Germany and Italy

Slide10: 

Mukden Incident 1931- Japanese invasion of Manchuria Why Manchuria? Japanese army already in Manchuria to protect Japanese bases & economic interests need for resources in Manchuria coal, iron & land China - weakened by civil wars KMT focus on wiping out CCP Mukden incident instigated by army without Japanese government approval

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Mukden Incident 1931- Japanese invasion of Manchuria Effects on Japan gained territory & resources Japanese army seen as heroes - militarism Japanese public opinion including businessmen support for militarism government had to accept army’s action only politicians who supported militarism could remain in power pacifists politicians assassinated led to militaristic government in Japan in 1930s

Slide13: 

Mukden Incident 1931- Japanese invasion of Manchuria Effect on rest of world China appealed to League of Nations League asked Japan to withdraw, Japan refused sent Lord Lytton to conduct investigation outcome : Japan was condemned and asked to withdraw Japan withdrew from League Showed the weakness of the League a lesson for Mussolini and Hitler

Slide14: 

Mukden Incident 1931- Japanese invasion of Manchuria Effects on China Xian incident forced KMT to end war with KMT to form 2nd United Front with CCP allowed Japanese expansion in China 1933 Jehol area between Manchuria and Beijing demilitarized 1933-34 Inner Mongolia 1935-36 Hebei & Chehar by 1936 Northern China under Japanese control

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Marco Polo Bridge Incident - Invasion of China 1937 -Marco Polo Bridge near Beijing - Incident not planned but accident July 1937 – Japanese soldiers ran into conflict with Chinese troops when doing a joint search for a missing Japanese Japanese denied access to an area and accused Chinese of opening fire on them Led to declaration of war though many top Japanese military leaders against war China more prepared as Chiang Kai-shek and communists had joint agreement

Slide17: 

Marco Polo Bridge Incident - Invasion of China 1937 Effects on Japan Japan was caught in a war of attrition by 1940 cost was $4 million a day severe drain on resources Effects on KMT loss support of Chinese people Effects on CCP gained support of people

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Invasion of Pearl Harbour 1940 invasion of Indo China 1940 Tripartite Pact - a military alliance Japan. Germany & Italy France defeated by Germany Japan demanded access into Indo China USA’s response saw Japan as a threat in Asia & Pacific stopped sale of oil, iron, steel & rubber froze all Japanese assets in USA Britain & Netherlands placed a similar embargo threatened Japan less than 2 years supply of oil

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Why Japan bombed Pearl Harbour Dec 1941 Cripple USA - USSR, Britain and France were busy with war in Europe against Germany USA was the only other power which could block Japan’s expansionist plans in the East - Japanese calculated that knocking out the US Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbour would gain them a two year period of supremacy at sea. - If Pearl Harbour was attacked, this would weaken USA. USA would be busy with its reparation and thus would not be able to stop Japan from taking over the countries in the Far East.

Slide21: 

Why Japan bombed Pearl Harbour Dec 1941 Change in leadership in Japan - Since March 1941, Japan was negotiating with USA - Mid October 1941, Japanese Prime Minister, Konoe was forced to resign - The new Prime Minister, General Toyo, was a staunch nationalist who strongly supported an aggressive foreign policy and establishment of a Japanese empire - He was against negotiation with USA - Since the leadership in Japan was more for aggression than negotiation, Pearl Harbour was attacked and destroyed by the Japanese.

Slide22: 

Why Japan bombed Pearl Harbour Dec 1941 Breakdown of relations between Japan and USA - Americans angered by Japanese invasion of Manchuria in 1931 - Japan began building up more ships than was agreed in the Washington Naval Agreement of 1921 (5:5:3) - America responded by banning shipment of aircraft and other armaments to Japan in 1938 - When Japan invaded Indochina, America responded by placing total embargo on exports to Japan, cutting off valuable supplies of raw materials to Japan - Japan thus felt that America needed to be taught a good lesson through a major blow. The invasion of Pearl Harbour would provide such a blow and also ensure that America would not be able to stop the invasion of Japan in the Far East for access of raw materials.

Slide24: 

Japan in retreat by 1942, America had rebuilt its fleet Japanese used Kamikaze pilots: Why? very patriotic nature of the Japanese – willing to die for the country / volunteered to die for mission - would cause widespread damage to American fleets e.g. 2,000 kamikaze pilots died sinking 30 American ships.

Slide25: 

Defeat of Japan Mid 1945: American naval blockade – food supply Air raid of Tokyo – 80,000 died No support from Italy and Germany – already defeated Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki 15 August 1945: Japanese surrender 02 September 1945: formal surrender Estimated 2 million Japanese soldiers and 600,000 civilians dies in the fighting

Slide26: 

Reasons for Japanese defeat in 1945 The survival of the US Fleet 2 American aircraft carriers were at sea and so were not destroyed during the bombing of Pearl Harbour although some battleships were destroyed, others were only damaged and were quickly repaired Valuable supply of oil and naval repair docks were left undamaged - Thus, the Americans were able to recover fast from the attack and became strong enough to confront the Japanese. This led to the defeat of the Japanese.

Slide27: 

Reasons for Japanese defeat in 1945 Island hopping campaign by the Allies - the Allies regained control of the Pacific forces by fighting island by island - they concentrated on islands of strategic importance, for instance those with good harbours and airfields, and bypassed those of lesser importance. - Before invasion, the island was heavily bombed to soften the Japanese - This strategy meant that the resources of the Allied forces were well used and thus were able to attack and contain the Japanese forces.

Slide28: 

Reasons for Japanese defeat in 1945 The Power of USA - USA was very rich, large and powerful - It had a huge resource base to draw on - At its peak, it could turn out over 70,000 tanks and 120,000 aircraft a year - The Japanese could survive as long as the Americans did not get involved in the war. - As the Americans were then involved in the war, it becomes difficult for Japan to defeat such a powerful force. It thus was defeated.

Slide29: 

Reasons for Japanese defeat in 1945 Problem of managing a large empire - Japan had captured to big an empire for it to handle - It required huge manpower, especially soldiers, and a great amount of resources - For example, for its war against China, Japan required a daily expenditure of US$4 million and China was just one part of its empire - The empire also extended too far to the extend that managing it became a problem - This meant that when the Allied forces invaded parts of the Japanese empire, Japan had to stretch its limited resources. It thus weakened Japan, leading to its defeat.

Slide30: 

Reasons for Japanese defeat in 1945 Resistance to Japanese rule Initially many Asians welcomed the Japanese who had shown that an Asian power could stand against the forces of the West. The Asians found the Japanese ‘New Order’ attractive The Japanese rule, however, turned out to be much harsher than the European rule. The Japanese considered themselves a superior race. e.g. the Chinese were ill-treated. This led to the rise of resistant groups against the Japanese rule in the occupied countries. - The Japanese soldiers had to be deployed to control these resistance groups. This weakened the Japanese forces leading to the defeat in the hands of the Allied forces.

Slide31: 

Reasons for Japanese defeat in 1945 Impact of the Atomic Bomb Early 1945, the Americans launched a series of devastating raids in Japan On 6th August 1945, the Americans bombed Hiroshima On 9th August 1945, the Americans bombed Nagasaki Due to the bombing, 70,000 died immediately in Hiroshima and 40,000 in Nagasaki. Thousands more died of radiation sickness in the years to follow - The bombing caused great suffering and had a demoralizing effect on the Japanese people. It also raised the importance of defending its own people – Japan thus surrendered.

Slide32: 

Hiroshima 6 months after the bombing

Slide33: 

Were the Americans justified in using the Atomic Bomb? Weakened Japan 70,000 in Hiroshima and 40,000 Nagasaki died Thousands more died later due to radiation sickness Forced Japan to retreat back to defend its own country Revenge Civilians died in Pearl Harbour Japanese ill treated many colonised people Caused damages to American resources A good revenge for America Showed America’s supremacy Show that America powerful enough to cause major damage Warning to rivals like Japan and USSR Helped to keep enemies at a distance

Slide34: 

Were the Americans justified in using the Atomic Bomb? Increased suspicion of USSR Stalin and USSR only informed after the invasion USSR became suspicious of USA Increased rivalry, leading to Cold War Devastating effects on civilians 10s of thousands of people died immediately Many more died years later Unfair as civilians not involved in war Japan already losing the war Even without the bombing, Allies and USA could have won USA already taking control over the air and sea A bombing was not necessary