By Annabel
During the 1930s, Japan was in a bad economic position. Several things contributed to this. The Great Kanto Earthquake that hit in 1923 had destroyed Tokyo and Yokohama and the areas that surrounded them. Also, the Great Depression, which occurred in the 1930s, worsened Japan's already poor economic state. Another facet of Japan's economy was its reliance on silk exports. This industry made up 40% of exported goods. During the Great Depression, the price of silk dropped dramatically.
One of the outcomes of Japan's poor economy was the militarisation of the government. During the 1930s, more and more government positions were occupied by military officials. This led to an increase in the size and power of Japan's armed forces, as the militaristic government put a heavy emphasis on this.
In 1931 Japan invaded the province of Manchuria in China. This was done so that Japan could have access to much-needed resources. The Japanese kept the Manchurian emperor as the head of the new state, Manchukuo. The real power, however, was in the hands of the Japanese. Manchukuo was a 'puppet-state'. The League of Nations, of which Japan was a major party, condemned the Japanese invasion of China, and in 1933 Japan officially left the League. Japan then attacked the rest of China in 1937, with the intention of incorporating a resource-rich area into the Japanese empire. The war between Japan and China that broke out in 1937 is known as the Sino-Japanese War. The Japanese succeeded in occupying the majority of the Chinese coast. The treatment of the Chinese people by the Japanese during this time was horrific. When the Japanese invaded the Chinese capital, Nanking, brutal war atrocities were committed on the people of this city.
For Japan, this war with China would continue until World War II ended in 1945. The Chinese Government would never fully surrender so the Japanese were always in a state of war with China. In 1940 Japan also went into French Indochina, which we know today as Vietnam. In doing this, Japan joined the Axis powers of World War II, Germany and Italy. Japan's departure from the League of Nations and the reasons behind it, coupled with this invasion of French Indochina, intensified already bad relations with the United States and Great Britain. As a result, the United States and Great Britain began an oil embargo against Japan to limit its capabilities. In turn, Japan then invaded Indonesia in order to obtain necessary oil. By 1941 the Japanese had spread far and wide into the Pacific and Asia.
The Japanese did not officially enter World War II, however, until it attacked the United States. The Japanese bombing of the American naval base at Pearl Harbour in Hawaii, on 7 December 1941 marked the entry of Japan into World War II.
One of the outcomes of Japan's poor economy was the militarisation of the government. During the 1930s, more and more government positions were occupied by military officials. This led to an increase in the size and power of Japan's armed forces, as the militaristic government put a heavy emphasis on this.
In 1931 Japan invaded the province of Manchuria in China. This was done so that Japan could have access to much-needed resources. The Japanese kept the Manchurian emperor as the head of the new state, Manchukuo. The real power, however, was in the hands of the Japanese. Manchukuo was a 'puppet-state'. The League of Nations, of which Japan was a major party, condemned the Japanese invasion of China, and in 1933 Japan officially left the League. Japan then attacked the rest of China in 1937, with the intention of incorporating a resource-rich area into the Japanese empire. The war between Japan and China that broke out in 1937 is known as the Sino-Japanese War. The Japanese succeeded in occupying the majority of the Chinese coast. The treatment of the Chinese people by the Japanese during this time was horrific. When the Japanese invaded the Chinese capital, Nanking, brutal war atrocities were committed on the people of this city.
For Japan, this war with China would continue until World War II ended in 1945. The Chinese Government would never fully surrender so the Japanese were always in a state of war with China. In 1940 Japan also went into French Indochina, which we know today as Vietnam. In doing this, Japan joined the Axis powers of World War II, Germany and Italy. Japan's departure from the League of Nations and the reasons behind it, coupled with this invasion of French Indochina, intensified already bad relations with the United States and Great Britain. As a result, the United States and Great Britain began an oil embargo against Japan to limit its capabilities. In turn, Japan then invaded Indonesia in order to obtain necessary oil. By 1941 the Japanese had spread far and wide into the Pacific and Asia.
The Japanese did not officially enter World War II, however, until it attacked the United States. The Japanese bombing of the American naval base at Pearl Harbour in Hawaii, on 7 December 1941 marked the entry of Japan into World War II.
summary
During the 1930s, Japan was in a bad economic position. Several things contributed to this. The Great Kanto Earthquake that hit in 1923 had destroyed Tokyo and Yokohama and the areas that surrounded them. Also, the Great Depression, which occurred in the 1930s, worsened Japan's already poor economic state. Another facet of Japan's economy was its reliance on silk exports. This industry made up 40% of exported goods. During the Great Depression, the price of silk dropped dramatically. In 1931 Japan invaded the province of Manchuria in China. This was done so that Japan could have access to much-needed resources. Japan then attacked the rest of China in 1937, with the intention of incorporating a resource-rich area into the Japanese empire. The war between Japan and China that broke out in 1937 is known as the Sino-Japanese War. The Japanese succeeded in occupying the majority of the Chinese coast. The treatment of the Chinese people by the Japanese during this time was horrific. In 1940 Japan also went into French Indochina, which we know today as Vietnam. In doing this, Japan joined the Axis powers of World War II, Germany and Italy. Japan's departure from the League of Nations and the reasons behind it, coupled with this invasion of French Indochina, intensified already bad relations with the United States and Great Britain. As a result, the United States and Great Britain began an oil embargo against Japan to limit its capabilities. In turn, Japan then invaded Indonesia in order to obtain necessary oil. By 1941 the Japanese had spread far and wide into the Pacific and Asia.