Download The Beginning of War in Japan

The Beginning of War in Japan
By Jane Runyon
Name ______________________
Date _______________ Per ___
World War II began in Asia much earlier than it did in Europe. Japan
was involved in conflict that led to war as early as 1931. During World
War I, Japan was one of the Allies. They fought with the United States and
Russia against the Germans. After WWI, Japan was able to expand its
holdings in Asia. They gained an influence in the world they had not
known before the war. Japan joined the League of Nations when it was
established in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1919. That alliance with world powers gave Japan the
recognition it needed to become a power on its own. During the decade of the 1920s, the
government of Japan started tipping slightly toward being a democracy. The emperor
relinquished some of his power to the people.
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With the beginning of the 1930's came a change in Japan's government. The military began
taking over the decision making policies in the government. By 1931, the Japanese military had
invaded Manchuria on the mainland of Asia. They set up a puppet government. The government
they established looked like it was being run by the Manchurians. In reality, the Japanese
military was making the decisions. They were pulling the strings. The emperor had not even
been informed of the plan to invade Manchuria.
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In 1933, the Japanese military government decided that it no longer needed the friendship of
countries in the League of Nations. The leaders didn't want these countries telling them what
they could and could not do. They pulled their membership from the League and set out on their
own to establish an empire.
3
In 1937, Japan invaded China. This conflict would be known as the Second Sino-Japanese
War. United States President Franklin Delano Roosevelt could see the dangers associated with
allowing Japan to become too powerful in Asia. He secretly established a group of volunteer
fighter pilots. Their goal would be to stop the Japanese. This plan was not officially recognized
by the United States government. The group became known as Chennault's Flying Tigers.
During one seven month period of time in the late 1930's, the Flying Tigers were able to destroy
600 Japanese aircraft. They sank many Japanese ships. They kept the Japanese from securing
more land by stalling a planned invasion of Burma (now called Thailand).
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The Japanese military government was not at all happy with the United States. The Japanese
realized that the United States was not going to let them expand their holdings in the way they
had planned. The Japanese had been watching what was happening in Europe. They watched as
Adolph Hitler began his reign of terror. The Japanese decided to make a deal with the German
government. This treaty more or less divided up the world between the two nations. Germany
would control Europe. Japan would control Asia. The United States became an enemy to both.
5
Japan made its retaliation against the United States for the damage done by the Flying
Tigers by conducting a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941. Their
goal was to destroy the American navy leaving the Pacific islands open to Japanese attack.
What it did was to ignite a war that would cover the world for the next four and a half years.
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The Beginning of War in Japan
1. With what country did Japan become
Allies during World War I?
Germany
United States
Italy
Both A & C
3. Which country did Japan invade first?
Burma
United States
Manchuria
China
5. Why did President Roosevelt unofficially
create the Flying Tigers?
Japan needed help with their aircraft.
Japan had attacked the U.S. Navy.
Japan was becoming too powerful.
They helped Japan secure more land.
7. How come Adolf Hitler did not take over
Japan during Germany’s invasion of
Europe?
The Flying Tigers intervened.
Germany and Japan made a deal to
divide up control of the world.
Adolph Hitler didn’t like Japan.
Franklin Roosevelt stopped him.
2. What title did the leader of Japan have?
President
Emperor
Ninja
General
4. What is a puppet government?
a government that looks like it is
being controlled by someone else
a toy with strings
the emperor’s way of controlling his
country
All of the Above
6. What group was formed after World War I
by the countries in power?
European Union (EU)
North Atlantic Treaty Organization
(NATO)
United Nations
League of Nations
8. When did Japan retaliate against the United
States by attacking Pearl Harbor?
1931
1937
1941
1945