-
Black Ships
dangerous influences," such as European missionaries, foreign ships weren't allowed to enter Japanese ports. Japanese people weren't allowed to leave or to have any contact with the outside world. The nation was ruled by an emperor, who the people believed was descended from the gods. Real political and military power, -
Japan a Strong Independent Country
In the 1860s the ruling shogun was overthrown and a 15 year-old named Mushiko was in rule He chose the name Meiji, meaning enlightened reign, for his rule. Meiji's supporters' slogan was "rich country, strong military." In the 45 years of Emperor Mutsuhito's reign, Japan went a long way toward achieving both goals. By the end of the nineteenth century the nation had a new political system with a parliament and a constitution, a modern army and navy, and growing industries. -
America Becomes Pacific Power
In 1898, the U.S. and Spain fought a brief war. The direct cause was that the U.S. supported rebels on the Caribbean island of Cuba who wanted independence from Spain. The greatest impact of the U.S. victory over Spain, however, was felt thousands of miles away in the Pacific. The U.S. took over Spain's Pacific possessions, including the Phillippine Islands. -
The Great Depression
In N.Y stock exchange crash and he failure of important European banks plunged the entire world into an economic depression. Japan was hit especially hard; with no natural resources, the nation had to import oil, iron, steel, and other commodities to keep its industry and military forces alive but buy these things, it had to export goods for sale abroad.This became harder to do in the early 1930s as nation after nation, including the U.S, raised tariffs protect their own struggling industries. -
China in Flames
In 1937, China and Japan went to war. Although Chinese forces resisted, Japan advanced farther and farther into China. The conflict brought great suffering to the Chinese people. In December, Japanese troops captured the city of Nanking (Nanjing). In the month that followed, they massacred as many as 300,000 Chinese civilians. Photographs of the death and destruction in Nanking caused worldwide anger against Japan. -
The Tripartite Pact
Japan responded to America's actions by joining Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy in the Tripartite 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. President Roosevelt answered this challenge by seizing Japanese money and property in the U.S. and placing an embargo on exports of oil, steel, and iron to Japan. Great Britain and the Netherlands. -
War Warning
In late 1941 Japanese army general Hideki Tojo became the nation's 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 Infantry
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. Japanese diplomats Nomura and Kurusu prepared for a final meeting with Secretary of State Hull, knowing that they were being ordered to break off all negotiations with the U.S. 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.
