Lesson 4: Japanese Expansion (1939-41) Flashcards
Why did Japan want to expand into South East Asia?
-Japan needed resources -> east asia contained rich resources of oil, tin and rubber
- only 400K tons produced=0.1% global production
- Signed ‘neutrality pact’ w Russia =treaty ensured that a conflict would not break out between the two sides
-Japan now felt confident enough to expand into South-East Asia and target
European colonies in the region.
What was the impact of Japan moving their troops into French Indo-China?
NORTH IMPACT
-This move had two benefits:
1. It blocked supply routes into China.
2. It provided them with a base to begin their expansion in South-East Asia.
- consequence of upsetting the
Americans-> USA sanctioned the Japanese by placing an embargo on some iron and steel exports to Japan.
-improving their relationship with
Germany
-In September 1940, they signed the Tripartite Pact with Germany and Italy.
SOUTH IMPACT
-In response the American government increased their sanctions on the Japanese
government and placed an embargo on almost all of Japan’s oil and gas supplies.
- Japan relied on America for over 80% of their oil supplies. This left Japan with only 2 years worth of fuel in their stockpiles. America told Japan they were prepared to lift these sanctions BUT Japan first had to withdraw from
French Indo-China, end the war in China and sign non-aggression agreements with countries in the
Pacific.
Japan now had to make a decision:
1. Do they follow the demands given by America.
2. Do they continue with their plans to expand into South-East Asia and take the resources they
needed.
In November 1941, the Japanese government decided on the latter.
This decision meant war.
Why did Japan sign the Tripartite Pact?
This Pact saw the 3 nations guarantee to protect one another in the event
that one of the nations was attacked by a country not already involved in
the war. Although it didn’t state it in the Pact, the nation they were
referring to was America.
- The hope was that this would deter America from entering World War Two.
