The Reasons Why Japan Embarked On Essay Example

be involved.The militaries bullying tactics of taking over China are similar to those of the Americans when they came to Japan, under the command of Commodore Matthew Perry, practically demanding Japan to go ahead with what President Fillmore wanted of them. The next stream of events that proved success for Japan was World War 2. Japan took the advantage of world war 2 in beginning a policy of expansion in Eastern Asia.

Japan saw the outbreak of war as an opportunity to continue their expansions and eventually control all of Eastern Asia. However it was not the Japanese government making these orders, it was the Japanese military.The military had already begun to influence national policy in Japan during the 1930’s. Not only did military leaders begin to hold political office, but they had begun to have substantial influence on the Emperor of Japan.

The European countries could do nothing to stop the Japanese expansions, they were already too involved in world war 2 and would nto be strong enough to defeat the Japanese. The only country strong enough to defeat them was America. Japan had been involved in an aggressive war with China ever since the 1930’s. The wars brutality gradually changed the USA’s opinion to move more towards anti-Japan and for China.The USA was concerned as the Japanese expansion in the Pacific threatened the security of the United States. Because of this the US cut off 90% of Japans resources, which crippled their economy and their military most of all.

This action was taken to isolate Japan economically and therefore forcing them to withdraw from China. This action caused the Japanese to feel threatened

by the Americans, causing them to attack before America did. On the morn of December 7, 1941 in little more than a hour, Japan made surprise attack on Pearl Harbour.By striking against the US naval base was to make the Japanese military supreme in comparison in the Pacific region.

The Japanese didn’t necessarily want to go to war with America, instead they wanted to cripple their military strength so that Japan could take over areas in the Pacific before America had enough time to build up their military strength and defeat Japan, thus having enough time to continue with conquering China. 6 months following Pearl Harbour, Allied powers were helpless in stopping the Japanese from going forward with their movement.Japans forces had landed on the Philippines, Hong Kong surrendered, Manila was capitulated and Malay was over run. Japanese control over East Asia was a near reality.

Over in Singapore the British Empire had a major naval base situated. The fall of Singapore in February 7th, 1942 was another great success to Japan. The Japanese had great interest in this as they saw it as a strategic port which could be used as a launch pad against the Allied interests in the area. Moving into northern Malay and Thailand the Japanese began conducting strategic bombing of sites all over Singapore, but keeping most at bay from totally devastating the Island.The Japanese aggression forced Singapore to fall to the Japanese. Winston Churchill, the British Prime Minister, called it “the worst disaster and the biggest capitulation in British history”.

Japans aggressive attacks were proving them to be successful. Although Japan had proven to be successful, their efforts against

America weren’t as successful as planned. It is believed that Pearl Harbour doomed Japan to defeat simply because it awakened the “sleeping beast” (what America was referred to for not being involved in the war). The Us was incensed and declared war against Japan.Between 1941 and 1945 there were many battles held between the Americans and Japanese, but a turning point was the Battle of Midway.

The battle lasted for 3 days and was a crushing defeat for the Japanese and is widely regarded as the most important naval battle of World War 2. The battle permanently weakened the Japanese Navy. Thus, strategically, the US Navy was able to seize the initiative in the Pacific and go on the offensive. The final attack was that on Hiroshima and Nagasaki which ended the war of the pacific. On the 6th of August an atomic bomb was dropped onto Hiroshima and another on the 9th August, was dropped on Nagasaki.

The devastation was such a large impact that Japan surrendered to their offence. Although their aggressive, militaristic, foreign policy proved them to be successful in the first half of the 20th century, gaining them a lot of power, it wasn’t enough to keep them going. Subsequently they were no match to the US. A parallel account of them giving into America from when Commodore Perry arrived in 1853. BIBLIOGRAPHY. Investigating Japan book.

Combat aircraft of World War 2, by Enzo Angelucci and Paolo Matricardi www. wikipedia. com www. wiki.

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