The Japanese Campaign in The Japanese Campaign in the Pacificthe Pacific

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Background Info of JapanBackground Info of JapanMeiji Restoration-1868Meiji Restoration-1868

At the time of the emperors restoration, Japan At the time of the emperors restoration, Japan waswas– Militarily weakMilitarily weak– AgriculturalAgricultural– Not technologically advancedNot technologically advanced– Limited in foreign trade by the West (Europe and Limited in foreign trade by the West (Europe and

the USthe US

Background Info on JapanBackground Info on Japan

By the end of the Meiji Period-1912, Japan By the end of the Meiji Period-1912, Japan hadhad– Highly centralized governmentHighly centralized government– Constitution and elected parliamentConstitution and elected parliament– Transportation and Communication systemsTransportation and Communication systems– Educated population without feudal class Educated population without feudal class

systemssystems– Growing industrial sectorGrowing industrial sector– A powerful army and navyA powerful army and navy

Japan’s Pacific CampaignJapan’s Pacific Campaign1912-19411912-1941

As Japan was rapidly industrializing, the As Japan was rapidly industrializing, the needed materialsneeded materials

The areas of China and Manchuria were the The areas of China and Manchuria were the closest to imperializeclosest to imperialize

Although the west used these same measures Although the west used these same measures for industrialization, they condemned Japan for for industrialization, they condemned Japan for the Imperialist drivethe Imperialist drive

Japan’s Pacific CampaignJapan’s Pacific Campaign

At the end of WWI, Japan was suffering a At the end of WWI, Japan was suffering a severe economic depression.severe economic depression.

As a result, the military grew stronger and As a result, the military grew stronger and the parliament grew weakerthe parliament grew weaker

They felt more compelled than ever to They felt more compelled than ever to compete with the West for resources in compete with the West for resources in East AsiaEast Asia

Japan’s Pacific CampaignJapan’s Pacific CampaignJapan’s need for natural resources paved the way for Japan’s need for natural resources paved the way for militarists to rise to powermilitarists to rise to power

Tense international relations allowed a militarist Tense international relations allowed a militarist faction to control all foreign affairs and then domestic faction to control all foreign affairs and then domestic affairs as well affairs as well

When the Japanese military had total control of the When the Japanese military had total control of the government, Japan began an aggressive military government, Japan began an aggressive military campaign throughout Asiacampaign throughout Asia

Japan allied with other aggressors in the world; Italy Japan allied with other aggressors in the world; Italy and Germanyand Germany

Japan’s Pacific CampaignJapan’s Pacific Campaign

Japan rapidly took control of areas such Japan rapidly took control of areas such as China, Manchuria, Korea, Philippines, as China, Manchuria, Korea, Philippines, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and BurmaIndonesia, and Burma

There next strategic area of conquest in There next strategic area of conquest in the Pacific would be the Hawaiian Islands.the Pacific would be the Hawaiian Islands.