Japan and U.S. Relations in 1941

Japan and U.S. Relations in 1941

Document A

• If Japan were to move South and take Southern territory in Asia, it would be able to conquer China
• the defeat of China would deal a blow to America's economy
• after taking China, they could then take the Soviet Union
• they planned to help Germany defeat England, and then America

Document B

• The U.S.leaders are studying the Pacific Situation
• Japan is just represented by a tiny bald guy labeled Tojo running in circles around them
• The three just glance at him, but he is no threat to them

Document C

• The United States was too stubborn and unfair to Japan
• Japan refused to negotiate with the U.S.
• Japan doesn't want to reveal to America that they are breaking off the negotiations

Document D

• Japan must continue acting militarily to serve its emperor
• they are on the verge of success and failure
• to satisfy the emperor, Japan must achieve military victory and defeat its enemies

Document E

• Japan has deceived the United States
• they were at peace, making negotiations, when Japan suddenly ended the negotiations and bombed Pearl Harbor
• the attack had obviously been planned days of even weeks ahead
• Japan had deliberately tricked the United States by pretending they were negotiating peace, when truly they were planning an attack
• Roosevelt requested that Congress declare war on Japan

"Isolationism" and FDR (1935 - 1941)

1. What were the goals of the isolationists? Why is "isolationism" a misleading term?

2. What did some isolationists feel that there was no need for Americans to feel threatened by developments in Europe and Asia?

3. What were the purposes of the Nye Committee hearings?
The Nye Committee hearings' purposes were to find out why the U.S. was dragged into the first World War.

4. List two impressions that the Nye Committee hearings created.

One impression that the Nye Committee hearings had created were that Wilson was convinced by businesses that would make a profit off of war to enter World War I. Another is that the bankers and munition-makers were guilty of profiteering, or getting an excess of profit for a necessary product.

5. What were the purposes of the Neutrality Acts?

The purposes of the Neutrality Acts were keep the U.S. out of the war and prevent it from suffering from it.

6. List two reasons that some Americans considered Roosevelt's leadership radical and dangerous.
Some Americans considered Roosevelt's leadership radical and dangerous because he gave the government more power in the economy, and people believed he was giving too much power and involvement to the government. Also, his attempt to "pack" the supreme court angered many people and severely hurt his reputation. Finally, he decided to run for a third term, which no president had ever attempted, and people thought he was over-powerful and dangerous as a president.

7. What was "Cash and Carry"?
"Cash and Carry" allowed the sale of war materials to the warring countries, but it required the countries to pay cash and to pick up the goods themselves instead of have them shipped.

8. Why did President Roosevelt freeze Japanese assets in the United States?

FDR froze Japanese assets in the U.S. because it was spreading through Asia, taking land everywhere. Roosevelt stopped trade with them, and stopped selling them crucial supplies. So Japan occupied French Indochina, where they could get those resources for themselves. Because of that, FDR froze Japanese assets in the U.S.

9. What was the purpose of the America First Committee?

The America First Committee dedicated itself to keeping the United States out of war, so its purpose was to do just that.

World Events Set Stage for Isolationism

1. What was the Japanese reaction to the Treaty of Versailles? (pgs. 4 - 5)
Some believed they should join the League of Nations in order to obtain some of the economic resources they needed, but many thought that the League of Nations would keep Japan a second-tier power, and that the larger nations would never treat Japan respectfully as equals. They were victims of a lot of racism, and demanded that an amendment be passed to prohibit racism and discrimination in the League of Nations, but it was not passed, and Japan was outraged, and many Japanese turned away from the West.

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 began to base its military and economy on other successful nations, and its success increased greatly. Its gross domestic service tripled, and its mining and manufacturing increased by six times. It then proceeded to gain more territory. in 1910, it annexed Korea, and in 1914, it waged war on Germany with intentions of moving in on China. Japan's interest in China conflicted with the interests of other powers, particularly Great Britain and the United States. From Japan's perspective, U.S. expansion into the Pacific Ocean posed a threat to its own expansion.

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

The Washington Naval Conference was convened because Japan's naval growth threatened U.S. interests, and they wanted to avoid a naval arms race. The nine nations that attended agreed to limit the size of naval ships, place a moratorium on building new battleships, outlawed the use of poison gases, and limited the role of submarines in future wars. They also affirmed China's sovereignty and created a policy of open trade with China. Finally, they agreed to settle issues about the Pacific Ocean by submitting them to a committee for resolution.

4. The Senate's willingness to ratify the Kellogg-Briand Pact relected two strong and widely held sentiments. What were they? (pgs. 6 - 7)
Americans didn't forget the damage that World War I had caused, and desperately wanted to avoid being dragged into another war like it. Also, policy-makers still resisted obligations of permanent alliances and wanted to be able to do what they want, where they want.

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

Hitler enjoyed popular support in Germany for most of the 1930s because he improved the German economic situation and reduced the unemployment rate. Also, he restored pride for the Germans, which they had lost after their defeat in World War I and their punishment after it. Also, he defied the Treaty of Versailles and began to expand German power again.

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

Japanese voiced its intentions to invade China in order to obtain the raw materials it had to offer and to expand its power.

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

The Reichstag fire and the explosion on the Japanese railway in Manchuria were both very similar. They were both used as an excuse for the Nazis and for Japan to act as they wanted. The fire was used as an excuse for the Nazis to act and eliminate rights and freedoms in Germany. The explosion was used as an excuse for Japan to invade China, because the incident was blamed on the Chinese.

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

The U.S. was unable to oppose Japan in the early 1930s because it had drastically reduced the size of its military after World War I.

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

Liberal democracy had a constitution, and was based on the rights and freedoms of the people. It has elected representatives that make decisions based on those rights and freedoms for the people. Fascism is based on government power over the economy, and it emphasizes the government's power over the people. Socialism also involved the government taking power over the economy and the people, but its goal was to create a classless society, and make the people "equal" to each other.