Source analysis - History IB Flashcards
Summarize the Mukden Incident
In September 1931, the Japanese army called the Kwantung Army bombed the South Manchurian railway which was near the city of Mukden, which is now Shenyang. The Japanese bombed this railway which they owned and then blamed it on the Chinese nationalists. They did this, so they had a reason to invade the city of Mukden. Japan later renamed the city Manchukuo.
Summarize Japan leaving the League of Nations (LoN)
In March 1933, Japan left the League of Nations (LoN). This is because had just invaded Mukden without consulting with the LoN and didn’t want to get in trouble for it. They also left because this invasion broke treaties like the Kellogg-Briand Pact and the Nine-Power-Treaty. Japan was also planning on breaking more treaties. Japan felt that they should be able to do whatever they want and the LoN wouldn’t let them.
Lytton Report
Summarize what happens when Japan leaves the Washington Naval Treaty and why they left
In December 1934 Japan declared that it intended to terminate the treaty. The treaty would prevent an arms race by limiting naval construction. Japan had to follow the 5:5:3 ratio. The USA and UK were allowed to have a total capital ship tonnage of 525,000 tons, which they could distribute among battleships and aircraft carriers as they saw fit. France and Italy were also part of this treaty and were allowed 175,000. Japan was only allowed 315,000. Japan left this treaty because they wanted to expand their control i Asia and to do so they were going to need a larger navy. The Japanese at the time also argued that the treaty was biased towards Western powers. This increased tensions in the Pacific and was a reason for the outbreak of WWll.
Summarize the Marco Polo Incident
The Marco Polo Bridge Incident, which occurred on July , 1937, near Beijing, China, marked the beginning of the Second Sino-Japanese War. The incident was a clash between Chinese and Japanese forces near the Marco Polo Bridge, also known as the Lugou Bridge, and it quickly escalated into a full-scale conflict. This event led to Japan’s invasion of China, which had devastating consequences and lasted until the end of World War II in 1945.
The clash between China and Japan in the Marco Polo Bridge Incident, which occurred on July 7, 1937, began when a small group of Japanese soldiers were doing a night-time military exercise near the Marco Polo Bridge (Lugou Bridge) in the outskirts of Beijing, China. Tensions escalated when Chinese troops, stationed nearby, suspected the Japanese of hostile intent and fired on them. This exchange of gunfire resulted in casualties and marked the spark that ignited a larger conflict between China and Japan. As mentioned before, this led to the Second Sino-Japanese War resulting in significant devastation and suffering, with Japan’s invasion of China causing widespread destruction and loss of life.
Summarize the proposed East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere
In November 1938, Japan proposed the East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere. This was a concept made by the Empire of Japan in the early to mid-20th century. It aimed to create a self-sufficient and economically integrated union in East Asia under Japanese leadership. However, in reality, it served as a cover for Japan’s imperial expansion and colonization of various Asian countries, often through force and occupation, during World War II. This expansionist policy resulted in widespread suffering and conflict in the region.
Summarize the Tripartite Pact with Germany and Italy
The Tripartite Pact, also known as the Berlin-Rome-Tokyo Axis, was a military alliance signed on September 27, 1940, during World War II. It formed a partnership between Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, and Imperial Japan. The alliance stated that if any of these three nations were attacked by a country not already involved in the war, the others would provide aid either militarily (eg. army and tanks), politically, and economically to some extent (eg. trade). This alliance played a significant role in shaping the course of WWll as these nations coordinated their actions and military strategies against the Allied Powers (Britan, France (except for parts that were seized by Nazis), Soviet Union, USA and China).
Summarize the oil embargo and USA freezing assets on Japan
In July 1942, the USA declared the oil embargo and that they were freezing Japanese assets. These were significant events leading up to World War II in the Pacific.
This was in response to Japan’s aggressive expansion in East Asia, the United States imposed an embargo on the export of oil. This move aimed to pressure Japan to halt its military campaigns in China and Southeast Asia. Japan had 18 months of oil reserves left, which gave them time to come up with a plan. Without oil, Japan would have to withdraw from China or find a new close source of oil, which was Dutch East India who were now vulnerable due to the defeat in Europe)
Simultaneously, the U.S. government froze Japanese assets in the United States, which included financial assets and bank accounts. This freeze was intended to further restrict Japan’s access to funds and resources. These actions were part of a broader effort by the United States to prevent Japanese expansionism and aggression in the Pacific region.
The embargo and asset freeze had a profound impact on Japan, as the country heavily relied on foreign imports, particularly oil, to sustain its military and industrial efforts. These measures contributed to the deterioration of diplomatic relations between the United States and Japan and played a role in Japan’s decision to attack Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, which ultimately led to the United States’ entry into World War II.
After Pearl Habour happened, Japan was hoping they either wouldn’t respond because they had destroyed everything in their attack or it would take them long enough to respond because they would have to rebuild weaponry, which would allow Japan to invade the Dutch East Indies during this time.
