1. Militarism in Japan
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2. 1918-1932
 Emerged from WWI with strong economy
 Began making democratic reforms
 Hit hard by the Depression
 Military Dictatorship takes control
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3. Japanese Goals of the 1930’s
 Revive economy hit by Depression
 Lead economic modernization in Asia -
hoping to one day rival Europe and the
United States
 Free Asia from western colonial influences
 Set up “East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere”
 Dominate Asia economically and militarily
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4. 4

5. Aggression in Manchuria
 September 1931,
needing the
resources of
Manchuria the
Japanese army
invaded
 China protested to
the League of
Nations 5

6. 6

7. Aggression in Manchuria
 League and United
States condemned
Japanese action in
China, but took no
further action
 Japan withdrew from
the League in 1933
 What does the
Japanese minister
claim? 7

8. Japan withdraws from League
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9. Tensions Rise in China
 By 1937, Japanese
forces overran much of
the northern part of
China
 Rape of Nanking – in
1937 Japanese forces
brutalized the
population of Nanking –
murdering over 300,000
civilians and soldiers in
a few months
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10. Chinese POWs forced march to
their executions
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11. 11

12. Proud Japanese soldier
surrounding victims (holding
head by ear).
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13. Children Massacred
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14. 14

15. Just a footnote:
To this day, Japan denies the extent of brutality
against the City of Nanking, China. Unlike post-war
Germany, Japan was not forced to pay reparations to
Their victims, nor did they endure a dismantlement
of their military infrastructure. Although a constitutional
monarchy after the war, Emperor Hirohito ruled until is
death in 1989. There were never any war crimes trials.
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16. WWII in Asia
 Berlin, 1940 - Japan joins
alliance with Germany and
Italy
 Looked to European
colonies in Southeast Asia
for resources
 FDR threatened to cut off
supplies of scrap metal,
rubber, and oil
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17. Events leading to Pearl Harbor
 Believing the United
States will not only cut
off supplies, but also
declare war, the
Japanese planned a
surprise attack on
Pearl Harbor to
eliminate the
American naval
presence in the Pacific
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18. Events leading to Pearl Harbor
 December 7, 1941, the
Japanese attack Pearl
Harbor
 Japanese miscalculated
American response –
instead of cowering, the
American people rallied
together
 December 8, 1941, the
United States declares war
on Japan 18

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24. 24

25. 25

26. 26

27. 27

28. 28

29. 29

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32. 32

33. Failure of the Co-prosperity Sphere
 Original idea involved a system that
benefited both Japan and occupied
territories - “Asia for Asians”
 Instead, Japanese imperial troops simply
replaced European troops
 Resources were diverted to supply the
Japan war machine – in some cases
causing food shortages and famine
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34. Failure of the Co-prosperity Sphere
 Attempted to institute Japanese customs –
insulting the native peoples
 Forced some to work in factories and on
plantations for little or no wages
 Some nationalist groups cooperated with
Japanese and some secretly assisted the
Allies
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35. Japan’s Eventual Defeat
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