Japan

Question 1

Meiji Restoration (1868)

Answer 1

The Meiji Emperor came to power, putting Japan on a path to modernisation and industrialisation.

• Increasing Japan’s economic and military might

Building a world power in the backdrop…

Question 2

Sino-Japanese War (1894) & Russo-Japanese War (1905)

Answer 2

Japan won both, showing how much their military had advanced.

1. Treaty of Shimonoseki (1895) - Forced China to give up Taiwan + Korea
   - 21 Demands (1915) - Yuan ShiKai forced to accept the terms
2. Treaty of Portsmouth (1905) - Japan getting access to key Manchurian port
   - Russia underestimated Japan/ignored them (Remember Y3)

Question 3

Racism

Answer 3

Japanese facing Racism in USA (What’s new, lol)

1882 Chinese Exclusion Act, then 1905 Japanese and Korean Exclusion League — prevented competition for jobs

Paris Peace Conference (1919) - Proposed a racial equality clause, which got rejected because Western Powers didn’t agree

Question 4

Washington Naval Conference (1921)

Answer 4

A call for reduction in naval power of major powers.

US:UK:JPY:FR:ITA = 5:5:3:1.67:1.67

• Unfair in Japan’s eyes as they had to lower power below US and UK

Question 5

Economic Crisis

Answer 5

• Overpopulation and lack of farming land
• Great Depression which took away export cash because of US, UK protectionist policies
• Lack of resources such as housing, goods, products

Question 6

Militarism

Answer 6

Political Violence: Multiple Attempts (1932, 1935, 1936) to overthrow the civilian government who were seen as corrupt

• Civilian Prime Minister assassinated in 1932
• Basically under Martial Law from then on

Question 7

Greater East Asia Co-prosperity Sphere

Answer 7

Asia for Asians

• Expel European colonisers and replace them with satellite states loyal to Japan
• Expand into Southeast Asia for its rich natural resources to fuel the war effort

Question 8

Pearl Harbor (1941)

Answer 8

Attack American Pacific Fleet to implement Greater East Asia Co-prosperity Sphere scheme

• Only obstacle left in APAC, a preventive strike
• After Pearl Harbor, America changed its stance from isolationist (1937 Neutrality Act affirming this) to declaring war on Japan

Question 9

Knockout Blow Theory

Answer 9

Quick ‘knockout’ of American Pacific Fleet + rapid expansion in Southeast Asia, allowing Japan and US to negotiate a peace settlement

• Stockpiled oil reserves for only 2 more years
• Could not back down for embarrassing himself or fearing angering the military men
• Element of surprise to go undetected and strike the American fleet