Causes of all-out war with Japan in 1937

Question 1

Chaing Kai-Shek was willing to tolerate the puppet state of Manchuko as long as..

Answer 1

there would be no further Japanese incursions. However, the Japanese kept pushing for further territory.

Question 2

One reason for why Japan acted so quickly?

Answer 2

They knew that China would resist at some point when they could, and China was only getting stronger economically - therefore if they acted fast they could keep China weak.

Question 3

Who did Jiang Jieshi view as the greatest threat?

Answer 3

the communists, not the Japanese

Question 4

when was the Xi’an incident?

Answer 4

Chaing Kai-Shek was captured hostage by the communists in 1936 and forced to sign an agreement (CKS promised to end the civil war in return for support against Japan).

Question 5

who was the Young Marshal?

Answer 5

Zhang Xueliang

Question 6

Who was Zhou Enlai?

Answer 6

• longstanding revolutionary hero of the CCP
• western educated and a talented politician
• he served with CKS at the Whampao Military academy and led the CCP in negotiations at Xi’an

Question 7

4 parts of China that Japan had at this point?

Answer 7

Manchuria, Rehe, Chahar and Heibei

Question 8

where did the marco polo incident happen?

Answer 8

Marco Polo bridge - 10 miles outside of Beijing

Question 9

when was the Marco Polo incident?

Answer 9

July 1937

Question 10

what happened at the Marco Polo incident?

Answer 10

• Japanese garrison troops were challenged by Chinese troops
• The Chinese opened fire
• As the days went on, it escalated and by 8 August, the city was firmly under Japanese control and garrisoned by 3000 troops.

Question 11

after Marco Polo, what did the Japanese military leaders think?

Answer 11

China would be crushed within 3 months