Chp 5 : Start Of WWII in Asia-Pacific Flashcards
Describe and explain how the economic crisis in Japan led to the outbreak of WWII in Asia-Pacific
Describe: Japan has limited raw materials and land. Japan needed more land due to the rapid growing population and dependent on import of raw materials to modernise Japan. Oil and iron embargo from USA for the occupation of Indo-China was critical as Japan only had two years oil reserves and needed iron desperately. There are businesses suffering and high unemployment rates due to the Great Depression and growing protectionism from the West.
Explain: Japan needed to solve her economic crisis fast and would have to have to either agree with the West and end the Japanese empire by giving up Indo-China and her Chinese territories or conquer more territories for more raw materials and captive markets. They chose to conquer south-east asia, which was under the West, for raw materials like oil and rubber. This action would militarily challenge the West, leading to WWII
Describe and explain how Japan’s foreign expansionist policy led to the outbreak of WWII in Asia-Pacific
Describe: Japan wanted to become a powerful country like Britain and thus needed more colonies for more manpower, raw materials and captive markets. Japan wanted to expand to SEA due to the abundance of raw materials and oil which Japan desperately needed. Militarists planned to conquer weaker countries for more resources and create the Greater Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere, which expel Western European powers and replace them with satellite states loyal to Japan.
Explain: Japan’s foreign expansionist policy raised tensions about Japan’s ambitions in the Pacific region. Militarists also wanted to expand as they believe war with the West is inevitable and wanted Japan to be a strong empire to raise their chances of winning a war with the West. Thus, they continue to conquer more territories such as SEA and ignore the rising tensions with the West, leading to Japan attacking Pearl Harbour and WWII
Describe and explain how the weakness of the League Of Nations led to the outbreak of WWII
Describe: The League was weak and did not seem to want to start another war with powerful countries. The League did not take aggressive action on Japan for Manchuria and did not punish Italy for invading Abyssinia.
Explain: These incidents proved to Japan that the League was weak and could not stop Japan. The league wanted peace and did not want to support another costly war after WWI. This gave Japan an opportunity to expand and conquer more territories without getting punished by the League. This resulted in greater tensions and suspicions on Japan. Militarists grew more powerful and confident in creating an empire and eventually took over the government. Japan attacked Pearl Harbour and expand into SEA, leading to war.
Describe and explain how Japan’s worsening relations with USA lead to the outbreak of WWII in Asia-Pacific.
USA imposed unfair immigration policies on Japanese living in USA. Trade protectionism by the West in the 1930s due to the Great Depression led to high tariffs and reduced trade between the two countries. Many Japanese businesses suffered leading to high unemployment rates and anger. USA also imposed trade and oil embargo on Japan
Japan felt she has been treated unfairly by USA. The western power had many colonies but was preventing Japan from having any colonies. To Japan, the western powers were actively weakening and threatening Japan to conquer her one day. This made Japan angry and made plans to wage war with the West
Describe and explain how the Attack on Pearl Harbour led to the outbreak of World War II
Japan secretly launched an attack on Pearl Harbour - a strategic base for the US Pacific Fleet which protected the western and US interest in Asia. The US Pacific Fleet was a threat to Japan and may hinder Japan’s expansion in Asia.
Japan hoped to surprise and knock out the Pacific Fleet to buy time for Japan to expand and hopefully match US power. It also hope to scare the US in negotiating for peace. However, it enraged the US instead and made USA declare war on Japan, leading to war in the Pacific
