71 pages • 2 hours read
Daniel YerginA modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
On September 18, 1931, Japanese soldiers staged a bomb attack on the South Manchurian Railway, a minimally damaging incident intended to blame the Chinese and justify military action. This event marked Japan’s aggressive expansion, which was driven by the need for raw materials and security against Soviet communism and Chinese nationalism.
In the 1920s, Japan had maintained a cooperative relationship with Western powers, defusing tensions at the Washington Naval Conference. However, the Great Depression and a rise in nationalism led to Japan’s imperial ambitions. Military dominance in the government and a focus on self-sufficiency in resources— particularly oil—shaped Japan’s aggressive policies. Japan’s limited oil resources, which were primarily imported from the United States and Dutch East Indies, made control of these regions vital.
The Japanese Army and Navy disagreed on strategy; the Army prioritized northern expansion, while the Navy aimed at Southeast Asia for resources. Both, however, supported Japan’s dominance in Asia, and this dynamic was known as the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere. Japan’s moves in Manchuria led to the establishment of the puppet state of Manchukuo, and international condemnation from the League of Nations did not deter Japan, which exited the League and continued its path.
The Japanese government then enacted the Petroleum Industry Law in 1934, controlling oil imports and market shares to build domestic refining capacity and to prepare for war.
Plus, gain access to 8,650+ more expert-written Study Guides.
Including features:
Business & Economics
View Collection
Challenging Authority
View Collection
Colonialism & Postcolonialism
View Collection
Earth Day
View Collection
Globalization
View Collection
Memorial Day Reads
View Collection
Military Reads
View Collection
Nation & Nationalism
View Collection
Politics & Government
View Collection
Power
View Collection
Science & Nature
View Collection
War
View Collection