Desire for Equality with
the West
 Power returned to Meiji (1854), who begain dismantling

Of the Feudal System and establishing limited democracy

 Meiji’s ambition to become
“first-class country”after the Treaty of Kaganawa
 Reforms in all areas: military – they believed
“rich country = strong military”

 Sino-Japanese War (1894-95), Japan

Growh of Japanese
defeated China establishing itself as

Nationalism in the 19th
a world power with an empire
Century
 Anglo-Japanese Alliance in 1902 (UK)

 Participation at the Versailles ConferenceWhich gave Japan control over German
Pacific islands- established Japan as naval
Power
 League of Nations in 1921
 Offended by USA excluding Asian
Popular Enthusiasm for
Immigrants
militarisn and
Belief in a Destinty as the
expansionism
Leader of Asia
 Military reforms: modernization and
adapting Germany military tactics,
 First Sino-Japanese War - Japan
 Established Navy
Defeated China – established itself as
 After Sino-Japanese war - population
Regional leader
told to “endure hardships” as huge
 Japan crushed Russia over interests
amount of money was spent on Army
Korea (1904)
and navy
 Issued China with “Twenty – One Demands”
 Amur-River Society established
Forcing China to agree to remaining
 1920s more government power given
Japanese in Shandong and Manchuria
to military due to challenge facing
 China’s political instability was key in
demoncracy adn fear of left wing
Encouraging imperial competition –
radicalism
Therefore, taking advantage of China
 Japan’s Preservatin Laws
And Korea would establish Japan as dominant
Regional player .
Need for Strategic Security
Manchuria – buffer against Russia
1920s - focus on policy of
Inernationalism to enhance
economic advance while complying
to international policy (Kijuro)
Treaties: 4 & 9 power treaties
5:5:3 Naval Treaty
Hara’s government - led Japan into
the League of Nations
Belief that control of China and
Korea enhanced security
Need for Raw Materialis and
Markets




Sino-Japanese War – China
forced to open ports to
Japan
Manchuria – agriculturally
rich with minteral
resources – needed for
advanced industrilization
Japan supplied goods to
other nations during WWI
Divide between rural and
urban areas – due to
economic trouble – belief
that governmetn was
closely asociated with
zaibatsu