Reasons for increasing tension between Japan and USA before September 1941
The story ended in august 1941 in fireballs over Hiroshima and Nagasaki had its beginning in centuries of Japanese history and tradition
In the early decades of the 20th century Japan was no longer able to rely solely on itself for food and raw materials. For Japan to survive ad prosper, it would have to modernize and adopt western technology. However, for many Japanese nationalists, the way to achieve economic and political stature was to establish an empire in East Asia. Nationalists and the nations traditional warriors (the samurai) felt that Japan had been relegated to second-class status by the USA and Great Britain. This increased tensions and Japan felt the time was ripe to assert Japan its superior/superpower class.
When the First World War broke out in August 1914, Japan soon joined her ally Britain, in declaring war on Germany. On the 7th September 1914, Japan took over Germany’s interest in Shaunting province in china, including the important seaport of Tsingtao. When China asked Japan to leave, the Japanese presented the Chinese leaders, with an impossible list of 21 demands. The list demanded that the privileges Japan already had in southern Manchuria and Inner Mongolia be enlarged. Also the Japanese demanded the right to send financial, military and political experts as advisers to the Chinese governments. The implication was clear. Japan intended to make china part of the Japanese Empire. China had no allies she could turn to for help. The allies protested to Japan but did not press the argument too hard since Japan was a valuable ally. In May 1915 the Japanese modified their demands but threatened military action if they weren’t accepted. Yuan Shih-Kai had to agree but leaked the secret demands. The Chinese people were furious. They held protest meetings throughout China and boycotted Japanese goods. At the end of the war, Germany’s interests in Shaunting were officially granted to Japan under the terms of the Treaty of Versailles. News of the concession provoked a massive protest in China. Japan’s desire to be an empire also greatly increased tensions. Japan was still ranked by the outcome of world war. in this war Japan fought for the western allies primarily by providing weapons and ammunition.