CAUSES OF JAPANESE EXPANSION - paper 1 content
nationalism + militarism = causes of expansion
● Japan an ultra-nationalistic/radical nationalistic state (do NOT use
facist)
● Japan wanted respect and wanted to be equal to the Great Powers
of Europe - wanted an empire
○ Models goals and ambitions after what Britain had
accomplished
○ DESIRE 2 BE EQUAL TO WESTERN POWERS => imperialism
○ “Destiny” - they believed they were to be the rulers of Asia
● Importing more than exporting therefore needed/wanted colonies
for raw materials => neo-mercantilism
● Japan felt special - they have an Emperor, who is divine.
○ Never been conquered before - Japan was isolated until 1854
● SHOGUN RULE - feudal society isolated by the rest of the world
■ shogun => military rule since 1192
○ Remained isolated to keep Christianity from taking over
● MEIJI RESTORATION: restoration of the Emperor (1860s) solidified
with the constitution of 1889.
○ What brought it about? 1854, Commodore Matthew Perry
(American) = looking for trade with Japan
○ Brought back the belief that strong nation = strong army
○ Emperor, Privy Council (advisors), Cabinet (in charge of diff
govt departments), Military (granted lots of independence
and report directly to the Emperor).
■ Diet = parliament (create and pass laws)
○ Change in education (to emphasize the divinity of the
Emperor, and Japan’s special “destiny”)
● RADICAL NATIONALISM fuels MILITARISM
early conquests
● War with Korea => korean defeat
○ Modernize their army (adapt German strategies, 1902
Anglo-Japanese Alliance => helping with their navy)
○ Korea looked to China to defend them => led to on and off
conflict
, ○ Spilled into a war with CHINA
■ Sino-Japanese War (first) 1894-95
■ After Japanese victory and the creation of the treaty,
much of it is territorial control
○ FRANCE, GERMANY, RUSSIA => triple intervention ???
■ Tell Japan to give the territory back, only to take some
territory for themselves.
■ USE A WEAK CHINA TO TAKE EVEN MORE TERRITORY
=> european exploitation once again
○ Japan is FURIOUS = huge increase in military spending
○ Formosa (Taiwan) declares independence
■ A mockery of Japanese power => frustration
■ Money needs to go into the military
■ Japan was using espionage, money and assassination to
ensure everyone was in accordance with the plan to
build up the military.
● If you aren’t with us, you are against us.
○ RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR - 1904-5
○ Decisive victory through the navy - first time a non-European
country beat a European power.
■ Tensions rose bc of conflict of interest with Manchuria
and Korea. => forces Russian govt to make peace
■ Led to the treaty of Portsmouth (1905) - HUGE WIN 4
JAPAN
● Japan gains access to some of Manchuria, railroad
rights and Korea
● US and European states recognize Japan’s claim
of Korea
■ US takes control of the Philippines thanks to Japan
○ Make notes on impact of WWI on Japan pg. 4/12
WWI aftermath
● 1920s INTERNATIONALISM // COOPERATION => SHIDEHARA’s policy
● What does the civilian govt want?
○ To get along with Western powers, and avoid war.
● Washington Naval Conference (1921-22)
nationalism + militarism = causes of expansion
● Japan an ultra-nationalistic/radical nationalistic state (do NOT use
facist)
● Japan wanted respect and wanted to be equal to the Great Powers
of Europe - wanted an empire
○ Models goals and ambitions after what Britain had
accomplished
○ DESIRE 2 BE EQUAL TO WESTERN POWERS => imperialism
○ “Destiny” - they believed they were to be the rulers of Asia
● Importing more than exporting therefore needed/wanted colonies
for raw materials => neo-mercantilism
● Japan felt special - they have an Emperor, who is divine.
○ Never been conquered before - Japan was isolated until 1854
● SHOGUN RULE - feudal society isolated by the rest of the world
■ shogun => military rule since 1192
○ Remained isolated to keep Christianity from taking over
● MEIJI RESTORATION: restoration of the Emperor (1860s) solidified
with the constitution of 1889.
○ What brought it about? 1854, Commodore Matthew Perry
(American) = looking for trade with Japan
○ Brought back the belief that strong nation = strong army
○ Emperor, Privy Council (advisors), Cabinet (in charge of diff
govt departments), Military (granted lots of independence
and report directly to the Emperor).
■ Diet = parliament (create and pass laws)
○ Change in education (to emphasize the divinity of the
Emperor, and Japan’s special “destiny”)
● RADICAL NATIONALISM fuels MILITARISM
early conquests
● War with Korea => korean defeat
○ Modernize their army (adapt German strategies, 1902
Anglo-Japanese Alliance => helping with their navy)
○ Korea looked to China to defend them => led to on and off
conflict
, ○ Spilled into a war with CHINA
■ Sino-Japanese War (first) 1894-95
■ After Japanese victory and the creation of the treaty,
much of it is territorial control
○ FRANCE, GERMANY, RUSSIA => triple intervention ???
■ Tell Japan to give the territory back, only to take some
territory for themselves.
■ USE A WEAK CHINA TO TAKE EVEN MORE TERRITORY
=> european exploitation once again
○ Japan is FURIOUS = huge increase in military spending
○ Formosa (Taiwan) declares independence
■ A mockery of Japanese power => frustration
■ Money needs to go into the military
■ Japan was using espionage, money and assassination to
ensure everyone was in accordance with the plan to
build up the military.
● If you aren’t with us, you are against us.
○ RUSSO-JAPANESE WAR - 1904-5
○ Decisive victory through the navy - first time a non-European
country beat a European power.
■ Tensions rose bc of conflict of interest with Manchuria
and Korea. => forces Russian govt to make peace
■ Led to the treaty of Portsmouth (1905) - HUGE WIN 4
JAPAN
● Japan gains access to some of Manchuria, railroad
rights and Korea
● US and European states recognize Japan’s claim
of Korea
■ US takes control of the Philippines thanks to Japan
○ Make notes on impact of WWI on Japan pg. 4/12
WWI aftermath
● 1920s INTERNATIONALISM // COOPERATION => SHIDEHARA’s policy
● What does the civilian govt want?
○ To get along with Western powers, and avoid war.
● Washington Naval Conference (1921-22)
