Case study 1： Japanese expansion in East Asia (1931–1941)

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Causes of expansion

• The impact of Japanese nationalism and militarism on foreign policy

• Japanese domestic issues

• Political instability in China Events

• Japanese invasion of Manchuria and northern China (1931)

• Sino-Japanese War (1937–1941)

• The Three Power/Tripartite Pact; the outbreak of war; Pearl Harbor (1941) Responses

• League of Nations and the Lytton report

• Political developments within China—the Second United Front

• International response, including US initiatives and increasing tensions between the US and Japan

• Background

  • 1854 Kanagawa Treaty: Agreed to open ports for US

• Causes of nationalism/militarism

  • Victory in Sino-Japan/Russo-Japan Wars
  • Need resources
  • Need security
  • Desire to be equal as europeans
    • Revanchism: aim to revenge humiliation of triple intervention (臥薪嘗胆)
    • Failure to introduce racial equality in LoN
  • 1925 Public Security Preservation Law, even during Taisho Democracy

• China

  • 21 Demands: 1915, Japan to China, Demands to control Chinese territory and infrastructure, decreased to 13 and accepted
  • Boxer Rebellion: anti-colonial,

• Resources

• https://quizlet.com/382188343/move-to-global-war-japan-flash-cards/