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. One would take over.
-The Emperor presided over the Japanese government
-came from 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
-U.S. said they could keep their emperor if they admitted that he wasn't a god.
Japanese society
- 1. Landowning clans dominated
-protected by the samurai
- 2. Wealthy merchant class
1.3. 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
- 1. heavy industry
- 2. modern army
- 3. strong navy
Showed off new power in several wars
- 1. Sino-Japanese War -1894-95
-Japan won
-Between Japan and China
- 2. Russo-Japanese War
-1904-05
-Japan shocked the world by beating Russia
-gained partial control of Manchuria
-Between Russia and Japan.
- 3. 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
1. fight to the death
2. commit suicide rather than surrender
3. gekokujo
-open defiance of superior officers by junior officers
-seen as a positive thing
-shows the spirit of the soldier
Japanese Invasion of Manchuria
- The League of Nations could not enforce its authority.
-A major power could get away with using force
-Great Britain and France wanted to avoid war at all cost
-Other powers would see this as a sign that they too could get away with the use of force.
-The League also lost it most powerful member in the far east-Japan
Franklin Roosevelt vs. Herbert Hoover
-Roosevelt won big. Hoover didn't even win Iowa
Good Neighbor Polocy
-Roosevelt realized it was time to become good neighbors with Latin America.
-They saw the U.S. as a big bully that could do whatever they wanted.
-Wanted a good relationship for trade and protection.
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 Neutrality Act
- mandatory arms embargo with warring nations
- mandatory ban on loans to warring nations.
- May 5, Italy occupied Addis Ababa- Annexed all Ethiopia may 9.
- General Francisco Franco and the Spanish civil war 1936-1939
- He would win the civil war and found this area as a practice ground.
-neutral country in WW2. not a very big power in WW2
- FDR vs Alf Landon in 1936. FDR won so easy it was a blow out.
- Rome-Berlin Axis-1936
- It was an Allie between Germany and Italy.
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