Events Leading up to World War II

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1. Explain the context/ background of the events you are examining? For example: time; place and how it relates to colonization by the nation you are examining or other nations.
The Great Depression, which occurred in 1929, devastated the economy of many counties worldwide, including Japan. Thus, many sought for imperialism as the answer, such as the Western power and Japan. Japan targeted China, planning on taking advantage of the turmoil that was taking place inside the country, greatly devastating the country by military power. Watching closely over the feud between the Chinese Nationalists and Communists, Japan waited for the perfect opportunity. (Beck et. alt. 481)

- Japan invasion of Manchuria, China that started on 18 September 1931 (BBC - Japanese Expansion)
- Led to Pearl Harbor (BBC - Japanese Expansion)
- Occured during World War

2. Where did the events take place? Include a map, which adds value to your research questions.
Japan only imperialized in the large Northeast region of China, called Manchuria. Including many famous cities such as Mukden and Nanjing. It also imperialized parts of Korea as well.

3. Describe the most important two or three motives of the imperializing power in this case study? Why did they colonize/imperialize these people/place?

Due to the radical modernization during Meiji restoration in 1868, emerged the desire for wealth, power, and prestige. This was to redress the imposition of unfair treaties that had been placed upon Japan by Western countries in the past (BBC – Japanese Expansion).
Thus, the extreme nationalistic country of Japan was very competitive to the power of the Westerners by expansion. Not only were they trying to increase their own power, but als...

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...na in 1898 banded together to form a society known as the Righteous and Harmonious Fists (aka Boxers by the Westerners). Their purpose was to destroy the Ch’ing Dynasty and rid China of foreigners influence, however when the Empress backed the Boxers, the Boxers turned solely to the foreigners. To protect their interests in China, Japanese soldiers and other forces were sent to subdue them. However, before they were able to subdue the Boxers in July 1900, several foreign ministers and families wee killed before the international force could protect them. In august, the international force was able to subdue the rebellion.

Around 1945, about 320,000 settlers from Japan were living in the region of Manchuria, under an immigration program that was to secure control of Manchukuo. Thousands of children or orphans were left behind in Manchuria at the end of World War II.

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