Russia: Early 20th Century Expansion

Russia's overthrows and shortage caused revolutionary upheaval and massive inflation, which led to deprived infrastructure. During World War I, Russian society naturally caused great dissatisfaction among the serfs. As the revolution wore on, numerous reform and Tsar Nicholas II, a ruler, tried to change Russia's social structure and government. Among the masses, there was discontentment with Russia's social system and living conditions. Laborers worked and lived in horrendous conditions, which played a crucial role in aggravating the condition of workers and peasants. As a result, peasants starved and Russia’s armies were overpowered on the battlefield because much of its terrain was occupied by enemies. Hence, Imperial Russia was a

Japan was a very nationalistic country in which the purpose of the civilians was to fight until death for their emperor. This was evident in the fact that they had practiced an extremely nationalistic concept of Bushido. This concept made surrender unacceptable for all Japanese people and they lived to die for the emperor. There nationalism was fueled by the fact that they won 2 large battles (Sino Japanese War and Russo Japanese war) against larger countries. Along with this, the Japanese also had Kamikaze pilots who suicide by deliberately crashing planes into American warship as a tactic of fighting. This extreme nationalism shows that they could not be fought with regular weapons and so posed a threat for the whole world.

With many new factors making the world globalized and as steps were taken toward modernization in the 1700s, the world underwent many changes, however still keeping some of its initial traditions. From 1700-1900 in Eastern Europe, the economy had switched from agricultural to manufacturing due to the growth of factories and industry in the 1800s and serfdom was abolished, however the tsars still remained the center of authority.

In the early 19th century Russian rulers did anything in their power to keep the "French plague" from infiltrating Russia. The "French Plague" was a gradual move towards freedom and a more influential say in government. Russia avoided the "French Plague" by a period of isolation and oppression of their people. Japan also had a long period of isolation. The Japanese believed in the Mandate of Heaven or that there culture was the best. Because of their ethnocentric culture, only one Japanese port, Nagasaki, was open to traders once a year. During the late 19th century, both Russia and Japan were forced to make reforms and modernize by industrialization. They both had to do so rapidly because of Western interference and the West's increasing

Just Before entering World War II, Japan had a lot of different issues to try and solve. It had started to depend more for materials like oil for new machines being made to make the creation level of merchandise faster, which makes for a more productive economy. They required oil from outside sources in light of the fact that their property did not have all these things enormously, since the nation was an island its regular assets were made up of rice and fish. Even with these troubles, Japan started to manufacture an effective realm with a strong mechanical establishment and a decent armed force and naval force. The military got to be included in the legislature, and this started to cause them harm. The general public started to see indications of control originating from a rough place this put the individuals in a controlled state, their fundamental rights were gradually being taken away. In the mid 1930 's, the Japanese Army had numerous little, detached fights with their neighboring people groups. The Japanese individuals spread their control to make their country bigger. In 1937, the contentions started again with the Chinese in the territory close. These contentions prompted a full-scale war known as the second Sino-Japanese War. This was viewed as a bleeding war, it proceeded until the last annihilation of Japan in 1945. This demonstrates the inward shortcoming of the Japanese individuals, with high

Summary: In “Russia and the Curse of Geography” by Tim Marshall, he begins by commenting about the lack of mountains in Eastern Ukraine. He then goes on to go into detail about the European Plains in Eastern Ukraine that have inflicted many invasions on the Russian border. Putin has to feel a need to protect this vulnerable border, just like the Russian leaders before him, although it is very difficult. Russia has been invaded by through the European Plains by Poland, Sweden, the French and the Germans- twice. This constant threat of invasion lead to Russians to invade Poland which has a much smaller border that is more easily protected which in turn protects Russia’s own border.

During the Diplomacy game, I represented the country of Russia. The major international preoccupations and priorities in the nineteenth century was to expand and acquire more lands while establishing a strong economic and industrial development. Furthermore, they had to develop a strong friendship with other European countries. Throughout the nineteenth century, Russia's economy developed more slowly than other major European countries. Between 1850 and 1900, Russia's population eventually doubled and was the fastest out of all the major powers. Agriculture was highly underdeveloped and is remained in the hands of the serfs and peasants who made up about four-fifths of the rural population. Industrial growth was significant, but was unsteady.

attacked by the Soviet Union. This was an advantage for Japan because now they had somebody to protect them from any damage that can be done to Japan.

Japan and Russia both downtrodden empires under the shadow of Europe, industrialized to become global powers. After European’s show-off of force and political change, Russia used local resources and foreign loans while Japan used its own treasure and imported metals. Both industrialized in response to growing European dominance. Russia made its changes after the Crimean War. Not only did it lose but it lost to the inferior Ottomans who were backed up Europeans powers with rifles, cannons, and heavy equipment. Russia knew it couldn’t in any more without building its own industry. Japan underwent its miracles after seeing the occupations of china by foreign powers. Not one to concede, Japan kicked out all foreigners, save the Dutch and decided to build its own military and become the empire of the east.

19th Century Russia Imperial Russia as an autocracy infers that the tsar and the imperial body is who determines what Russia’s identity is. The 19th century began under the leadership of Tsar Paul followed by his successors. Each of them had different visions of what Russia would become. The Russian people also had their own idea of what the Russian path was to be.

Near the end of World War 2 and after the fall of the German war machine, the US and soon the USSR were still at war with Japan. Despite most of the Imperial Navy being defeated, Japan wouldn’t give in to defeat and continued throwing what they had left into the defense of their mainland. I consider there to be four main causes of the Japanese defeat near the end of the war; the loss of the IJN Yamato dreadnought, the two US nuclear attacks, the depletion of resources needed or them to continue fighting, and the USSR joining the fight against them.

Japan, an ally of Germany, also faced destruction during the war after nuclear bombs were dropped on two of their cities, Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Emperor Hirohito and other Japanese government officials subsequently decided to surrender after Russia had declared war and the US began to look more threatening. Once the Emperor announced the country’s surrender, the populace was stunned. Japan had lost their military and was economically unstable. The citizens and many Japanese soldiers found it hard to accept the defeat, but the Emperor felt it was best for the country. Fortunately, from the 50’s to the 70’s Japan made a comeback and went from poor to rich. They began manufacturing goods and advancing their technology, and today they are known

There were two fundamental treaties signed between Japan and the West. These two treaties were labelled as the Treaty of Kanagawa and the Treaty of Shimoda. Both treaties were unmistakeably benefitting the West. The inequity between Japan and the West, whether it be in Russia’s or America’s favour, can distinctively be identified when they are read. The Treaty of Kanagawa was a contract signed between Japan and the U.S during 1854. The treaty of Shimoda was a deal between Japan and Russia. The primary reason the West degraded Japan so brutally is because Japan were so primitive in terms of their weaponry and industrialisation. And one way they derided the Japanese were by their highly partisan deals, at gunpoint.

For three centuries before the revolution, life in Russia was not peaceful. It was cold, hard, and bitter instead. “The end of serfdom was a major event in Russia; yet it just wasn 't enough.”, in 1861. Serfdom, under feudalism, is the the status of peasants in which they are bound to a lord, or master, works on their land, and can be sold like property. Despite serfs being given ‘freedom’, Russia was mostly ruled by the czar and nobles. The average person was, and stayed, poor. Therefore, World War I was not the main cause of the Russian revolution. This outdated feudal class structure, inability to modernize, lack of peace, and czars’ inept leaderships lead to the Russian Revolution.

However Japan had started expanding its army after their war with China. Now Japan had more ground troops than Russia. Russia had agreed to withdraw its troops from Manchuria. This was when Japan took its chance and attacked. The last naval battle had given the Japanese the upper hand and given them full command of the sea.