Japanese Expansion: Causes

Question 1

Four Power Treaty

Answer 1

Shared Power in the Pacific between Japan, Britain, France, and U.S.A.

Question 2

Nationalism

Answer 2

1) Japanese nationalism, fueled by a sense of superiority and a desire to establish Japan as a dominant power in Asia, led to the belief in the necessity of expansion to secure resources and territory.
2) The concept of “Asia for the Asians” was used to justify Japanese aggression as a means to liberate Asian nations from Western colonialism and establish a pan-Asian sphere of influence with Japan at its center.

Question 3

Five Power Treaty

Answer 3

Restricted Japanese naval battle ships and aircrafts carriers to 3 for every 5 the British and 5 the Americans had.

Question 4

Nine Power Treaty

Answer 4

Respected China’s sovereignty, and forced Japan to give back the Shandong Province to Germany.

Question 5

Militarism

Answer 5

1) The military, particularly the Imperial Japanese Army, held significant influence over Japanese politics and foreign policy decisions during this period.
2) The military’s doctrine of Hokushin-ron (Northern Expansion Doctrine) and Nanshin-ron (Southern Expansion Doctrine) advocated for the expansion of Japanese territory both northwards into Manchuria and southwards into Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands.
3) Militaristic ideologies glorified war and conquest, emphasizing the need for Japan to assert its strength and dominance in the region.

Question 6

Domestic Issues

Answer 6

Economic Instability: The Great Depression hit Japan hard, leading to widespread unemployment, poverty, and social unrest.

Question 7

Domestic Issues

Answer 7

Overpopulation: Japan’s population growth strained domestic resources and led to a need for external territories to support its people.

Question 8

Domestic Issues

Answer 8

Nationalism: Strong nationalist sentiments, fostered by the military and government propaganda, fueled a desire for expansion to strengthen Japan’s position in Asia.

Question 9

Political Issues

Answer 9

Weak Civilian Government: Civilian politicians struggled to assert control over the military, leading to a situation where militaristic factions had significant influence over foreign policy decisions.

Question 10

Political Issues

Answer 10

Weak Civilian Government: Civilian politicians struggled to assert control over the military, leading to a situation where militaristic factions had significant influence over foreign policy decisions.

Question 11

Political Issues

Answer 11

Military Influence: The Imperial Japanese Army and Navy held considerable power and autonomy, often pursuing aggressive expansionist policies without civilian oversight

Question 12

Political Issues

Answer 12

Lack of International Accountability: Japan withdrew from the League of Nations in 1933 after facing criticism for its actions in Manchuria, further isolating itself from international scrutiny.

Question 13

Economic Issues

Answer 13

Resource Scarcity: Japan lacked natural resources like oil, rubber, and iron, which were essential for industrialization and military expansion

Question 14

Economic Issues

Answer 14

Dependence on Imports: Japan relied heavily on imports to sustain its economy, making it vulnerable to trade disruptions and embargoes by Western powers.

Question 15

Economic Issues

Answer 15

Economic Autarky: To reduce reliance on foreign resources, Japan sought to establish a self-sufficient economic sphere through territorial expansion in Asia.

Question 16

Impact on Foreign Relations

Answer 16

Aggressive Expansion: Japan’s pursuit of territorial expansion through military means, such as the invasion of Manchuria in 1931 and subsequent conflicts in China and Southeast Asia, strained relations with neighboring countries and Western powers

Question 17

Impact on Foreign Relations

Answer 17

Diplomatic Isolation: Japan’s actions in violating international agreements and pursuing aggressive expansionist policies led to its increasing isolation diplomatically, culminating in its entry into World War II as an Axis power.

Question 18

Impact on Foreign Relations

Answer 18

Heightened Tensions: The expansionist policies of Japan heightened tensions in the Asia-Pacific region and contributed to the outbreak of World War II, particularly with the United States following the imposition of embargoes on oil and other critical resources.

Question 19

Warlord Era (China)

Answer 19

Following the collapse of the Qing Dynasty in 1912, China descended into a period of fragmentation and regional warlordism. Warlords controlled various regions, leading to a lack of central authority and weak governance.

Question 20

Chinese Civil War

Answer 20

The Chinese Civil War between the Nationalist Kuomintang (KMT) and the Communist Party of China (CPC) further weakened China’s central authority and diverted attention and resources away from resisting Japanese aggression.

Question 21

Weak Government Control (China)

Answer 21

The weak central government under Chiang Kai-shek struggled to assert control over the vast territory of China, making it difficult to effectively resist Japanese incursions.

Question 22

Northern Expedition (China)

Answer 22

The KMT’s Northern Expedition in the late 1920s aimed to reunify China and suppress warlordism, but it ultimately failed to establish a strong central government capable of defending against Japanese expansion.

Question 23

Manchurian Crisis

Answer 23

Japan took advantage of the political instability in China by staging the Mukden Incident in 1931, leading to the occupation of Manchuria. The inability of the Chinese government to effectively respond to Japanese aggression further emboldened Japan’s expansionist ambitions.

Question 24

Sino-Japanese War

Answer 24

The Second Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945) erupted due to escalating tensions between Japan and China. Japan exploited China’s political disunity and launched a full-scale invasion, capturing major cities and territories.