Authoritarian Regimes

Case Study: Fascist Japan

Chapter 5

Chapter Objectives
The beginnings of Fascism and how
it became popular
Factors contributing to the failure of
the democratic government in Japan
Reasons for the rise of Fascism in
Japan

EssentiallyThe Chapter is about

Failure of the Democratic Government
Weakness of the Japanese Parliament
Corrupt Politicians
Lacked Support of Workers and Peasants

WHAT LED TO THE RISE

OF FASCISM IN
JAPAN

Unhappiness with Japanese

Leaders who wanted Friendly
Ties with the former
Allied Powers

Impact of Economic
Problems
Problems at the end of
World War I
1929 Great Depression

Fear of Chinese Nationalism

Anti-Japanese Protests
Unhappiness with Former Allied
Powers
1919 Versailles Treaty
1921-22 Washington Naval Conference
Mid-1920s Immigration Issues

Chapter Assignment
Due in Week 4
a) To what extent did a weak Japanese
parliament contribute to the failure of the
democratic government in Japan?
Explain your answer. (12m)
b) Unhappiness with the former Allied
Powers was the most important reason
that led to the rise of fascism in Japan.
How far do you agree with this
statement? Explain your answer. (13m)

Activity 1
What is Fascism?
In groups of 4, come
up with a mind-map
on what Fascism is
about
You may use your
textbook as a guide
You have 10 minutes

What is Fascism?

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What led to the Failure of the

Democratic Government in Japan?
Why did Fascism seem so attractive?
The Japanese democratic leaders were weak,
corrupt and inefficient
As a result, they were unable to solve the
economic problems that plagued the people of
Japan
Since Fascism valued the nation and worked
towards its progress through strong
leadership, the idea appealed to many
Japanese

What led to the Failure of the

Democratic Government in Japan?
The Factors:
1. The Limited Power of the Diet
2. The Damage of Democracys Reputation
by Corruption
3. Failure to Solve Economic Problems

Farmers Economic Problems

Workers Economic Problems
Trade Imbalance
Great Depression of 1929

What led to the Failure of the

Democratic Government in Japan?
1. The Limited Power of the Diet
Although there was a parliament (Diet),
power remained with the Emperor and
the Genro (retired statesmen who served
the Emperor)
No power to make decisions or policies
Could not control the ministers as they
were under the control of the Emperor

What led to the Failure of the

Democratic Government in Japan?
1. The Limited Power of the Diet
As the Diet had no control over the
government, its recommendations
were usually overruled
As a result, the military wielded
much power over the government

What led to the Failure of the

Democratic Government in Japan?
2. The Damage of Democracys Reputation
by Corruption
As Democratic leaders had to be elected
into the Diet, political parties were formed
with large sponsorship from the
Zaibatsus
The Zaibatsus sponsored politicians in
order to use the close ties to make the
government pass laws that would benefit
them

What led to the Failure of the

Democratic Government in Japan?
2. The Damage of Democracys
Reputation by Corruption
Because of these close ties, there
were many rumours of corruption
Due to these accusations, many
political parties fought in
parliament and disillusioned the
Japanese people

What led to the Failure of the

Democratic Government in Japan?
3. Failure to Solve Economic
Problems

Farmers Economic Problems

Lack of land which led to a lack of profits

as the plots were too small to grow more
rice
Landlords rented land at very high prices
which made life difficult for the farmers
Tenant unions used violence and tenantlandlord violence was very common

What led to the Failure of the

Democratic Government in Japan?
3. Failure to Solve Economic Problems

Workers Economic Problems

Poor living and working conditions

Crowded and unhygienic quarters

Worked long hours
Locked in working compounds
Could only leave their working compounds a few
times each month

Fed up, most workers joined Communistsponsored unions

What led to the Failure of the

Democratic Government in Japan?
3. Failure to Solve Economic Problems

Trade Imbalance

Despite its internal problems, Japan

prospered from global trade
Japan exported silk textiles, china (plates,
cups, etc) and porcelain
However, there was a trade imbalance
because Japan had to import many raw
materials and food from abroad to feed its
growing population

What led to the Failure of the

Democratic Government in Japan?
3. Failure to Solve Economic Problems

The Great Depression of 1929

Led to a decrease in Japan exports due to

protectionism policies (increase in taxes on
foreign goods to protect home-made
products in difficult economic times)
Japan was badly affected because the
demand for Japanese silk fell drastically
This led to economic depression

What led to the Failure of the

Democratic Government in Japan?
High Taxes on Japanese Silk
More people bought
silk or other type of
cloths produced by
their home
countries thus
reducing the
demand for
Japanese silk

Effect of
Protectionism
on
Japan

High prices of
Japanese silk

People in other countries

could not afford to buy
Japanese silk

What led to the Failure of the

Democratic Government in Japan?
80%
Fall in
Silk Prices

Businessmen who
Owned silk factories
Went bankrupt

Other businesses
were affected

The Japanese had

less money to
buy other goods

Impact of
decrease in
silk Price

Lower prices led to

fewer goods being
produced

Fewer workers were

needed in factories and
more Japanese became unemployed

Effects of the Great Depression

on Japan
Less Demand
CRASH!

Loss of Paper Profits

Less Employment

Lower Prices

Less Production
Less Money in Circulation

DEPRESSION

Less Bank Credit

Less Building of Factories and Homes

Less Employment

Less Demand

What led to the Failure of the

Democratic Government in Japan?
3. Failure to Solve Economic
Problems

The Great Depression of 1929

The farmers were very badly hit because

they produced silk to earn more income
Worse still, they were hit by a drought in
1932 and made even less money
Desperate they even resorted to selling
their daughters to make ends meet

What led to the Failure of the

Democratic Government in Japan?
3. Failure to Solve Economic Problems

The Great Depression of 1929

When the economy failed to improve, they

joined the army or patriotic societies
The peasants felt that democracy wasnt
working and instead believed in national
reconstruction, military strength and respect
for authority
Many young rural men enlisted in the
Japanese army

What led to the Failure of the

Democratic Government in Japan?
a)

To what extent did a weak Japanese parliament contribute to

the failure of the democratic government in Japan? Explain
your answer. (12m)
Step 1: Explain how the weak Japanese parliament
contributed to the failure of the democratic government in
Japan (Remember to EXPLAIN HOW IT HAPPENED and NOT
WHAT IT IS)
Step 2: Explain 2 OTHER FACTORS In this case, Damage to
Democracys Reputation and the Failure to Solve Economic
Problems
Step 3: Weigh your answer. How far was the weak Japanese
parliament responsible for the failure of the democratic
government AS COMPARED TO the 2 OTHER FACTORS?

What led to the Rise of

Fascism in Japan?
External Reasons

Internal Reasons

American expansion in the

Asia-Pacific region
threatened Japanese plans
to control the area
Paris Peace Conference
1919
Washington Naval
Conference 1921-22
London Disarmament
Conference 1930
Immigration Laws in the
USA in the mid 1930s
Resurgence of Chinese
Nationalism

The Showa Restoration

Patriotic Societies
Militarys great influence
over the government
Military take-over of Japan

What led to the Rise of

Fascism in Japan?
External Reasons
American expansion in the Asia-Pacific region
threatened Japanese plans to control the area
Since the opening of trade with Japan by the American
Commodore, Matthew Perry, American businessmen were
interested in doing business in the Asia-Pacific
The US took control of many Pacific islands to obtain Guano
(bat shit)
Other islands were used as bases for American trading
ships
By the 1930s, more of the Pacific region came under
American control including Hawaii and the Philippines
Japanese militarists believed that Japanese and American
economic and military interests would come into conflict
over who would control the Asia-Pacific

What led to the Rise of

Fascism in Japan?
External Reasons
Paris Peace Conference 1919
As Japan had fought with the Allied
Powers in WWI, they requested that the
League of Nations formally recognise
that all races were equal
As the League of Nations refused, the
Japanese, particularly the Japanese
Army, were unhappy

What led to the Rise of

Fascism in Japan?
External Reasons
Washington Naval Conference 19211922
The WNC aimed to reduce the naval
forces of the worlds major powers
For every 5 ships Britain and the USA
could build, Japan could only build 3
The Japanese felt that this was an unfair
treaty and an attempt to restrict
Japanese naval power

What led to the Rise of

Fascism in Japan?
External Reasons
London Disarmament Conference 1930
Many Japanese were unhappy when PM Hamaguchi
Osachi wanted to ensure further naval arms reduction
with Britain and the USA where he agreed, at the LDC to
further limit Japans smaller battleships
They were also unhappy that he was trying to improve
ties with China
The PM also reduced spending on the Army to end the
Great Depression
He was accused by the Army of being too soft and
betraying the country
He died in 1931 from wounds sustained in an
assassination attempt in 1930

What led to the Rise of

Fascism in Japan?
External Reasons
Immigration Laws in the USA in the mid 1930s
In 1924, the USA restricted Asian immigration
as part of its isolationist and protectionist
policies
All Asian immigration (except for Filipinos) was
banned
Asian immigrants could not become US
citizens even if they had been living there for a
long time
Asians could not marry Caucasians and were
not allowed to own land

What led to the Rise of

Fascism in Japan?
External Reasons
Immigration Laws in the USA in the mid 1930s
There was also Asian Segregation (California
Alien Law 1931)
These new immigration laws angered the
Japanese who saw these policies as a sign
that the Americans thought the Japanese were
inferior
These laws combined with the effects of the
Great Depression caused many Japanese to
turn away from Democracy and support
Japanese expansion overseas

What led to the Rise of

Fascism in Japan?
External Reasons
Resurgence of Chinese Nationalism
Since 1894, Japan had taken advantage of
Chinas weak political situation to gain special
trading rights and privileges within China
The Chinese were angered by the dynastic
decline and the giving of foreign concessions
Subsequently, there were struggles between
the Chinese warlords and the KMT and CCP
(who both tried to unite China). These
struggles weakened the country

What led to the Rise of

Fascism in Japan?
External Reasons
Resurgence of Chinese Nationalism
When the KMT succeeded in uniting
China, the Chinese demanded an end
to the special concessions to
Westerners and Japanese in China
and Manchuria
Strikes and boycotts hurt Japanese
economic interests in China and
Manchuria

What led to the Rise of

Fascism in Japan?
External Reasons
Resurgence of Chinese Nationalism
Japanese Kwantung Army Officers in
Manchuria realised that a strong and
united China could prevent further
Japanese expansion in the country
They urged Japan to occupy Manchuria
and North China before anti-Japanese
feelings became too strong
The Japanese militarys call for action was
supported by many Japanese

What led to the Rise of

Fascism in Japan?
Internal Reasons
The Showa Restoration
From the 1890s the Japanese education system
emphasised:

Nationalism
Loyalty to the Emperor
Self-Sacrifice
Obedience

Japans response to the Great Depression and foreign

opposition to its growing empire was the Showa
Restoration (Bright Harmony)
Western values were characterised to be selfish,
greedy and individualistic and Japanese virtues such
as self-sacrifice for the nation were promoted

What led to the Rise of

Fascism in Japan?
Internal Reasons
The Showa Restoration
The slogan Sonno Joi (Restore the
Emperor and Expel the Barbarian!)
The SR produced youths who were
blindly loyal to the Emperor and the
nation
These youths also believed in militarism
and an aggressive military policy

What led to the Rise of

Fascism in Japan?
Internal Reasons
Patriotic Societies
Since the 1920s, many patriotic societies with
links to the military were set up in Japan (Black
Dragon Society, Cherry Blossom Society)
They were extremely nationalistic and believed
in Japans superiority to other nations
They wanted to use an aggressive foreign policy
to make Japan strong again
These societies wanted to get rid of democratic
leaders and set up a military dictatorship on
behalf of the Emperor

What led to the Rise of

Fascism in Japan?
Internal Reasons
Army and Navys Great Influence over the
Government
The Army and Navy had a great influence over
political decisions and acted independently from
the government
They wanted to copy the West and acquire more
colonies in China and Manchuria
Military success made the Army and Navy popular
(e.g. Russo-Japanese War) and helped them gain
even more influence over the government.
Leaders who did not support the militarys
ambitions were often assassinated

Japanese Military Gains

1894-1895 Sino-Japanese War
Japan defeated China
It took over Taiwan and demanded that
China give up control over the Liaodung
Peninsula in Manchuria
This started the Japanese presence in
Manchuria
1914 Japan joined the Allies in WWI
When Japan entered the war on the
side of the Allies, it occupied the
German territories of Shantung and
parts of the Pacific islands

1915 Japan Issues the 21 Demands to

China
Weak Chinese government is forced to
accept Japanese advisors
Japan is able to keep Shantung

1904-1905 Russo-Japanese War

Japan defeated Russia
First Asian power to defeat a major
European power
Signed the Treaty of Portsmouth in
1905

1905 Treaty of Portsmouth

Gained the right to build a
railway in Manchuria which was
rich in oil and coal
Took over Port Arthur, the
Liaodung Peninsula and the
southern Sakhalin Island from
Russia

1905-1910
Japans control of Korea is
achieved

What led to the Rise of

Fascism in Japan?
Internal Reasons
Military Take-over of Japan
In 1930, the military brought down the Hamaguchi
government by shooting the PM
In May 1932, the new PM, Inukai, was killed for
criticising the actions of the Japanese Army in
Manchuria
Succeeding PMs felt pressurised to support the
Kwantung Army in Manchuria or were already
strong supporters of the military
After 1932, after the Manchurian Incident, the
Japanese government began to follow the aims of
the Army

What led to the Failure of the

Democratic Government in Japan?
b)

Unhappiness with the former Allied Powers was the most

important reason that led to the rise of fascism in Japan.
How far do you agree with this statement? Explain your
answer. (13m)
Step 1: You can start by saying that Unhappiness with the
former Allied Powers was a reason for the rise of fascism in
Japan BUT there are other factors as well (e.g. See Slide 23)
Explain how unhappiness with the former Allied Powers was
led to the rise of fascism in Japan. Remember to EXPLAIN
HOW IT HAPPENED and NOT WHAT IT IS)
Step 2: Explain 2 OTHER FACTORS (Aqmal ~ 2 more
factorsnot ONE)
Step 3: Weigh your answer. How important was unhappiness
with the former Allied Powers responsible for the rise of
fascism in Japan AS COMPARED TO the 2 OTHER
FACTORS?

What led to the Rise of

Fascism in Japan?
External Reasons

Internal Reasons

American expansion in the

Asia-Pacific region
threatened Japanese plans
to control the area
Paris Peace Conference
1919
Washington Naval
Conference 1921-22
London Disarmament
Conference 1930
Immigration Laws in the
USA in the mid 1930s
Resurgence of Chinese
Nationalism

The Showa Restoration

Patriotic Societies
Militarys great influence
over the government
Military take-over of Japan