Today we had blog discussion about WW2 movies.
Enemy at the Gates, Spitfire, The Devils Arithmetic, Saints and Soldiers, Saving Private Ryan, The Diary of Anne Frank, and Pearl Harbor.
Japan
Dictatorship also came to Japan
-not through a political party but the military
History
-rich military tradition
-feudal clans fought each other for dominance in Japan
-The Emperor presided over the Japanese government
-came form divine origin
-descendent of the Sun Goddess
-played minor role in the government
-he was above politics
-shogun had the political power
-ruled in the name of the Emperor
Japanese society
Landowning clans dominated
-protected by the samurai
Wealthy merchant class
Peasants
-most of the people of Japan
Japan was very isolated until 1853 when US Commodore Matthew Perry sailed in to Japan and forced them to open their ports
In the late 1800’s many Japanese were tired of being controlled by foreign countries.
-adopted western ways in hopes to keep Western Powers out of their country
heavy industry
modern army
strong navy
Showed off new power in several wars
Sino-Japanese War
-1894-95
-Japan won
Russo-Japanese War
-1904-05
-Japan shocked the world by beating Russia
-gained partial control of Manchuria
World War I
-allied with the US
-gained German Islands in the Pacific after the war
1920’s
-gave all men the right to vote
-signed the 4, 5 and 9 Power Pacts
-joined the League of Nations
-signed the Kellog-Briand Pact
1930’s
-Great Depression changed everything
-people blamed the government for tough times
-military leaders stepped in and took control
-said Japan had to expand in to Asia to help economy
-assassinated political leaders that opposed them
-took away people’s rights
Japanese Military Honor
fight to the death
commit suicide rather than surrender
gekokujo
-open defiance of superior officers by junior officers
-seen as a positive thing
-shows the spirit of the soldier
Japanese Invasion of Manchuria
1. The League of Nations could not enforce its authority
2. A major power could get away with using force
3. Great Britian and France wanted to avoid all wars
4. Other powers would see this as a sign that they could get away with the use of force
5. The league also lost its most powerful member in the far east- Japan.
Franklin Roosevelt vs Herbert Hoover
Hoover won a couple of states in the Northeast but otherwise it was a blow out.
Ethiopia invaded by Mussolini 1936
Italy lost its Ethiopia colony in Africa at the 1896 Battle of Adua
One of the worst colonial disasters of modern history
Feb. 23, 1935, Italy sends large forces into Ethiopia
Oct. 7, 1935, League declared Italy the aggressor
Italy/ Ethiopia Invasion
Nov. 18, 1935, Leagues sanctions begin- arms embargo, financial embargo, non-importation of Italian goods
Feb. 1936 - League could not agree on critical oil sanctions mainly because FDR refused- U.S. controlled 50% world oil trade
Feb. 29, 1936, FDR signed the 1936 Nuetrility Act
Generalisimo Francisco Franco and the Spanish Civil War-1936-39
FDR vs. Alf Landen 1936-FDR won
Rome-Berlin Axis is formed- 1936
Rape of Nanking-1937
Quarantine Speech-1937
Appeasement Policy- A diplomatic policy aimed at avoiding war by making concessions to an aggressor. Helped give Japan, Italy and Germany confidence that they would face no consequences for their actions. Considered to be a huge mistake by historians.
Panay Incident-1937 In China
Anschluss with Austria-1938
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