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Causes of Japanese Expansion - Coggle Diagram
Causes of Japanese Expansion
Nationalism in Japan
Adopting Western ideals and way of living with the treaty of Kanagawa on
31 March 1854
. This helped japan modernize the entire country with more efficient methods of transportation, collecting raw materials as well as the reformation of the political monarchy
Rejection of the racial equality clause in the League of Nations charter & restriction of Japanese immigrants to the USA provoked outrage in Japan, where they felt discriminated against & treated as inferior, creating strong feelings of Japanese Nationalism and need to prove themselves as a major power equal to the West, worthy of respect.
Political Instability in China
The political instability in China led to be taken over by Russia. This, therefore, lead to the Russo Japanese War from
1904 - 1905
with Korea as the battleground.
4th of May 1919
- May Fourth Movement in China after it learned it was going to lose territory to the Japanese. These strikes caused severe harm to Japanese businesses as well as their government.
'Double Tenth' Nationalist Revolution 1911
- Toppled the Manchu Qing dynasty that was responsible for many of the treaties that would let China be "dominated" by European powers (e.g Opium War).
Great Depression - Political
Militarism: US & Britain, among other nations, raised tariffs to protect domestic markets. Japan was denied equal access to foreign markets - looked to British and French colonial Empire , and thought to model them.
New International Order
- Great Depression saw international relations between most countries worsen, Japan included. Less international cooperation. Japan believed it needed to solve it's own problems (through conquest) and assert itself as a major power, rather than be left subservient and dependent to other Western nations.
Nationalism: International cooperation doesn't work - shouldn't depend on other countries economically or otherwise (Japan needed to become self-sufficient so it wouldn't be affected by foreign events like in US)
Great Depression - Economic
Reduced Trade
1929 - 1931
- Less exports (50% less) hurt Japan industry badly, 50% of factories closed down. Economic downturn, unemployment, and hardship followed
Silk industry
In
1929-30
alone, exports for silk dropped by 40% and its price dropped by 80% when compared to the 1920s
Cotton textiles
Moning
Heavy industry
Less imports (since other countries also affect by Depression) resulted in shortages of raw materials and food - Japan is lacking in raw materials, and is mostly mountainous, so relies on food imports. Poverty followed, and difficulty to feed Japan's quickly rising population
Although Japan was relatively well-off in its industrial sectors, it wasn't self-sufficient in some of the most important materials it needed to continue its expansion (e.g coal, iron, oil, tin, or rubber).
Militarism in Japan
The Imperial Navy during the Russo Japanese war was strengthened dramatically with the aid of the British to combat the Russians in the Battle of Tsushima Strait.
(May 27, 1905 – May 28, 1905)
Re-focus on Emperor's divinity, and Japan's special place in Asia and the world - destined to lead & conquer Asia.
Japan not given the territory and gains it wished in the Treaty of Versailles, 21 points amended by Western powers, led to increased though that Japan must expand militarily by its own hand.
Army officials increasingly believed that Japan had to solve its overpopulation and resource issues by conquering land.