Pearson Baccalaureate – World History:
Causes and Effects of 20th Century Wars
WWII – Causes III: The war in the Pacific (p.147-163)
Japan’s responsibility: the historical debate
DAVID BERGAMINI: Japan had planned war, clear aggressor whose aim was to conquer Asia.
OTHER HISTORIANS: Japan didn’t plan the war; it was a result of taking too many risks.
COUNTER ARGUMENTORS: USA was to blame, Japan wanted to ‘free’ Asia from Western
domination and led a defensive war which was triggered by American embargos.
Japan and the long-term causes of WWII in the Pacific
Background: Japanese relations with the West
Japan had been isolated since mid-17th century in response to the threat to their civilization
posed by Christianity. Politically, economically and socially Japan functioned as a feudal state
led by the Shoguns until the arrival of an American in 1853.
In 1854 The Treaty of Kanagawa was signed with the USA, which ‘opened up’ Japan to the
outside world.
In 1867 power was handed to the Japanese emperor who set up his government to modernize
Japan, which was then rapidly industrialized and developed a modernized army.
→ victory over China in 1894-1895.
Japan was the first non-European nation to be considered as a world power. Japan’s growing
expansionist foreign policy was supported by its strong military, which had a strong influence
in the government from the beginning of the 20th century. The Anglo-Japanese Alliance
was signed in 1902 and gave Japan a much stronger position in its rivalry with Russia. In a fight
over Korea, Russia was defeated heavily by the Japanese army, which encouraged
Japanese nationalism and expansionism.
Japan and WWI
Japan’s ambitions to make further territorial gains in the area led to some conflicts with the
Western powers. Japan also profited from WWI (was on the Allied side) by receiving German
colonial possessions in China and making further gains in China while the European powers
were caught up in Europe. The USA feared that Japan would threaten US interest in the area,
which worsened US-Japanese relations.
In 1917 Japan’s gains made up to 1917 were recognized by the USA in return for the Japanese to
ensure to not pursue any more expansion at this time…
Japan and Versailles; a ‘mutilated victory’
Even though Japan felt that it hadn’t received what it deserved, it did maintain its position in
the Chinese Shandong Province and gained some German colonies in the Pacific. Japan
had also benefitted economically from WWI. Japan’s influence over China was still causing
concern to the USA. In 1921 at the Washington Conference the Nine Power Treaty was signed,
respecting Chinese sovereignty, which eased US-Japanese tensions.
The liberal 1920s: a peaceful Japan
Early 1920s: embraced Western culture, stability in government, anti-militarism, LoN
Causes and Effects of 20th Century Wars
WWII – Causes III: The war in the Pacific (p.147-163)
Japan’s responsibility: the historical debate
DAVID BERGAMINI: Japan had planned war, clear aggressor whose aim was to conquer Asia.
OTHER HISTORIANS: Japan didn’t plan the war; it was a result of taking too many risks.
COUNTER ARGUMENTORS: USA was to blame, Japan wanted to ‘free’ Asia from Western
domination and led a defensive war which was triggered by American embargos.
Japan and the long-term causes of WWII in the Pacific
Background: Japanese relations with the West
Japan had been isolated since mid-17th century in response to the threat to their civilization
posed by Christianity. Politically, economically and socially Japan functioned as a feudal state
led by the Shoguns until the arrival of an American in 1853.
In 1854 The Treaty of Kanagawa was signed with the USA, which ‘opened up’ Japan to the
outside world.
In 1867 power was handed to the Japanese emperor who set up his government to modernize
Japan, which was then rapidly industrialized and developed a modernized army.
→ victory over China in 1894-1895.
Japan was the first non-European nation to be considered as a world power. Japan’s growing
expansionist foreign policy was supported by its strong military, which had a strong influence
in the government from the beginning of the 20th century. The Anglo-Japanese Alliance
was signed in 1902 and gave Japan a much stronger position in its rivalry with Russia. In a fight
over Korea, Russia was defeated heavily by the Japanese army, which encouraged
Japanese nationalism and expansionism.
Japan and WWI
Japan’s ambitions to make further territorial gains in the area led to some conflicts with the
Western powers. Japan also profited from WWI (was on the Allied side) by receiving German
colonial possessions in China and making further gains in China while the European powers
were caught up in Europe. The USA feared that Japan would threaten US interest in the area,
which worsened US-Japanese relations.
In 1917 Japan’s gains made up to 1917 were recognized by the USA in return for the Japanese to
ensure to not pursue any more expansion at this time…
Japan and Versailles; a ‘mutilated victory’
Even though Japan felt that it hadn’t received what it deserved, it did maintain its position in
the Chinese Shandong Province and gained some German colonies in the Pacific. Japan
had also benefitted economically from WWI. Japan’s influence over China was still causing
concern to the USA. In 1921 at the Washington Conference the Nine Power Treaty was signed,
respecting Chinese sovereignty, which eased US-Japanese tensions.
The liberal 1920s: a peaceful Japan
Early 1920s: embraced Western culture, stability in government, anti-militarism, LoN
