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Period: to
Jaan
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Liberal changes
Japan tried to move toward greater democracy. Political parties grew stronger, and elected members of the Diet- Japanesse parliament- exerted the power. All adult men grew the right to vote. Western ideas about women's right had brought few changes. Japan signed ageement with western powers to limit the size of navy. -
Zaibatsu
Powerful business leaders, strongly ifluenced polittics through donations to political parties. They pushed for policies to favor international trade and their own interest. -
Tension
Tension between goverment and the miitary simmered not far below the surface. Conservatives blasted government corruption. They condemned western influences for undermining basic Japanese values of obedience and respect for authority. -
Tokyo Earthquake
An earthquak of historic proportions struck the Tokyo- Yokohama area. One of the most destructive quakes in history, it was followed by widespread fires. The main quakes, which lasted only four minutes, measured 8.3 on the Richter scale. It was followed by about 300 afterhocks. -
Emperor
Hirohito becomes emperor of Japan. According to Japanesse tradition, he was a living god and the nation's supreme authority- no one could look in his face or even mention his name. He was a private man who studied biology to power politics. As a result, his role in Japan's move toward aggression is unclear. Some historians believe Hirohito did not encourage his military leaders. -
Great Depression
The Great Depression hit across the Paciic, striking Japan. Trade suffered as foreigned buyers could no longer afford to purchase Japanesse silks and other exports. Unemployment soared. Peasants were only a moutful from starvation. -
Worsening crisis
Economic disaster fed the discontent of the leadig military officials.They condemned politicians for agreeig to western demads to stop overseas expansion. Japan also is outraged by racial policies in the United states, Canada, and Australia that shut out Japanese immigrants. Japan took great pride in their industrial achievemnets and bitterly resented being treated as second- class citizens in other parts of the world. -
Renewed expansion
Japan took advantage of China's civil war to increase its influence there. Japan expected to complete its conquest of China within a few years. -
Militarists in Power
Ultranationalists were wining poplar support for foreign conquest and a tough stand against the western powers. Members of "patriotic" socities assassinated a number of politicians and business leaders who opposed expansion. Military leaders plotted to overthrow the government and, in 1936 briefly occupied the center of Tokyo. -
Manchurian Incident
A group of Japanese army officers provoked a incident that would provide an excuse to seize Manchuria. They set explosives and blew up tracks on a Japanese owned railroad line. Then, they claimed that the Chinese had committed the act. In "self-defence" the army attacked Chinese forces. Without consulting their government, the military forces cnquered all of Manchurria and set up a pppet state called Manzhouguo. Later on, Japan withdraws themselves from league of nations. -
Traditional values Revived
Civilian government had survived, but it had been force to accept military domination. To please the ultranationalists, it cracked down on socialists and ended most democratic freedoms.It recived ancient warrior values and built a cult around the emperor, who was believed to be descended from the sun goddess. A government pamphet critized Japanese adoption of western ideas. To practice " the way of subjects" students were taught absolute obedience to the emperor and service to the state. -
Break out
While the two nations were locked in deadly combat, World War 2 broke out in Europe. That conflict swiftly spread of Asia. -
World war spreads
Japan had joined with two agressive European powers , Germany and Italy, in the alliance known as the Axis powers, That alliance, combined with renewed Japnese conquest, would turn world war 2 into a brutal wide ranging conflictwaged not only across the continent of Europe but across Asia and the islands of Pacific as well.
