Move to Global Affairs (1888–1914)
Japanese Expansionism – Events & Actions
Causes of Japanese Expansion
International Response & Consequences
IB Concepts – Japanese Expansionism
100

This war in 1898 marked the emergence of the US as an imperial power.

What is the Spanish-American War?


100

This puppet state was established by Japan in Manchuria.

What is Manchukuo?


100

This global economic crisis increased pressure on Japan to expand.

What is the Great Depression?

100

This organization condemned Japan’s actions but failed to stop them.

What is the League of Nations?


100

This concept explains why Japan expanded due to economic and political pressures.

What is causation?

200

This amendment allowed the US to intervene in Cuban affairs.

What is the Platt Amendment?

200

This 1937 clash marked the start of full-scale war between China and Japan.

What is the Marco Polo Bridge Incident?

200

This ideology promoted loyalty to the emperor and justified expansion.

What is militarism?


200

This report criticized Japan’s actions in Manchuria.

What is the Lytton Report?

200

This concept examines the impact of Japanese expansion on China and global tensions.

What is consequence?


300

This policy aimed to ensure equal trading rights in China.

What is the Open Door Policy?


300

This 1937 event involved mass killings and atrocities committed by Japanese forces in China.

What is the Rape of Nanjing?

300

These powerful industrial groups supported expansion for economic gain.

What are the zaibatsu?

300

This was Japan’s response to criticism from the League of Nations

What is withdrawing from the League of Nations (1933)?

300

This concept would compare Japanese expansion to German expansion in Europe.

What is comparison?

400

This corollary justified US intervention in Latin America.

What is the Roosevelt Corollary?

400

This policy aimed to create a Japanese-dominated economic and political bloc in Asia.

What is the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere?

400

This concept explains Japan’s desire to dominate Asia and reduce Western influence.

What is imperialism (or Pan-Asianism)?

400

This conflict between China and Japan escalated into a wider war after 1937.

What is the Second Sino-Japanese War?

400

This concept evaluates how important Japanese expansion was in causing WWII.

What is significance?

500

This canal significantly enhanced US naval and trade power.

What is the Panama Canal?

500

This 1931 incident was used by Japan as a pretext to invade Manchuria.

What is the Mukden Incident?

500

Japan lacked these and sought expansion to secure supplies (ex. oil and iron).

What are natural resources?

500

This failure highlighted the weakness of collective security in the interwar period.

What is the failure of the League of Nations (collective security)?

500

This approach would consider Japan’s perspective rather than judging by modern values.

What is historical perspective?