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The Black Ship
In 1853, a small fleet of American warships commanded by Commodore Matthew Perry steamed into the bay at Edo (now Tokyo). The "black ships," as the Japanese described them at the time, had come to open trade with other nations. Threatened by the big warships, Japan signed a trade treaty with the U.S. Within five years of Perry's visit, Japan signed trade treaties with Great Britain, Russia, France, and Holland. Japan's long isolation was finally at an end. -
Japan: Strong and Independent
In the 1860's the ruling shogun was overthrown, and a 15-year-old emperor named Mutsuhito took the throne, he chose the name Meiji, meaning enlightened reign, for his rule. Meiji's supporters' slogan was "rich country, strong military". The new Japan understood that being a strong and prosperous nation was the only way to preserve its independence and unique culture. Japan's rulers were determined to keep their country from becoming colony of the West so they adapt the western culture. -
America Controls the Sea
In 1898, U.S was in a brief war with Spain. During this same period, several nations including Britain, Germany, France, and Japan were taking control of China's port cities.The U.S., recognizing that it could lose its profitable trade with China, announced an "open door policy". The policy proposed support for China's independence while guaranteeing equal trading rights for all nations however this did not sit well with Japan. Japan was seeking its own Pacific empire. -
The Great Depression
The 1929 New York Stock Exchange crash and the failure of important European banks plunged the entire world into an economic depression. Japan was hit especially hard. As Japan's economy grew worse, the country became more aggressive. -
China In Flames
In 1937, China and Japan went to war. Although Chinese forces resisted, Japan advanced farther and farther into China. In December, Japanese troops captured the city of Nanjing. In the month that followed, they massacred as many as 300,000 Chinese civilians. World War II had begun. When Germany defeated France. Japan moved quickly to seize military bases in Indochina, France's Southeast Asia colony. This action helped Japan continue its assault on China. -
The Three Part Pack
Japan responded to America's actions by joining Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy in the Tripartite (three-part) Pact. In this agreement, the two European dictators approved Japan's goal for an Asian empire. The three countries pledged to support one another if any one of them was attacked by the U.S. This all happened in 1940. -
WAR WARNING!!!!
In 1941 Gen. Hideki Tojo was Japans prime minister. A determined leader, Tojo was not afraid to challenge Britain and the U.S. for power in East Asia. The Tojo government leaned toward the navy's approach. Japan began planning for surprise attacks all across the Pacific -- from Hong Kong to Hawaii. -
THE DAY OF THE BOMBING!
On December 6, the Japanese government began sending a long message to its diplomats in Washington. The last part of that message arrived in the early-morning hours of December 7.What they didn't realize was that the same message had been decoded and rushed to President Roosevelt and to the high commanders of the U.S. Army and Navy. The U.S. was now aware that Japan might strike somewhere in the Pacific
