Student: Daniela Darlene Doyle Rizzo

Class: 1st Baccalaureate

Date: 08 – 01 – 2021

Teacher: Eniff Bayas

Using the information on the chapter (Japanese expansionism 1931-194)

and your own knowledge, reflect on the following and complete the
chart below.
 Causes of the Mukden
incident 1928–32
Nationalism After the First Sino-Japanese
War, there was a huge growth
of Nationalism among
Japanese citizens.
Indeed, the governmental and
economic crisis in Japan
caused nationalism to surge,
which in turn promoted an
expansionist foreign policy.
So, the Japanese didn’t mind
any talk of expansion into
Chinese territory.
Militarism The growing strength of the
Kwantung Army undermined
liberal democracy in Japan;
and this is written all over
history. For one, the general
staff would not obey the
Emperor’s orders to enforce
discipline in the army even
after they had executed the
Manchurian warlord, Zhang
Zuolin. Not to mention,
General Minami’s inability to
restrain the Kwantung Army
from enacting their secret
plan on the South Manchurian
Railway.
Therefore, the army would
undoubtedly break the rules,
and commence their ploys
with no authorization, with no
one to stop them. It is
important to recognize that
the Mukden Incident was
inevitable.
Causes of the Sino-Japanese
War 1933–37
We’re all aware of Japan’s
desire to be a part of the
Western imperialist club. So, it
was only natural for Japan to
want to have control over
China.
Furthermore, a win in a war
with another Asian country
would demonstrate their
leadership and ‘superiority’.
Many military factions had an
urge to replace the civilian
government with a military
junta, with a simple objective in
mind: Japanese expansion.
Japan’s loss of control over
their army and the immense
gain of power the military had
in government affairs, as
demonstrated by the Koda-ha
and the Tosei-ha’s coups.
For instance, we can observe
Admiral Saito’s government
from 1932 to 1934. He seemed
to favor the Koda-ha faction
since he had put three of its
leaders in grand positions.
However, once he discovered
the Koda-ha’s plans against
him, he promoted a Tosei-ha
member as minister of war.
Soon after, Admiral Okada
became prime minister in July
of 1934. During his reign, a
Koda-ha officer assassinated
General Nagata, who was the
leader of the Tosei-ha faction.
And this officer was executed.
Because of this, the Koda-ha
faction revolted, murdering
many officials and taking down
many government sites. This
coup resulted in Okada’s resign
and worldwide news coverage
was taken. Finally, Hirota Koki
rose to power. He
compromised too much with
the military, he even agreed to
a seven point program from the
army, handing control to the
Causes of Japan’s attack on
Pearl Harbor 1938–41
One of the factors that put
Japan at animosity with the
USA is Japan’s strong belief
that becoming the ruler of
South-East Asia was their
destiny and well-deserved
title.
Moreover, Japan invaded
much of South-East Asia,
claiming they were creating a
“Greater East Asia Co-
Prosperity Sphere”, when
really it was just an excuse to
fulfill their imperialist
desires; and the USA, as the
peacemaker that they were,
was not a big fan of their
hypocrisy.
These pieces of evidence all
lead back to their nationalist
sentiments.
In 1941, negotiations
between Washington
between Ambassador
Nomura Kichisaburo and
Secretary of State Cordell
Hull were at their peak.
Japan was left with two
options: to compromise or
enter into war. However,
their army’s dignity didn’t
allow them to withdraw their
forces from China since they
strongly believed it affected
military morale, it would
mean all their efforts were
for nothing. They simply
could not concede. And so,
this grand military pride
blinded them from any
reason.

Political situation in Japan
The civil government didn’t
have much say in how they’d
go about conquering
Manchuria, as I’ve previously
established in ‘Militarism’.
The Japanese government
wanted to go by peaceful
methods, however, the
Kwantung Army worried this
would make gaining control of
Manchuria much more
difficult, so they conjured
schemes behind their back.
Also, there was grand political
instability in Japan, which gave
the military plenty of
opportunities to do as they
pleased. Many governments
faltered during these years
due to the Kwantung Army;
for example, Prime Minister
Tanaka’s resign in July of 1929.
One could also mention Prime
Minister Hamaguchi Yuko’s
forceful leave in 1930 because
of an injury caused by a right
wing radical, which was fed by
the military’s criticism of his
salary cuts and naval
disarmament agreements.
In synthesis, the government
tried and failed to impede the
military from doing what they
desired; the Kwantung Army
was an unstoppable force,
whose hunger for power and
territory led them to commit
what is now known as the
Mukden Incident.
military essentially. Eventually
his government was brought
down.
This made it obvious to the
civilian government that
restraining the Imperial
Japanese Army was an
impossible task, which even if
attempted would fail
miserably. So, the Kwantung
Army would inevitably ignore
any commands and do as they
pleased, leading to a possible
origin of the Second Sino-
Japanese War.
Note: This piece of evidence can
also be considered a factor for
‘Political situation in Japan’.
Even though, the Japanese It is important to recognize
government had planted some Japan had just gone through
Principles of National Policy incredible political instability
during Hirota Koki’s reign, such (their descent into the Dark
as bringing about close Valley), with their leaders
collaboration between Japan, retiring left and right, which
Manchukuo, and China, with would mean Japan accepting
supposed peace from 1933 to American demands would
1937, this friendliness ended most likely leave them in
pretty quickly since Japan’s American dictation.
desire to be the leader of Asia Therefore, starting a war
never truly left her. against the USA was the only
There was incredible political move they had left if they
instability during the 1930s. desired sovereignty.
And we can trace it back to Additionally, if Japan’s
1932, when two major military demands were not met by
factions emerged. These years October of 1941, they had
of turmoil is what we call the already decided they’d
“Dark Valley”. commence hostilities against
Various Japanese governments the USA, Britain and the
faltered due to the military’s Netherlands.
actions, disagreements and
want for political power, such
as Admiral Saito (May 1932 –
July 1934) and Admiral Okada's
(July 1934 – 1936) interim
governments. These cabinets
didn’t last long due to their
moderate policies, and since
these factions desired a more
radical change in government
structure, they fought for
power.
Hirota Koki (1936 – 1937), on
the other hand, was very
lenient with the army,
conceding into whatever they
pleaded.
Eventually, General Hayashi
(February 1937 – June 1937)
attempted to limit the military’s
power after the last cabinet’s
spoiling, nevertheless, his
National Diet failed miserably.

Economic situation in During the U.S. Wall Street
Japan Crash, Japan's dependency on
world trade caused exports to
fall, especially silk, with
subsequent countries putting
tariffs on their products to
protect their industries,
leaving Japan with 3 million
unemployed.
This put Japan in a tough spot,
which made its interest in
Manchuria even more
prominent. Since this territory
would offer a solution to
Japan’s overpopulation and
need for markets, it was the
perfect target for colonization.
Situation in China The political instability in
China really displayed itself in
the 1920s with the rise of two
political parties: the
Nationalist Party (KMT) and
the Communist Party (CPC).
Ever since 1921, the CPC and
the KMT had worked together
to form the United Front and
launch the “Northern
Expedition”.
Now, the Northern
Expedition’s objective was to
consolidate central
government control and to
Finally, Konoe Funimaro filled
the Prime Minister’s role (June
1937 – 1939), and in only 6
weeks, Japan’s army
commanders had ordered the
invasion of China. Konoe was
powerless to halt it.
In summary, the Japanese Army
would always act on their own,
and the civil government was
never able to keep them in
check. So, it would seem the
government’s inability to
constrain the military
contributed to the emergence
of a Second Sino-Japanese War.
Note: This last piece of
evidence can also be
considered a factor for
‘Militarism’.
Considering the economic After Japan had invaded
effects that the Great Indo-China, the USA had
Depression left on Japan and placed an economic embargo
the unfinished business they on their oil, which slowed
had started due to their need to down Japan’s attacks on
export manufactured goods, it China significantly; so, Japan
is as clear as day that this factor had no other choice but to
fueled the birth of the Second embark on a war conquest in
Sino-Japanese War. order to gain supplies.
If these economic tribulations
had never graced Japan, the
nation would’ve never
attempted the Mukden
Incident, an event that most
definitely sparked hatred
between the Japanese and the
Chinese.
And consequently, due to
Chinese defeat in the Mukden
Incident, Japan was able to
establish the independent
puppet state, Manchukuo,
leaving even more animosity
between the nations.
As you can see, the fall of
export prices in Japan served as
a catalyst to all these issues that
led to the war.
The Chinese government had If China had exhausted their
been boiling a revengeful resources and troops faster,
sentiment against Japan, as Japan would’ve saved many
evidenced by the historian supplies and lives from the
Kawakami’s research: “This Second Sino-Japanese War.
whole country was aflame with This factor is taken into
hatred of Japan…ignited by the account because of the
Nationalist Government itself”. economic embargo the U.S.
We can also take into account placed on Japan (The U.S. did
the propaganda and hymns of this due to Japan’s expansion
hate created by the Chinese into Indo-China), which
government to fuel this furious affected Japan’s
attitude from its own citizens effectiveness in war, and
towards Japan. could’ve even possibly
caused a loss (although, this
 wrest power form the
warlords. However, in 1927,
the CPC and the KMT had a
clash of views, consequently
starting a civil war.
This at odds political chaos
caused China to not fully
oversee the prosperity and
state of all their territory,
giving Japan the ultimate
opportunity to sneak in and
take Manchuria for
themselves.
Actions of the West If the U.S. President Herbert
Hoover had never signed the
Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act in
1930, Japan would’ve never
had to look into Manchuria
with violent intentions, as
their economic status
would’ve been prosperous
enough for the next couple
years.
Conclusions To summarize my thoughts, it
is, without a doubt, the
extreme growth of militarism
and economic crisis that
elevated Japan’s interest in
Manchuria into a reality.
Additionally, when we look at didn’t turn out to be the
how Japan forced China to cede case). This obviously angered
Taiwan and recognize Korea’s the Japanese, making them
independence in the Treaty of attack Pearl Harbor.
Shimonoseki, we can notice Note: This factor is more of a
how these resolutions only “What if” since China was not
angered the Chinese more. This involved in this incident, and
would eventually lead to the therefore, discussing China’s
formation of the United Front situation is irrelevant.
by the Communist Party of
China and the Kuomintang
Party, which consequently
made nationalism in China
grow immensely.
Furthermore, the Kwantung
Army blowing up the South-
Manchurian Railway and
blaming the Chinese to have an
excuse to bomb Shanghai, the
unfair resolutions that Japan’s
Twenty One Demands held
over China and the final take
over Manchuria as agreed in
the Tanggu Truce, it was a no
brainer that China’s hatred for
Japan’s behavior would only
increase. Eventually leading to
a Second United Front between
the CPC and the KMT in 1936.
Note: This last piece of
evidence could also be
considered a factor for
‘Nationalism’.
The USA had always maintained As Japan continued to
its distance from Japan, advance into China,
focusing their energy on solving throughout much of 1940
their own economic crisis and 1941, the USA aided
through a “New Deal”. China with millions of dollars.
Curiously, despite their Later, in July of 1941, Japan
peacemaker reputation, commenced to move South
Roosevelt decided not to get instead of North to attack the
involved, even after the Soviets, because of this, the
Mukden Incident. U.S., Britain and the
So, if the U.S. had chosen to Netherlands placed an
intervene and solve their issues embargo on oil, which Japan
peacefully, there is a grand heavily relied on. This,
possibility that the Second Sino- obviously, pissed Japan off,
Japanese War would’ve never which led them to attack
occurred. Pearl Harbor.
I certainly believe that with To be honest, I’d mainly state
China’s ever so grand growing that the embargos placed on
passion against Japan (Situation Japan (Economic situation in
in China), Japan’s unsteady Japan), and Japan’s extreme
political leaders (Political nationalism and militarism
situation in China) and led to their infamous attack
completely independent on the USA.
military (Militarism), the
Second Sino-Japanese War was
as written in stone: a sudden
yet not surprising battle.