Japanese Imperialism Dbq Essay

During the Imperial Conference of December 1, 1941, Prime Minister Tojo announced that “The United States not only refused to make even one concession” but that “At the same time, the United States, Great Britain, the Netherlands, and China increased their economic and military pressure against us” (87). This gave Japan no choice but to begin a war with the U.S., Japan, and the Netherlands. Additionally, Foreign Minister Togo emphasized that Japan could not accept the proposal made by the U.S. because the conditions would hinder and put at risk the success of the Japanese Empire. In order for Japan to not only continue working towards establishing a New Order for East Asia, but to also maintain their position on an international level, war was the necessary step to take because if they continued to try to negotiate then they would most definitely have regressed.

Hirohito was a “reluctant supporter of the occupation of Manchuria,” which eventually led to the second Sino Japanese War. Japan’s military aggression had increased, and there were many policies that reflected this aggression. This new aggression had led

In 1984 the Sino-Japanese war happened. This war has significant influence for Chinese government, because this is the first time China were defeated by a non-western power, and Japan was consider as a weak “tiny” neighbor of China. China and the entire world was shocked by losing Sino-Japanese War. Losing Sino-Japanese War is a symbol that Qing Dynasty is going to perished, and the way that China lose is worth to study. Even though the westernization movement did not operated so well, but it still modernize and improve the Chinese military power. Especially Chinese marine has lots of modern warship and weapon, and China has more soldier than Japan. It is fair to say that China has enough army to fight with Japan. But, why Japanese win the Sino-Japanese War? Firstly, Chinese government did not realized that Japan dare to fight with China, so they did not prepare well. Secondly, Chinese government try to stop the war by diplomacy, they trying ask western countries for help, but, at the moment the western countries were stand for Japan. Last and most importantly, the old feudalism and bureaucracy made Chinese army lose the war. The commander of Chinese marine Li Hongzhang, who is also the leader of “westernization” party in the government. Because he is the commander of the marine, so he has authority in Qing government. He does not wants to fight with Japanese army, because if he lose his marine, he will also lose the

The Sino-Japanese war from 1894-1895 forced China to recognize Korea as an independent state, in a crushing loss due to military incompetence and political fragmentation. Foreign powers now understood the fragile foundations of the Qing Dynasty and were quick to “secure concessions, carve out spheres of influences and privileged positions in China” (Willmot, 25). This, compounded by the previous Opium War of 1842 wherein the “Unequal Treaties” gave Western powers complete access to trade in the interior, created a strong anti-foreigner, anti-imperialist sentiment all across China. Foreign powers were also resented because of economic decline: railways put many out of jobs, and imports were “worth four times more than exports” by

Emperor Meiji’s death came two years prior to the beginning of World War I which would see significant involvement from the Japanese Empire. The war and its aftermath (1914-23) was the first major era where the Empire of Japan was involved after the end of the Meiji era. Due to an alliance with the British, Japan entered WW1 as enemies with Germany. As a result of this rivalry with the Germans, Japan’s first actions in the war were to invade China and capture the German possessions in China. The Germans had control of the Kiaochow Bay and the railway lines and mining locations of the Shandong Province. After the ignoring of an ultimatum which would see

Before the war, events like the Sino-Japanese War, Triple Intervention, Anglo-Japanese Treaty, and the Trans-Siberian railroad contributed to the tension. In 1894, the Sino-Japanese War broke out between Japan and China, competing for their rights and interests in Korea; the result of the war lead to Japan’s victory. Following the war, in 1895, the Triple Intervention (Russia, France, and Germany) entailed that Japan to retrocede all territorial victories from the war. This included to give back the Liaodong Peninsula to China and to resign control over China. Japan “was in no state to risk military confrontation” therefore couldn’t fight back (Emergence of Modern Japan). Subsequently, Russia proceeded to build a railroad through Manchurian territory into the Liaodong Peninsula, continuing its expansionist policies in northeast Asia. Japan, in an effort to make a truce, Ito offered a “trade-off arrangement with Russia:” Japan

The main theme for the context of this war was Russian and Japanese simultaneous determination to develop spheres of influence in eastern Asia, primarily within the nation of China and specifically within the region of Manchuria. This sense of determination found Meiji Japan fighting the Chinese Qing Dynasty during the Sino Japanese War over control of Korea, which was a Chinese tributary state. This war lasted from 1894-1895 and concluded with the signing of the Treaty of Shimonoseki. Within the terms of the treaty, China recognizing the independence of Korea and ceded the Liaodong Peninsula, the island of Taiwan, and the Penghu islands

Japan’s first move into becoming a dominance in Asia with imperial power was forcing the Treaty of Kanghwa on Korea to open three major trading ports with Japan. “In 1876, Japan employed gunboat diplomacy to force the Treaty of Kanghwa on Korea, which opened three ports to trade with Japan and gave the Japanese extraterritorial jurisdiction within Korea” (Nichter). The first imperial based war known as the Sino-Japanese War beginning on August 1, 1894. This was determined who controlled the Korean Peninsula which held all Korean trading rights. “The Chinese Army was quickly driven out of Korea, and the Japanese emerged victorious in the land war that took place in Manchuria...

The Japanese had a contempt for the Chinese people, thinking that they were the lowest race on the planet. China had a benefit by being a larger country and because of that Japan always had something to fear. This war was triggered by many aspects, but one important one was the fact that China had tried to invade the islands of J apan but was never successful.

Their first victim and successful defeat was China. Japan annexed Taiwan and forces China to recognize Korea. Their sole purpose for doing this is to ensure that Korea will no longer have Chinese influence which would make dominating Korea easier. Korea was later annexed in 1910. Eventually, Japan was starting to gain recognition by the U.S and European countries as a great power so when the Anglo Japanese treaty was signed in 1902, Japan became the first Asian country to earn the status of full equality with other colonial powers.

The victory of Russo-Japanese gave some East Asian countries the hope that they could defeat Western imperialism. Japan was becoming imperialistic themselves. During this time, Japan was able to gain Korea and Taiwan as territories. However, this was not enough for the Japanese. Japan had growing interest in Manchuria developed after the Russo-Japanese war.

They felt that Asia needed to be more powerful and united to stand up to the biggest nations, but the rest of Asia did not agree because they were still living with their old traditional Asian ideals. China, one of the most influential countries to Japan, was not ready to make that leap into a powerhouse quite yet. This forced Japan to take matters into their own hands. They started an East Asian empire in Korea and Taiwan, as well as winning a war against Russia in the late 1800s. (Strayer, p. 970)

Then, Russia wanted to take control of Manchuria which was part of the north of Korea that had been ruled by China. Japan was going to allow Russia to have right there but only if they stayed out of the rest of Korea. Russia refused to stay out of the rest of Korea and sent troops to Korea. Japan in February 1904 decided to launch a surprise attack on them. This started the Russo-Japanese War.

The first step of the Japanese plan for world domination, the effects of this war are still felt today. Japanese ties with China and other Asian countries are still strained due to the Japanese invasion of these countries and atrocities Japanese while occupying their neighbors. It is important for us, half the globe away, to understand this conflict, and to gain a better understanding of how this event shaped the politics of the region

The Russo-Japanese War started January 1904. Japan broke diplomatic relations Russia February 6, following with an attack on Port Arthur February 8. Declaring war February 10, Japanese soldiers occupied Korea, advancing into Manchurian territory with naval forces occupying Liaodong Peninsula. An August siege of Port Arthur followed the attack and fell in January 1905. Gradually, both powers found difficulty to continue fighting. The war ended, however, both powers consulted Theodore Roosevelt’s mediation to determine who won; Japan had won which ensued the Portsmouth Treaty to grant Japan back it’s sovereignty in China and Manchuria, along with special access to the Liaodong Peninsula. What were the underlying causes of the Russo-Japanese War? To what extent did nationalism/imperialism contribute to the war? What did the government do to contribute to the war? Japan’s motives for the war stemmed from tension between Russia; the Triple Intervention and the construction of the Trans-Siberian railroad. Imperialist and nationalistic motives drove Japan, using authoritative and irrational actions, to change its leader of military power and created a blanket of astigmatism throughout Japan’s people, taking away freedom of speech completely.