Brainscape China Booklet 3 c1931-45

Question 1

Why was Japan more industrially developed than China by 1920?

Answer 1

Adopted and adapted western technologies in the 19th century, militarisation (government contracts), American investment and trade

Question 2

List 5 reasons why Japan was interested in China before 1931.

Answer 2

Raw materials, living space, East Asian ‘co prosperity’ sphere (build an empire), racial superiority, fear of USSR expansion, collapse of US trade (Wall Street Crash of 1929 and Great Depression)

Question 3

Who succeeded Sun Yatsen as leader of the GMD (Nationalists) in 1925?

Answer 3

Chiang Kai-shek (aka Jiang Jieshi) - military man trained at the Whampoa Military Academy. Very anti-CCP.

Question 4

What was the name of Chiang’s campaign to unify MOST of China?

Answer 4

Northern Expedition 1926-27

Question 5

Name the 3 key events in the development of the CCP 1920-1936.

Answer 5

1920 Formation of the CCP (with Soviet support), 1923-1927 United Front between CCP and GMD, Long March (Jiangxi to Yana’s) 1934-36.

Question 6

Describe the Tanaka Memorial, 1927.

Answer 6

Baron Tanaka’s (prime minister) declaration that Japan must expand to survive. Conquest of Manchuria to lead to occupation of China (Has ben argued to be a fake).

Question 7

A disease of the skin, opposed to a disease of the heart. What is this referring to?

Answer 7

Chiang’s focus on defeating the CCP (heart) over the Japanese (skin)

Question 8

What was the Kwantung Army?

Answer 8

The Japanese forces stationed in north east Manchuria.

Question 9

Why can the Mukden Incident be a result of insubordination (not following orders).

Answer 9

Kwantung army, trying to act before Tokyo government reigned them in, blew up railway - blamed Chinese and used as an excuse to get Japanese government to attack Manchuria in 1931.

Question 10

Anti-Japanese feeling spread. How did Chiang respond to Japanese aggression?

Answer 10

Withdrew forces (Zhang Xueliang aka Young Marshal), appealed to League of Nations, focused attacks on CCP

Question 11

How did the League of Nations respond to China’s appeal in 1931?

Answer 11

League set up the Lytton Commission to investigate and report Japan’s involvement.

Question 12

Why wouldn’t the west intervene militarily to stop Japan in Manchuria in the ’30s?

Answer 12

1930s economic problems due to the Wall Street Crash and horrors of WWI meant western nations were unwilling to get dragged into costly war.

Question 13

Who was installed as the Manchukuo head of state in 1932 and why?

Answer 13

Puyi, as a Manchu and former emperor, would give legitimacy to the state.

Question 14

How did Japan develop Manchukuo? 3 examples

Answer 14

Built infrastructure such as roads, railway and an airline, set up department stores, developed industry such as mining, developed military defence (Kwantung Army)

Question 15

How did the Chinese react to the invasion of Manchuria?

Answer 15

Boycotted Japanese goods (sales were cut by 2/3) Protests and uprisings (guerrilla campaigns) against Japanese industry and civilians in the north and Shanghai.

Question 16

Why did Japan bomb and then occupy Shanghai with 70,000 troops in January 1932

Answer 16

To ‘teach China a lesson’ for boycotts, uprisings and attacks on Japanese living China and for the GMD/NRA opposition.

Question 17

Why did Chiang retreat from Taiwan and ask for a peace treaty in 1933?

Answer 17

Chiang did not think China was ready. Adopted a policy of ‘appeasement’. Wanted to defeat CCP, then worry about Japan. Hoped USSR or USA would intervene.

Question 18

What was the Treaty called that gave Manchuria to Japan.

Answer 18

Treaty of Tanggu, May 1933.

Question 19

How did the Treaty of Tanggu embolden Japan?

Answer 19

Convinced sceptical moderates in government to support imperialistic army and push for more territory both in China and South East Asia.

Question 20

What famous trek helped the CCP to survive relentless GMD attacks 1927 - 36?

Answer 20

Long March 1934-36

Question 21

What was the Xi’an Incident of late 1936?

Answer 21

Chiang was kidnapped by one of his northern advisors, Zhang Xueliang, who tried to convince Chiang to stop attacks on CCP and deal with Japan.

Question 22

Japanese and Chinese troops clashed at Marco Polo Bridge July 1937. Why were Japanese there?

Answer 22

Boxer Protocol 1901 stated that foreigners could keep troops in China to protect interests/civilians

Question 23

Chiang finally resolved to fight after the Marco Polo Bridge incident. Where did he attack and why?

Answer 23

Shanghai to open a second front for Japan (other than Manchuria), outnumber and surprise Japanese, attract international interest/sympathy

Question 24

Why did Chiang lose Shanghai by November 1937?

Answer 24

aerial bombing errors, Japanese naval support, lack of equipment (e.g. tanks) and ineffective shells, refugee chaos, 300,000 fatalities

Question 25

Why did Japan march on Nanking in late 1937?

Answer 25

capital city, where the GMD retreated to, natural move inland

Question 26

Give three reasons historians give for the Japanese atrocities in the ‘Rape of Nanjing’.

Answer 26

break Chinese morale, send a message of fear across China, revenge for Chinese opposition, racism

Question 27

Once Japan had secured the eastern seaboard, Chiang withdrew the capital to which city in 1938?

Answer 27

Chongqing

Question 28

Name 3 other things Chiang moved west. (anticipating Japanese conquest of the east)

Answer 28

Art treasure, factories (2,000), government offices, universities, millions of refugees

Question 29

There was one celebrated Chinese victory in the east. Who lead the Battle of Tai’erzhuang?

Answer 29

Li Zongren (shook view of Japanese invincibility)

Question 30

Why did Chiang destroy the Yellow River dikes, creating 3 million refugees and killing 500,000?

Answer 30

To stop the Japanese western advance. Did delay by 3 months.

Question 31

What was the Anti-Comintern Pact 1937 and how did it affect China?

Answer 31

Germany recalled their military advisors after they joined in an alliance with Japan in 1937.

Question 32

What aid did the Soviets offer in 1937/8?

Answer 32

50,000 rifles, 10,000 machine guns, 100 tanks and 900 aircraft as well as instructors and pilots

Question 33

In 1938, Chiang introduced conscription and increased taxes. Why? Surely this was futile?

Answer 33

Chiang was hoping more western assistance would come, if China could hold out (especially if Japan continued to expand empire). Also, hopefully China’s size (geography and population) would wear down Japan.

Question 34

Why did USSR withdraw military support from China in 1939?

Answer 34

Signed Nazi-Soviet Pact.

Question 35

What help did the USA give BEFORE December 1941? (3 examples)

Answer 35

Loans to GMD to stabilise economy, 14th US Air Force and Claire Chennault, P-40 fighters, economic sanctions against Japan (e.g. froze Japanese assets in US banks, stopped oil and iron exports).

Question 36

Why did Japan attack America’s Pearl Harbor (Hawaii) on the 7th December, 1941?

Answer 36

Knock out American main fleet to allow Japan time to secure control of western colonies (such as Malaya and Dutch East Indies).

Question 37

America declared war of Japan and allied with China. How did China benefit? 3 reasons.

Answer 37

$500 million loan and $630 million Lend Lease to provide military supplies (e.g. B29 Superbomber) General Stillwell as Chiang’s Chief of Staff, ‘Hump’ (supplies flown over the Himalayas) to overcome closure of Burma Road.

Question 38

Why was Japan in retreat before summer 1945? 3 reasons

Answer 38

Overextended, 40% of troops drawn into China, could not compete against industrially superior USA (Pittsburgh out produced Manchuria by 40 times), End of war in Europe, Soviet attacks in Manchuria.

Question 39

Name one positive effect of the war for China.

Answer 39

Increased Chinese nationalism. Kept the CCP alive (Communist positive!!)

Question 40

Where were the atom bombs dropped in August 1945 which secured Japanese surrender?

Answer 40

Hiroshima (6th) and Nagasaki (9th). Japanese Surrender 15th August.