The Rise of Japanese Militarism

1. The Rise of Japanese Militarism The Interwar Years

2. Post-World War I Japan • After World War I, Japan saw itself as the dominant power in the East • It began to pursue policies that would increase their territory and their influence in Asia • Ultimately, these policies would lead to the outbreak of war in the Pacific

3. Motives for Japanese Expansion • Economics • Japan was in desperate need of natural resources to fuel its industry and military • Extreme Nationalism • Many Japanese citizens believed that Japan was the most superior country in Asia and therefore had the right to rule everyone else • Acts by Western Powers • Several actions by Western powers were motivated by the belief that Japan was not equal; these insults fueled imperialistic desires in Japan

4. The Invasion of China Begins • In 1931 Japan invaded the northern area of China, Manchuria, which had huge deposits of natural resources like coal • The League of Nations did nothing

5. 1937: The Invasion Spreads • After a few years, Japanese forces moved south and invaded China • During this invasion they took control of the Chinese capital, Nanking (also written as Nanjing—same place)

6. Go to this site and read the Japanese ambassador’s justification for this invasion • Answer the three questions at the bottom of the document • http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/ps/china/japanese_ambassador.pdf • Go to this site and read the Japanese ambassador’s justification for this invasion • Answer the three questions at the bottom of the document • http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/ps/china/japanese_ambassador.pdf

7. The Rape of Nanking, 1937 • During the invasion, the people of Nanking were treated horribly by the Japanese soldiers • Go to this website and read the short history. http://www.historyplace.com/worldhistory/genocide/nanking.htm • Then look at some of the pictures in the this photo gallery. Be warned, some of them are very horrific: http://www.cnd.org/njmassacre/page1.html

9. The Japanese Government • Though Japan had an emperor, the military had taken control of the government by this time • Emperor Hirohito could not stand up to the powerful generals, but he was worshipped by the people, who often fought in his name • The military leader of Japan was General Hideki Tojo

10. The need for more resources • Next, Japan began to look towards Southeast Asia for more resources • Their quest for territory and resources in this part of Asia would lead the US to become involved with stopping their expansion • But more on that later….

11. Imperial Japan in 1939