Masuji Ono Imperialism

Prior to Pearl Harbor, Japan started to create an empire that especially did not want to be manipulated by the United States. Steven Hook, the author of “U.S. Foreign Policy: The Paradox of World Power,” mentions that “With French and Dutch colonies in East Asia up for grabs, Japanese leaders knew that only the United States stood in the way of their plan to create a Japanese-led ‘co-prosperity

Japan first took over Manchuria in 1932 (document 1). This was the first of many German- Influenced attacks prior to the bombing of pearl harbor. In the year 1939, two years preceding to the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the United States stopped all trade of aircraft and aircraft parts against Japan and two years later additionally froze all japanese assets and bank accounts, and imposed oil embargo against Japan. (document 1) From the year 1937 to 1941, the U.S exports of Petroleum to Japan in total decreased by 2,920,000 tons, the exports of steel to Japan decreased 403,000 tons, and the exports of scrap iron decreased by 167,000 tons. (document 5) From this data, it is hard to say that we remained neutral prior to the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The U.S. supported its allies with this embargo, but didn’t fully commence in the war until after the bombing of Pearl

In 1940, the United States was extremely against this animosity and reacted with trade embargoes and monetary approvals. FDR had talked with the Dutch and the British to see if they would agree upon embargoes on Japan. Franklin Delano Roosevelt did not want a conflict in the pacific as the United States was not prepared for war. For instance, the oil embargo that was organized between the British, the Dutch, and the United States was about 90% of Japan’s imported oil. [3] This upset Japan because without oil or fuel their military and war efforts would come to a complete stop.

The United State’s direct involvement in World War II officially began as soon as the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. Prior to that event, America had been providing arms and equipment to England but stopped short of any direct military confrontation with the Axis. The War in the Pacific was considered Asia’s War and the European War was considered a local conflict. US-Japanese relations had become strained in 1941, though America felt secure that her naval fleet at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii was powerful enough to discourage any aggression from Japan. On July 24, 1941, Japan occupied French Indo-China (Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos). Two days after that, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt froze all Japanese assets in the United States. American trade

To impose imperialistic goals and enhance nationalistic beliefs, the Japanese needed to significantly hinder the growth of the US economy, specifically, so that they could not enter into a Pacific war. Admiral Isoruko Yamamoto made it clear that they could not completely knock out America, because of their large economy. However, they believed that by attacking America’s main naval base, Pearl Harbour, they could prevent America’s entry into a Pacific war for 2 years. Therefore, this time would give the Japanese the opportunity to expand and occupy South East Asia without American intervention. The signing of the Tripartite Pact in September 1940, which allied Japan with Germany and Italy, provoked tension between the United States and Japan joined the Axis Powers. Negotiations in Washington were useless because of the almost diametrically opposite aims of the parties. Japan wanted America to abandon all support of the Chinese government and in return Japan would consider withdrawing from the Axis Pact. America distrusted the Japanese and wanted them to withdraw from Indochina and China. The Japanese were beginning to resent negotiations and believed that by the time America had recovered Japan would have acquired enough land and power that the US would accept a peace offer to avoid costly confrontation because by this time the navy would have established a defense perimeter of

After the world war I allied countries had signed the treaty of Versailles. Japan had felt left out because it wanted to include a part about racial equality. They felt that they weren't being treated equally. So Japan had started to take control and conquer land in southeast Asian countries. They wanted to spread their rule and race. The U.S. didn’t agree with Japan’s action and over the years tension has developed between the two countries. Japan bombed Pearl Harbor because of their nationalist mindset, America’s embargo of oil, and the fear of being attacked by the United States because of its growth.

Over the span of a few decades, the Japanese and Americans were as is, heading towards war due to a varying amount of disputing between the two. In the 1930’s, Japan invaded China. This caused an uproar between the two countries at the time. This was one of the first few sparks to the flame. In order to create the perfect Yamato race, the Japanese felt that there was more validity if there were no one to stop them, (Document A). Destroying the Pacific fleet was the goal so they could expand and imperialize the world around them. America, being one of their main oil producers, made them the perfect target. Leading up to the attack, America placed an embargo on Japan, (Document C). Japan wanted to destroy the Pacific Fleet to gain oil and continue imperialization to obtain the perfect Yamato

The bombing of Pearl Before was a bombing that the country of Japan had declared on the United States and had planned prior to the event. Japanese had many reasons why they bombed the Naval Base of Pearl Harbor. Pearl Harbor was bombed by Japan following the decision of the Governor of Premier, Hideji Tojo, that the Roosevelt administration would not abandon the regions of South East Asia and China to the Japanese military or continue to supply Tokyo with oil and other valuable resources that they would need in the war. The Emperor of Japan, Emperor Hirohito, wanted to enlarge the territory and power of Japan. Japan wanted the natural resources of oil and aluminum that are found in the Netherlands East Indies, but in order to gain these resources they had to get through the United States first (Quiroz 2). In July of 1939, President Roosevelt decided to end the 1911 Japan Treaty of Commerce and Navigation with the Japanese. In reaction of President Roosevelt doing this the Japanese were getting furious with The United States of

Japan and the United States had different kinds of relations that could have lead Japan to bomb Pearl Harbor.The United States military and Japan’s relationship seemed to get worse after Japan sank the USS Panay even though Japan apologized for sinking the ship. Japan became aware in the 19th and 20th century that there was threats from different nations influence became very loyal. During 1939 - 1945 the United States, for the second time, applied domestic penalties to Japan and sends to Europe military supplies because Germany, Italy, and Japan made the Anti Comintern Pact. Japan wanted to take control over some land in northeastern China, this lead to domestic penalties that were charged against Japan from the United States and Europe. Even though the United States saw Japan as a minor threat because Japan had a little military compared to the United States navy. Japan decided

Japan and the United States had different kinds of relations that could have lead Japan to bomb Pearl Harbor.The United States military and Japan’s relationship seemed to get worse after Japan sank the USS Panay even though Japan apologized for sinking the ship. Japan became aware of the 19th and 20th century that there was threats from the different nations influence became very loyal. During 1939 - 1945 the United States, for the second time, applied domestic penalties to Japan and sends to Europe military supplies because Germany, Italy, and Japan made the Anti Comintern Pact. Japan wanted to take control over some land in northeastern China, this lead to domestic penalties that were charged against Japan from the United States and Europe. Even though the United States saw Japan as a minor threat because Japan had a few military compared to the United States navy. Japan decided to

During the Imperial Conference of December 1, 1941, Prime Minister Tojo announced that “The United States not only refused to make even one concession” but that “At the same time, the United States, Great Britain, the Netherlands, and China increased their economic and military pressure against us” (87). This gave Japan no choice but to begin a war with the U.S., Japan, and the Netherlands. Additionally, Foreign Minister Togo emphasized that Japan could not accept the proposal made by the U.S. because the conditions would hinder and put at risk the success of the Japanese Empire. In order for Japan to not only continue working towards establishing a New Order for East Asia, but to also maintain their position on an international level, war was the necessary step to take because if they continued to try to negotiate then they would most definitely have regressed.

One of the reasons why Japan launched an attack on the United states was because of their worldly view. In (Document A) it states, “ The way of the subject is to be loyal to the Emperor in disregard of self, thereby supporting the Imperial Throne coexistence with the Heaven and the Earth.” The Japanese had the mentality that they were the master race and everyone else must subject. They had motives that they could claim the whole world; everything was in the grasp of their hand. According to them Europe and America was now crumbling, as stated in (Document A), “An old order…(European and American)... is now crumbling.” Japan felt it was their turn to

World War II brought great tension between two of the strongest countries during the 1940s: the United States and Japan. Conflict started with Japan’s push past Chinese borders into Manchuria in search of the natural resources that Japan needed. The United States avoided military action with Japan and instead decided to stop economic trade. One of these measures was the Neutrality Act, which prohibited the sale of weapons to nations at war (Nash 513). The United States tried several maneuvers on Japan; they placed oil embargos to force Japan to shut down military operations in China. The US was focused on economically destroying Japan while Japan was planning a surprise attack on the US. Japan. Completely unaware of what the Japanese were

World War II, along with its numerous battles, brought great tension between two of the strongest countries during the 1940s: the United States and Japan. Conflict between these two countries started with Japan’s push past Chinese borders into Manchuria in search of the natural resources Japan lacks. At first, the United States avoided military action with Japan by waging economic warfare on them. This economic pressure included the passing of the Neutrality Act, which prohibited the sale of weapons to nations at war (Nash 513). Additionally, the United States placed oil embargoes on Japan hoping it would force Japan to shut down military operations in China. Japan, at a critical decision point, decided to bomb the American naval base

The United States cautioned Japan against further hostile actions by threatening to cut off shipments of raw materials to the country. This was a really risky situation for Japan, its only income of oil and metal came from the United States, while their main source of rubber came from some British territories in Malaya. “Therefore, it would seem that the nation would have to tread lightly to avoid angering the West. Or would it? In a surprising act of defiance, Japan promptly separated from the League of Nations, which was the precursor to the United Nations.” Tensions continued to arise in the region for several years until 1937, when Japan entered full force military combat with the economically depressed nation China. This conflict became known as the Second Sino-Japanese War, which would later be singled out as the starting point of World War II in the Pacific Theater. In the fall of 1940, Japan met with the Germans and fascist-controlled Italy to create an alliance known as the Tripartite Pact. Under this alliance these three nations agreed to work with and hold up each other in their respective countries’