A comprehensive presentation about the military dictatorship in Japan during 1930, suitable for Cambridge History AS exam.

1. CAMBRIDGEASHISTORYREVISION
AGEOFDEVELOPMENT
4.4 JAPANANDMILITARYDICTATORSHIP
DURINGTHE1930S

2. JAPANBY1918
Reasons for expansion: small country with rapidly expanding
population and industry; saw China’s weakness as an opportunity to
gain raw materials and market; wars with China (Taiwan 1894, South
Manchuria 1905, Korea 1910).
Advantages in First World War: growth of trade; 21 Demands on China.
Relations with other countries: USA and European countries
concerned by Japanese expansion – a threat to the ‘open door’ policy
regarding China; Japan feared Russian desire for expansion within the
region.

3. FLIRTATIONWITHDEMOCRACY
The Diet: established in 1890; limited power.
Suffrage: all adult males given the right to vote in 1925.
Washington Naval Conferences 1921–22: Japanese concessions;
debate regarding why Japan agreed to these.
Problems facing democracy in Japan: lack of strong government; too
many political parties; lack of tradition for democracy in Japan;
politicians seen as corrupt; dissatisfaction with concessions made in
Washington Naval Conferences; power of secret military groups; desire
to exploit the weakness of China; economic problems after 1921 and
1929.

4. MANCHURIA
Kwantung Army: took control of Manchuria (Manchukio) without
permission of government; assassination of Prime Minister Unukai
Tsuyoshi; public opinion in support of the army’s action.
The end of democracy: National Unity government; Japan under army
control.
League of Nations response: took no action against Japan.
Japan’s dilemma: some military leaders wanted further expansion;
others were concerned about the threat of the USSR.
Withdrawal from League of Nation: Japan withdrew in 1933; ended
agreements made at Washington Naval Conferences; Japan signed Anti-
Comintern Pact with Germany (1936) and Italy (1937).

5. WARWITHCHINA
Declaration of war by Japan: July 1937.
Hopes for quick victory: Japan met sterner resistance than expected.

6. BUILDUPTOTHESECONDWORLDWAR
German invasion of USSR: removed threat of USSR; Hideki Tojo
appointed prime minister; Japan expanded further.
USA concerns: USA concerned about its own economic interests in the
region; imposed trade ban on Japan.
Pearl Harbor: aimed to destroy US Pacific Fleet; USA unprepared.
Impact of Pearl Harbor: US public opinion in favour of revenge.
Historical debate regarding the role of Roosevelt: Roosevelt’s long-
held belief that USA should enter the war; claims that he knew about
the Pearl Harbor attack in advance but did nothing to stop it.

7. BUILDUPTOTHESECONDWORLDWAR
German invasion of USSR: removed threat of USSR; Hideki Tojo
appointed prime minister; Japan expanded further.
USA concerns: USA concerned about its own economic interests in the
region; imposed trade ban on Japan.
Pearl Harbor: aimed to destroy US Pacific Fleet; USA unprepared.
Impact of Pearl Harbor: US public opinion in favour of revenge.
Historical debate regarding the role of Roosevelt: Roosevelt’s long-
held belief that USA should enter the war; claims that he knew about
the Pearl Harbor attack in advance but did nothing to stop it.