Essay Topic: Why did militarism rise in the 1930s but not in 1920s?
1930s
1. The sense of humiliation of Japan reaches the peak at 1930s (accumulated)
refused by the western powers to include a clause of racial equality in the Convenat of the League of Nations
Unfair judgement
Paris Peace Conference in 1919 --> criticised the Japanese wartime invasion of Shandong in China
Washington Conference of 1921-1922 --> Japan was forced to return to China its rights in Shandong, limited the tonnage of capital ships, restricting the expansion of the Japanese navy
London Naval Conference in 1930 (failed to increase its ratio of cruisers of those of Britain & the US) --> Anglo-Japanese Alliance: Britain 5:3 Japan
Develop anti-western nationalism
Overthrow the democratic government
Adopted the 'Peaceful Economic Expansion policy" (Shidehara diplomacy)
2. Great Depression
3 million unemployment
↓ 50% of export
↑ weakness of democratic gov't ∵ economic protectionism
3. Shortage of raw materials
∵ Rpaid industralisation
Invasion of other Asian countries
4. Rise of totalitarianism in Europe
Lose confidence in western democracy & parliamentary system
Growing national strengths
5. Frequency military coups
Assassinate prime minister, e.g. May 15 Incident of 1932, February 26 Incident in 1936
1920s
1. Party government
constitution protection movement
triumph of western democracy
2. Collective security
League of Nations
Permanent member of the Council
Integrity to maintain peace
3. The superior status of the Emperor
Reign of the Emperor
Peace Preservation Law
Other alternatives of the rise of Japanese militarism in 1930s
1. Longstanding military culture (high representative & acceptance)
Military rule for several centuries under Tokugawa Shogunate
1910-1913: stop formation of a cabinet or dissolve the cabinet by not appointing any minister
Education reforms (emphasised on traditional thoughts)
Introduce conscription & promote traditional Bushido
2. Weakness of the democratic government
Cheating & corruption of the government
Destroy national unity --> support military
3. To satisfy international economic needs
Japan: limited agricultural land
Advocate foreign expansion to set up a Japanese sphere of influence
Stable supply of natural resources & a large export market for Japan
4. Impact of extreme nationalism
Establishment of extreme nationalist associations
e.g. the Amur Society (the Black Dragon Society)
e.g. Sakura Society and the Brotherhood of Blood League (removing the corrupt genres, zaibatsu & officials by force)
Extreme nationalist promoting militarism & foreign expansion
e.g. Kita Ikki (1883-1937) (An Outline Plan for the Reconstruction of Japan)
e.g. Tanaka Giichi (1863-1929) (Reservist associations in the countryside, trained boys of 13 years or older, future invasion)
5. Impact of totalitarianism in Europe
Great Depression in 1929
Lose confidence in Western democracy & parliamentary system
Totalitarianism in Italy & Germany
Growing national strength
Successful model to follow
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