Japan: the interwar period
Change in Japan
Change was slowly beginning to occur in Japan. After WWI, Japan began to mold into a democracy. Member of the Diet (the Japanese parliament) were slowly giving up their power and other political parties were developed. By 1925, most adult men had gained the right to vote. Although westernization brought ideas of women’s rights to Japan, women were still considered to be less than men. They would not gain suffrage until two decades later.
Problems in Japan
The Japanese economy flourished during WWI. Its natural resources were vital to their allies and while the Europeans fought in Europe, Japan began to extend its guidance through East Asia. Powerful business owners strongly influence the government because of their large donations towards the parties. The zaibatsu (the business leaders) wanted to expand international trade for their own interests. At the time the world was becoming peaceful, so Japan signed a deal with Britain and the United States to limit the size of the navy. Although Japan seemed stable, it was facing serious problems. The economy was decreasing in the 1920s after having a very prosperous period. Rural workers did not enjoy the prosperity of the urban-dwellers which made them favor a more socialist government. Since they had won the right to vote, more and more socialists were being elected to the Diet. As well as rural areas, young city folks were turning against traditional ways. They adopted more westernized ideas when it came to the social aspect of society.
Tensions grew between the military and the government throughout the 1920s. Military officers called the government out on the corruption going on including the money being “donated” from the zaibatsu. They also resented western customs for undermining the classic Japanese values.
Nationalism and Imperialism
The Great Depression came into Japan in 1929 with devastating effects on the economy. Japan was dependent on trade, which suffered greatly because of the depression. Foreign buyers could no longer afford the exports from Japan. Prices for everything decreased greatly and the unemployment rate jumped highly. This economic disaster further angered nationalists and extreme militarists. They were furious that the Japanese government was agreeing with other nations about expansion. Japan’s empire was tiny they believed and they sought to make it superior. Japanese nationalists were also upset because of the foreign policies in the United States and Canada which prohibited Japanese citizens to immigrate there. They took this very personally because the nationalists believed they should not be treated less than they deserved. As this crisis worsened, nationalists and imperialists demanded for expansions. They also demanded the government to realize what was best for Japan. They believed that Emperor Hirohito was not a fit leader.
A Closer Look at Emperor Hirohito
Emperor Hirohito was born Michinomiya Hirohito on April 29th, 1901 in the Aoyama Palace. Hirohito was the 124th emperor of Japan in direct descent from the first. He became the emperor after the death of his father in December of 1926. When Japan declared war on China in 1931, he reluctantly supported it. He also unwillingly supported the invasion of Manchuria in 1937. On the other hand, he did support the attack on Pearl Harbor which led to the involved of Japan and the United States in World War II. He thought that there would be a quick victory over all of the allies. When this speedy victory did not occur, Hirohito became dependent on the political leaders. This led to the removal of Hideki Tojo on July 18th, 1944. After the loss of Okinawa, Hirohito called on his ministers to seek an end to the conflict. Instead, his government refused him because they believed Germany and Japan still had a chance to win the war. Japan was close to losing in 1945 after the bombings by the United States and the Soviet invasion of Manchuria, Hirohito made the decision to finally fully surrender. He then later died in 1889 of cancer. Although many people believed he was an unfit ruler, most Japanese remember him as a respected man and leader.
The Manchurian Incident
Japan set their eyes on the province of Manchuria because it was rich in natural resources and many Japanese companies had investments there. In 1931, a group of Japanese army men triggered an incident, which would give the Japanese an excuse to invade. They blew up a set of railroad tracks on a Japanese owned railroad and blamed it on the Chinese. In “self-defense”, they attacked Manchuria. The Japanese military conquered all of Manchuria and set up a state there called Manzhouguo, they did all of this without consulting their government. The League of Nations predestined Japan’s actions; Japan withdrew itself from the league. The government disagreed with the military’s actions but the public sides with the military. In the following years, the Japanese military would take the liberty of dominating other areas as well.
Militarism
By the early 1930s, militarists were gaining support from the public in Japan. Members of nationalist societies killed numbers of politicians and business leaders that did not like militarism. Military leaders plotted to takeover the government and dwell in the center of Tokyo. All civilians had to become used to the military having power.
More Expansion
Japan took advantage of China’s ongoing civil war to increase its influence there in the 1930s. They took the opportunity to attack which started the Second Sino-Japanese War. The Japanese committed horrific crimes when they were running over Eastern China. Japan thought they were going to dominate all of China in a few years. But in 1939, while Japan and China were in full-fledged war, WWII broke out in Europe and spread to Asia quickly because of France and Britain’s imperial ties there. Japan soon gave up its conquest in China and joined forced with two overly aggressive European powers, Germany and Italy.This powerful alliance would turn WWII into a brutal and dreadful
war.
Review Questions:
1) Name two causes of WWII because of the Japanese.
2) What effect did the Great Depression have on Japan?
3) Why was it easy for Japan to gain control in China?
4) Explain why the military gained control in Japan
5) List 3 effects of the Manchurian Incident.
Citations:
-"Marco Polo Bridge Incident." World History: The Modern Era. ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. 12 Mar. 2013.
-"Sino-Japanese War of 1937-1945." World History: The Modern Era. ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. 12 Mar. 2013.
Primary Source:
-"Hirohito." Image. Library of Congress. World History: The Modern Era. ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. 12 Mar. 2013.
Change was slowly beginning to occur in Japan. After WWI, Japan began to mold into a democracy. Member of the Diet (the Japanese parliament) were slowly giving up their power and other political parties were developed. By 1925, most adult men had gained the right to vote. Although westernization brought ideas of women’s rights to Japan, women were still considered to be less than men. They would not gain suffrage until two decades later.
Problems in Japan
The Japanese economy flourished during WWI. Its natural resources were vital to their allies and while the Europeans fought in Europe, Japan began to extend its guidance through East Asia. Powerful business owners strongly influence the government because of their large donations towards the parties. The zaibatsu (the business leaders) wanted to expand international trade for their own interests. At the time the world was becoming peaceful, so Japan signed a deal with Britain and the United States to limit the size of the navy. Although Japan seemed stable, it was facing serious problems. The economy was decreasing in the 1920s after having a very prosperous period. Rural workers did not enjoy the prosperity of the urban-dwellers which made them favor a more socialist government. Since they had won the right to vote, more and more socialists were being elected to the Diet. As well as rural areas, young city folks were turning against traditional ways. They adopted more westernized ideas when it came to the social aspect of society.
Tensions grew between the military and the government throughout the 1920s. Military officers called the government out on the corruption going on including the money being “donated” from the zaibatsu. They also resented western customs for undermining the classic Japanese values.
Nationalism and Imperialism
The Great Depression came into Japan in 1929 with devastating effects on the economy. Japan was dependent on trade, which suffered greatly because of the depression. Foreign buyers could no longer afford the exports from Japan. Prices for everything decreased greatly and the unemployment rate jumped highly. This economic disaster further angered nationalists and extreme militarists. They were furious that the Japanese government was agreeing with other nations about expansion. Japan’s empire was tiny they believed and they sought to make it superior. Japanese nationalists were also upset because of the foreign policies in the United States and Canada which prohibited Japanese citizens to immigrate there. They took this very personally because the nationalists believed they should not be treated less than they deserved. As this crisis worsened, nationalists and imperialists demanded for expansions. They also demanded the government to realize what was best for Japan. They believed that Emperor Hirohito was not a fit leader.
A Closer Look at Emperor Hirohito
Emperor Hirohito was born Michinomiya Hirohito on April 29th, 1901 in the Aoyama Palace. Hirohito was the 124th emperor of Japan in direct descent from the first. He became the emperor after the death of his father in December of 1926. When Japan declared war on China in 1931, he reluctantly supported it. He also unwillingly supported the invasion of Manchuria in 1937. On the other hand, he did support the attack on Pearl Harbor which led to the involved of Japan and the United States in World War II. He thought that there would be a quick victory over all of the allies. When this speedy victory did not occur, Hirohito became dependent on the political leaders. This led to the removal of Hideki Tojo on July 18th, 1944. After the loss of Okinawa, Hirohito called on his ministers to seek an end to the conflict. Instead, his government refused him because they believed Germany and Japan still had a chance to win the war. Japan was close to losing in 1945 after the bombings by the United States and the Soviet invasion of Manchuria, Hirohito made the decision to finally fully surrender. He then later died in 1889 of cancer. Although many people believed he was an unfit ruler, most Japanese remember him as a respected man and leader.
The Manchurian Incident
Japan set their eyes on the province of Manchuria because it was rich in natural resources and many Japanese companies had investments there. In 1931, a group of Japanese army men triggered an incident, which would give the Japanese an excuse to invade. They blew up a set of railroad tracks on a Japanese owned railroad and blamed it on the Chinese. In “self-defense”, they attacked Manchuria. The Japanese military conquered all of Manchuria and set up a state there called Manzhouguo, they did all of this without consulting their government. The League of Nations predestined Japan’s actions; Japan withdrew itself from the league. The government disagreed with the military’s actions but the public sides with the military. In the following years, the Japanese military would take the liberty of dominating other areas as well.
Militarism
By the early 1930s, militarists were gaining support from the public in Japan. Members of nationalist societies killed numbers of politicians and business leaders that did not like militarism. Military leaders plotted to takeover the government and dwell in the center of Tokyo. All civilians had to become used to the military having power.
More Expansion
Japan took advantage of China’s ongoing civil war to increase its influence there in the 1930s. They took the opportunity to attack which started the Second Sino-Japanese War. The Japanese committed horrific crimes when they were running over Eastern China. Japan thought they were going to dominate all of China in a few years. But in 1939, while Japan and China were in full-fledged war, WWII broke out in Europe and spread to Asia quickly because of France and Britain’s imperial ties there. Japan soon gave up its conquest in China and joined forced with two overly aggressive European powers, Germany and Italy.This powerful alliance would turn WWII into a brutal and dreadful
war.
Review Questions:
1) Name two causes of WWII because of the Japanese.
2) What effect did the Great Depression have on Japan?
3) Why was it easy for Japan to gain control in China?
4) Explain why the military gained control in Japan
5) List 3 effects of the Manchurian Incident.
Citations:
-"Marco Polo Bridge Incident." World History: The Modern Era. ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. 12 Mar. 2013.
-"Sino-Japanese War of 1937-1945." World History: The Modern Era. ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. 12 Mar. 2013.
Primary Source:
-"Hirohito." Image. Library of Congress. World History: The Modern Era. ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. 12 Mar. 2013.