15.4- IMPERIAL JAPAN

Japan & WWI• Japan helped Allies with exports

• Makes Japan world industrial power• Received German spheres of influence in China from the Treaty of

Versailles

Japan’s Economics

• Emperor Hirohito will rule Japan from 1926-1989• 1920s: Parliament members influenced by powerful business leaders that pushed for international trade

BUT• Aggressive expansion affected economic relations with the West

SO• Japan cut military spending & reduced the size of its’ navy

• Peasants were suffering & followed beliefs of Russia’s Lenin• Some clung to Western ideas & rejected ancient beliefs of

family authority• Issues rose between the military and government

• Military was upset with control by business owners & Western influence undermining Japanese values

Ultranationalism

• Japan gets hit hard with world-wide Great Depression• Ultranationalism: extreme

nationalism because Japan was not a major empire like the other industrial imperialists• Upset with USA for not

permitting Japanese immigrants into country (Gentlemen’s Agreement)

• Begin building major empire• Needed raw materials

and places for their growing population

• Manchuria vs. China• Military expanded

control in China without government consent, but were supported by Japanese people

• Action was condemned by League of Nations• Japan withdrew• Began naval build up• League of Nations did

nothing to stop Japan’s aggression

Military Japan• 1937: Military took control of government, but Hirohito

remained in power by getting rid of communist ideas, democratic freedoms, and increasing value of ancient warriors• Schools now taught absolute obedience to Emperor and Japan

• Japan also allied with Germany and Italy