The history of relations' USA - Japan the War in the Pacific

Authors Avatar

(1)The history of relations’ USA - Japan the War in the Pacific

As an island nation Japan evolved an elaborate social structure that many did not want to see ‘Westernised” as a result of contact and trade with Europe or with the United States. After being opened up at gunpoint by commodore Perry during 1854 but defeating them a few years later, Japan sealed its borders and tried to become entirely self-sufficient. But in the early decades of the 20th century, Japan was no longer able to rely solely on itself for food and raw materials. Many members of the Japanese ruling class knew that, for Japan to survive and prosper, it would have to modernise and adopt Western Technology. For many Japanese nationalists, however, the way to achieve economic and political stature was to establish an Empire in East Asia that would provide Japan with the resources it needed.

The Desire for an Empire had another source as well. Many Japanese were still rankled by the outcome of WW1. In that war Japan fought on the side of the Western allies primarily by providing weapons and ammunition. Although Japan was ceded some minor German territories in the Pacific in the peace treaty that followed the war, the nation’s traditional warrior castle – The Samurai – felt that Japan had been relegated to second class status by the United States and Great Britain. The Japanese then formed a plan, whereby they welcomed foreigners into the country, learnt from them what they could, and sent them back again. This was a good way to adapt to western ways and learn military tactics and engineering skills, these would be important for Japan if they were ever to fall out of good terms with the West, they could use their own tactics against the enemy.

Join now!

During 1918 Japan began to become less sufficient, it was short of natural resources, and was not producing enough crops to provide for its population.

By 1931, the party government in Japan had lost its popular support and the military were gaining considerable influence in the country. Japan once more began to follow an aggressive foreign policy on the Asian mainland. Since China was weak, and Manchuria and northern China were rich in mineral resources, Japan saw the answer to their economic problems in the form of a swift invasion. 20,00 troops later entered Manchuria defeating a force of ...

This is a preview of the whole essay