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The Japanese Campaign in the Pacific. http://afe.easia.columbia.edu. Background Info of Japan. Meiji Restoration-1868 At the time of the emperors restoration, Japan was Militarily weak Agricultural Not technologically advanced Limited in foreign trade by the West (Europe and the US.
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The Japanese Campaign in the Pacific http://afe.easia.columbia.edu
Background Info of Japan • Meiji Restoration-1868 • At the time of the emperors restoration, Japan was • Militarily weak • Agricultural • Not technologically advanced • Limited in foreign trade by the West (Europe and the US
Background Info on Japan • By the end of the Meiji Period-1912, Japan had • Highly centralized government • Constitution and elected parliament • Transportation and Communication systems • Educated population without feudal class systems • Growing industrial sector • A powerful army and navy
Japan’s Pacific Campaign • 1912-1941 • As Japan was rapidly industrializing, the needed materials • The areas of China and Manchuria were the closest to imperialize • Although the west used these same measures for industrialization, they condemned Japan for the Imperialist drive
Japan’s Pacific Campaign • At the end of WWI, Japan was suffering a severe economic depression. • As a result, the military grew stronger and the parliament grew weaker • They felt more compelled than ever to compete with the West for resources in East Asia
Japan’s Pacific Campaign • Japan’s need for natural resources paved the way for militarists to rise to power • Tense international relations allowed a militarist faction to control all foreign affairs and then domestic affairs as well • When the Japanese military had total control of the government, Japan began an aggressive military campaign throughout Asia • Japan allied with other aggressors in the world; Italy and Germany
Japan’s Pacific Campaign • Japan rapidly took control of areas such as China, Manchuria, Korea, Philippines, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Burma • There next strategic area of conquest in the Pacific would be the Hawaiian Islands.