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The Causes of World War 2 in the
Pacific
Historical Debate
 David Bergamini have argued that japan had planned a war
from the early 1930’s and the Emperor had been very much
involved.
 Other historians suggest that Japan was pursuing a more
traditional European-style imperialist policy in Asia
Japan and the Long term causes of
WW2 in the Pacific
 1. From mid 17th century Japan had been isolated from the
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outside world by her rulers-Shoguns in response to the threat
to their civilization posed by Christianity.
2. politically, economically and socially Japan functioned as a
feudal state.
3. American Commodore Mathew Perry determined to
negotiate with the Japanese to open up to Americans trade
and refuelling stops.
4. The government tried to buy time and Perry agreed to
return after a year.
5. The Treaty of Kangawa was signed between japan and USA
in1854 which opened up Japan to the outside world.
 6. 1867- power officially handed down to the emperor who
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came to be known as the Meiji- his government set to
modernising japan.
7. Japan became a limited democracy and did away with its
feudal system.
8. Rapid industrialisation and reform in military.
9. Introduction of conscription and adoption of german
military principles and methods.
10. Followed british in their construction of a new navy.
 Result of reform in military could be seen in japan’s victory
over China in 1894-95- first non-European nation to be
concidered as a world power by the West.
 Also dominated Korea.
 1900- only generals and admirals could be ministers for army
and navy- thus strong influence of military in administration
of the nation.
 1902- Anglo-Japanese Alliance with Britain: if either power
was attacked by two other states the signatory would come to
the assistance of its ally but would remain neutral if attacked
by one power.
 This alliance gave japan a stronger position in its rivalry with
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Russia.
1904-Russians and Japanese entered Korea
1905- Admiral togo Heichachiro destroyed the russian fleet
in the Tushima Strait ; 6000 of 18000 soldiers survived and
only 116 japanese sailors killed .
Results of this war- encouraged japanese nationalism and
expansionism
Russia- triggered revolution
1910- formally annexed Korea
Japan and WW1
 WWI gave japan new opportunites to expand- joined
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Entente and demanded German colonial possessions in China
Germans ignored Japan’s demand- declared war on
Germany.
Presented the Government of China with ‘Twenty-one
Demands’ in 1915 which would give Japan influential
political and economical position in China.
Interenational response- hostile
US-japanese relations turned sour as US would not tolerate
any agreement that threatened its interests.
 1917- USA joined WWI and Japan agreed to lansing-Ishii
Agreement according to which US recognised Japan’s gains
till 1917.
 October 1917- bolsheviks seized power in Russia. Agreement
between US and Japan that Japan would sent 7500 troops to
assist White forces but Japan sent 70,000 instead.
Japan and Versailles: a mutilated
victory
 Japan demanded an annexation of the german Pacific
territories and inclusion of a racial equality clause.
 German concessions on Shandong remained with Japanese.
 Japan benefitted economically from WWI- lack of foreign
trade resulted in Japn becoming more self-sufficient. Its
economy boomed.
 1921-Washington Conference-Four Power Pact, Five Power
Naval Treaty, Nine Power Pact
Japan in 1920s
 WWI made Japan an industrial centre.
 Profits are not invested well, spent on funding Chionese
warlords who failed to pay back their debts.
 Thus Japan’s foreign debt remained high- hit the banking
system-printing more money- led to steep rise in cost of
living
 1918- riots over availability of rice
 1920- Japan embraced western culture, architecture, music,
fashion and sport.
 1918-21- Under P.M Hara government introduced social and
economic reforms, military was contained.
 Hara led Japan into the League of Nations.
 Hara assassinated in 1921.
 1926- Hirohito became the
emperor
 1929- Japan caught up in
the Great Depressiondemand for silk collapsed,
millions unemployed.
Then P.M Osachi
Hamguchi cut spending by
limiting naval expansion,
cutting military salaries by
10%. He was assassinated.
Japan and the short term causes of
the Pacific War
 1930s- military gained more and more influence, so japan
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became more aggressive
1931- attacked manchuria which alarmed USA
The army did not stop in manchuria but went to Jehol.
Relations between japan and western democracies
deteriorated for the following reasons:
1. The West was alarmed by the bombing of Shanghai in 1932
2. 1933-Japan left the League of Nations
3.1934- japan withdrew from washington conference
displeased with having inferior navy to USA
Research Topics
 Nazi Soviet Pact
 Tripartite Pact
 Sino-Japanese War& Rape of Nanjing 1937
Immediate cause of War
 June 1940- japanese forces the closure of the Burma Road, an
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important supply route for the Chinese.
America’s response- Banned the export of scrap iron to Japan
which had a strong impact on Japan as it needed import of
food and raw materials
September 1940- Japanese signed the Tripartite Pact
November 1940- USA gives Chinese leader a massive loan to
resist japan.
July 1941- Japan invaded southern Indochina when Germany
invaded Russia
 USA, Britain and Netherlands imposed trade embargo on
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Japan
Crisis for Japan- danger of running out of oil-could not
continue to fight in China
Japanese were willing to negotiate- America demanded Japan
to withdraw from China which was unacceptable to Japan
Japan decided to get the resources by force.
2 Dec 1941- japanese fleet began its journey to Hawaii.
7 Dec 1941- attack on pearl harbour
Airforce and navy
Attack on Pearl Harbour
Atomic bomb
Tragedy in Hiroshima
IMPACT OF JAPAN’S RELATIONSHIP
WITH GERMANY
 Japan and Germany considered USSR as an enemy. They
signed the Anti-Comintern Pact
 Japan signed the Tripartite pact with Germany and italy to
deter USA from becoming involved in the warsin Europe and
Asia.
 11 December, 1941- 3 days after attack on pearl harbour
Hitler declared war on the USA.
IMPACT OF JAPAN’S RELATIONSHIP
WITH USSR
 Japan’s relationship with Russia was tense from the period
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1907-17
After the revolution, USSR was created- Japan was
threatened territorially and ideologically and so military
planning was focussed in this direction
During Sino-Japanese war, Soviets were main suppliers of
aid to China so there was fighting between japanese and
Soviet troops on the manchurian border in 1939.
With increases hostility between Germany and USSR
Russians focussed on hitler.
Japan signed neutrality pact with USSR in April 1941. With
launch of Operation Barbarossa the Russian threat to Japan
ended.
TO WHAT EXTENT WAS USA RESPONSIBLE
FOR WAR IN THE PACIFIC?
 With the opening up of Japan to trade and foreign influence
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in mid 19th century- the two’s relationship was strained at
times.
USA suspicious of Japan’s alliance with Britain and did not
want an Asian competitor to their interests in the region.
Japan was offended when USA set a quota for immigration in
1924
USA condemned the success of Kwantung Army in
Manchuria and increased their aid to China.
Relations between the two deteriorated with the escalation
of Sino-Japanese war in 1937.
Sino-Japanese War
 1933- japan signed a truce with Chinese nationalists.
 1937- clash between japan and China at the Marco Polo
bridge in Beijing.
 War in china would lead to war in the Pacific.
 Due to tensions in Europe Britain and France did not want to
get involved in it.