World Events Set Stage for Isolationism

1. What was the Japanese reaction to the Treaty of Versailles? (pgs. 4 - 5)

Japan was torn in its reaction to the Treaty. Some Japanese saw the Treaty as a way to become closer to the world powers, and as a way to negotiate bigger trade deals to support its rapidly booming economy. Others, though, worried that the major world powers would always treat Japan as a second-tier country; racist behavior was common, and prevalent enough for Japan to push for a clause to be added to the Treaty that would make descrimination based on race illegal.

2. Read the pull-out box on page 4 entitled, "Japan Becomes a Great Power." Cite specific evidence Japan was becoming a strong power that rivaled European & American interests. And, why specifically was Japan threatened by U.S. actions?

Japan's navy was based off of Britain's; its army and constitution were based off of Prussia; its banking system off of the USA - all evidence shows that Japan was becoming a modern, powerful country. Simply between 1885 and 1920, its GDP tripled. Manufacturing and mining industries grew by a factor of six. In 1905, Japan was able to defeat Russia, gaining itself certain parts of Manchuria. In 1910, Japan invaded and annexed Korea. Eventually, it started looking towards China - just like other major world powers, Japan was trying to expand over its surrounding territory. Japan was threatened by the U.S.' presence in the Pacific; the U.S. was then in control of Hawaii, Guam, and the Philippines, and Japan worried that its own plans for expansion were being stifled.

3. Why was the Washington Naval Conference convened and what was accomplished? (pg. 6) (Note: Japan signs the agreement.)

The Washington Naval Conference was called to discuss Japan's sudden surge of naval power in the Pacific, which the U.S. viewed as a threat to their interests in that region. The conference accomplished several things: size regulations were placed on naval ships, a temporary ban was placed on battleship production , the use of poison gas in warfare was banned, and the use of submarine warfare was severely limited. All nine countries involved also agreed to sign a treaty that marked China as a sovereign power, and set up a policy of open trade with China. A final accomplishment of the conference was that it was agreed upon that future conflicts in the Pacific region would be submitted to be solved before a committee.

4. The Senate's willingness to ratify the Kellogg-Briand Pact relected two strong and widely held sentiments. What were they? (pgs. 6 - 7)

1) Americans remembered how bloody WWI had been and voraciously wanted to avoid entering another European war.

2) Political leaders strongly wanted to avoid making permanent alliances; they much prefered being able to what they wanted, whenever they wanted.

5. Why did Hitler enjoy popular support in Germany for most of the 1930s? Give three reasons. (pgs. 9 - 10)

He improved the economy and reduced unemployment; he restored Germany's national pride; he rejected all provisions of the Treaty of Versailles and went on to put Germany back in a position of power.

6. Japan voiced its intentions to invade China for what two reasons? (pg. 10)

Japan's reasons for invading China were to increase Japan's power in general and to obtain raw materials that were bountiful in the area.

7. Compare the Reichstag fire and the explosion on the Japanese railway in Manchuria. What did they accompllish?

Both were explosions in public areas that shocked the public. In both cases, the government blamed it on groups that were in the way of their plans for power - Hitler blamed it on the Communists in order to persuade the populace that a new, stronger government was necessary to maintain control; Japan blamed it on China in order to create a "valid" reason for invading China. Historians think that both explosions were really launched bu the government. Both explosions accomplished exactly what the government wanted it to - after the explosion in Germany, the populace immediately looked to Hitler to take action and strengthen the government. After the explosion in Japan, Japan immediately invaded China because it had "proof" that the invasion was validated.

8. Why was the united States unable to oppose Japan in the early 1930s with a significant military force? (pgs. 11 - 12)

Since WWI, the US had massively reduced the size of its military. The US was simply not prepared to send what little military force they did have out into the world to fight the impressive Japanese navy.

9. Describe the major similarities and differences among liberal democracy, fascism, and socialism. (pg. 8)

Both fascism and socialism saw themselves as a challenge to liberal democracy; they both thought of themselves as the new future of government. Liberal democracies are based off of a constitution, and place high value on the rights of the individual; fascism encourages government control of the economy and few rights for individuals; socialism combined the ideas of fascism and liberal democracy, aiming to create a state in which every individual was equal.