Japan Before World War 1

A new Japan

The Japanese would try to stress tradition within family life, but industrialization and modernization with
dealings with the west.

Some women at this time would gain ground through education.

Because of their lack of material wealth, Japan would invade Korea in the Sino-Japanese War. This would
kick off a new foreign policy of imperialism which also lead to a conflict with Russia, which they won.

As a result of Modernization, many people would have poor living standards due to the pollution of the
factories.

Also, due to the struggle between the the more conservative and liberal parties within japanese society,
many political assassinations would occur, as well as no true revolution in terms of culture.

The Beginning of the 20th century, marks to beginning of the rise of Japanese nationalism.

Impact of World War I

When the First World War erupted in July 1914, its consequence on the Japanese economy was at first
uncertain. As the European major powers began to fight each other, their international trade was
suspended, which meant that Europe could no longer supply textiles, machinery and chemicals to the
rest of the world. It was feared that Japanese investment would be adversely affected. In reality, Japan
did experience severe shortage of high-quality machines and industrial inputs while their domestic
demand surged.

But very soon, it became clear that WW1 would bring a huge bonanza to the Japanese economy (at least
in the short run) because of the sudden increase in global demand for Japanese products. An enormous
export-led boom was generated because (i) global demand shifted from Europe to Japan; and (ii) the US
economy was expanding. Japan's manufactured products were still of inferior quality but could
substitute for European products which were now unavailable.

Today

Japan is a great power and a member of numerous international organizations, including the United
Nations (since 1956), the OECD, and the Group of Seven. Although it has renounced its right to declare
war, the country maintains Self-Defense Forces that are ranked as the world's fourth-most powerful
military. After World War II, Japan experienced high economic growth, becoming the second-largest
economy in the world by 1990 before being surpassed by China in 2010. Despite stagnant growth since
the Lost Decade, the country's economy remains the third-largest by nominal GDP and the fourth-
largest by PPP. A leader in the automotive and electronics industries, Japan has made significant
contributions to science and technology.

Nigeria

Before

The British protectorates of Southern and Northern Nigeria were united on 1 January 1914 to form a
single Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria. Sir Frederick Lugard, who had wide experience of
administration in West Africa, was made Governor-General. At the outbreak of war, Nigeria had a
population of approximately 18 million.

The colony was rich in natural resources. Coal was discovered at Enugo in southern Nigeria in 1909. The
industry was developed during the war, so that by 1918 Nigeria was a significant supplier. The German
colony of The Cameroons lay immediately to the south east and the two colonies shared a border of
over 1,000 miles.

After

The economic consequences of the War. The declaration of war brought considerable economic
disruption to Africa. Generally there followed a depression in the prices paid for Africa's primary
products, while knowledge that henceforth imported goods would be in short supply led to a rise in
their prices.

Today

Nigeria is a multinational state inhabited by more than 250 ethnic groups speaking 500 distinct
languages, all identifying with a wide variety of cultures.[8][9][10] The three largest ethnic groups are
the Hausa–Fulani in the north, Yoruba in the west, and Igbo in the east, together comprising over 60% of
the total population.[11] The official language is English, chosen to facilitate linguistic unity at the
national level.[12] Nigeria is divided roughly in half between Muslims, who live mostly in the north, and
Christians, who live mostly in the south.[Note 1] The country has the world's fifth-largest Muslim
population and sixth-largest Christian population,[13] with a minority practicing indigenous religions,
such as those native to the Igbo and Yoruba ethnicities.[14] Nigeria's constitution ensures freedom of
religion.[15

USA

Before

Before entering the war, the U.S. had remained neutral, though it had been an important supplier to the
United Kingdom, France, and the other Allied powers. The U.S. made its major contributions in terms of
supplies, raw material, and money, starting in 1917.

The United States later declared war on German ally Austria-Hungary on December 7, 1917. Germany's
resumption of submarine attacks on passenger and merchant ships in 1917 became the primary
motivation behind Wilson's decision to lead the United States into World War I.

After

Despite isolationist sentiments, after the War, the United States became a world leader in industry,
economics, and trade. The world became more connected to each other which ushered in the beginning
of what we call the “world economy.”

The World War 1 experience impacted hugely on U.S. culture, domestic politics and society. The war
also resulted in an increased demand for weapons abroad. This led to increased profits and heightened
productivity in the American steel industry. World War 1 ushered in an era of using chemical weapons.

Today

The United States is a federal republic and a representative democracy with three separate branches of
government, including a bicameral legislature. It is a founding member of the United Nations, World
Bank, International Monetary Fund, Organization of American States (OAS), NATO, and other
international organizations. It is a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. The U.S.
ranks high in international measures of economic freedom, reduced levels of perceived corruption,
quality of life, and quality of higher education. It is one of the most racially and ethnically diverse nations
in the world. Considered a melting pot of cultures and ethnicities, its population has been profoundly
shaped by centuries of immigration.
Brazil

Before

Brazil officially declared neutrality on August 4, 1914. At the beginning of the war, although neutral,
Brazil faced a complicated social and economic situation. Its economy was largely based on exports of
agricultural products such as coffee, latex, and very limited industrial manufacturing. As these products
exported by Brazil were not considered essential by foreign consumers, customs duties and export fees
(the main source of government income) decreased as the conflict continued. This was accentuated
further by the German blockade of Allied ports, and then by a British ban on the importation of coffee
into England in 1917. This arose because the British government now considered the cargo space on
ships necessary for more vital goods, given the great losses of merchant ships as a result of German
attacks.

After

After the war's end, Brazil participated in the Versailles Peace Conference, with a delegation led by
future president Epitácio Pessoa. Brazil was also a founder of the League of Nations after the end of the
war. Upon returning to Brazil, the Naval Division (DNOG) was dissolved on June 25, 1919, having
complied fully with its entrusted mission. The Treaty of Versailles allowed Brazil to keep over 70 ships
that it had seized from the Central Powers during the war, and which were then incorporated into the
Brazilian merchant fleet. Brazil was also financially compensated by Germany for the lost coffee
shipments and ships that were sunk by German U-boats during the war.

From an economic point of view, although exports of latex and coffee fell sharply at first, creating a crisis
in the economy, as the conflict continued, Brazil eventually began to find good trading opportunities.
Increased international demand for foodstuffs and raw materials forced the country to change its
economic structure away from the predominant agriculture. It was then that Brazil underwent
unprecedented industrial development, also making use of immigrant labour, composed largely of
Europeans initially fleeing famine and then the war. The number of factories quadrupled in the war
years, doubling the number of workers. Brazil decreased the number of imported items, changing the
country's socioeconomic face.

Today

Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: About this soundRepública Federativa do Brasil),[11] is the
largest country in both South America and Latin America. At 8.5 million square kilometers (3.2 million
square miles)[12] and with over 211 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area and
the sixth most populous. Its capital is Brasília, and its most populous city is São Paulo. The federation is
composed of the union of the 26 states and the Federal District. It is the largest country to have
Portuguese as an official language and the only one in the Americas;[13][14] it is also one of the most
multicultural and ethnically diverse nations, due to over a century of mass immigration from around the
world;[15] as well as the most populous Roman Catholic-majority country

Australia

Before

Prior to 1914, Australia was a fledgling nation, less than 15 years old. Australian society was feeling its
way towards a national identity with many loose themes of nationhood. In 1914, Australia entered the
First World War. We shared in the enormous casualties and watched the fall of empires.

After

After the war, there were strong political, commercial and industrial pressures to ensure that such
industries were not overwhelmed by competition, as more normal conditions were restored. Australia
emerged from the war determined to take economic advantage of victory. Its insistence at the Paris
Peace Conference on control of the former German colonies south of the equator, including the former
German New Guinea, had roots in concern about defence but was also connected with aspirations for
commerce. At Versailles, Hughes was a British representative on the reparations committee, speaking in
favour of harsh treatment of Germany and arguing that it should have to pay for the full cost of the war
to the Allies.[7]

Today

Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a sovereign country comprising the mainland of
the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands.[13] It is the largest
country in Oceania and the world's sixth-largest country by total area. The population of 26 million[7] is
highly urbanised and heavily concentrated on the eastern seaboard.[14] Australia's capital is Canberra,
and its largest city is Sydney. The country's other major metropolitan areas are Melbourne, Brisbane,
Perth, and Adelaide.

Australia is a developed country, with the world's thirteenth-largest economy and tenth-highest per
capita income.[26] It is considered a regional power and has the world's thirteenth-highest military
expenditure.[27] Immigrants account for 30% of the population,[28] the highest proportion in any
country with a population over 10 million.[29] The country ranks highly in measures of health,
education, economic freedom, and civil liberties.[30]