Reasons Japan Attacked America

The Great Depression

1. Japan relied on trading with foreign nations for important resources (coal, oil, etc).

1. Imports went down drastically because of the Great Depression.

1. Japan was no longer able to rely on other nations for its resources

2. Japan needed to find another way to obtain these essential resources

Quick Review

Discuss the following with your partner› How did the Great Depression negatively

impact Japan’s economy?

U.S. Stops Trading with Japan

1. Japan looked to increase its resources by expanding its empire (conquer other lands)

1. Japan attacked Manchuria (part of China)2. Japan took over Indochina (Vietnam,

Cambodia, Laos).1. The League of Nations reprimanded Japan but

refused to take action2. The United States put strong sanctions on Japan

and cut off its trade with them, and encouraged other nations to do the same.

1. The United States also began lending money to Japan’s enemies.

Quick Review

Please discuss the following with your partner.› What were the two effects of the lack of

imports for Japan?› How did the League of Nations respond to

Japan expanding its empire?› How did the United States respond to

Japan expanding its empire?

Lack of Oil

1. Japan needed oil for its war/expansion cause

1. Japan’s military leaders warned that the nation would run out of oil within five years without new oil coming into the nation.

1. Japan needed America to end its embargo or Japan would conquer the oil fields in the Dutch East Indies.

Racism/Not Being Accepted

1. Following World War I Japan made a proposal to the Western world to accept east Asians as their equals.

1. The western world refused Japan’s request, sending the message that the West did not view East Asians as their equals.

Japan’s Logic for Attacking America

1. Japan needed oil to survive1. Japan’s main supplier (America) cut them

off1. Destroy the American navy on the west

coast1. America won’t be able to fight back

1. America will have to start trading oil with Japan again