Japan's Invasion of Manchuria Flashcards

Manchurian Crisis Overview

• Occurred from 1931 to 1933, marking a significant military conflict and international relations crisis.

Reasons for Invading Manchuria

• Economic motivations included Japan's struggles during the Great Depression, leading to industrial decline.
• Japan sought access to Manchuria's fertile farmland and abundant natural resources like oil and rubber.
• Politically, the Japanese army's influence over governmental policies grew, aiming to assert Japan's strength in the Far East.

Key Events in the Invasion

• A bomb explosion at Mukden on the South Manchurian Railway, likely orchestrated by Japan, served as a pretext for military action.
• Japan invaded the entirety of Manchuria, claiming to protect its interests.
• In April 1932, Lord Lytton led a League of Nations delegation to investigate the situation.
• The League declared in October 1932 that Japan should withdraw from Manchuria.
• Following a February 1933 assembly vote against Japan, Japan withdrew from the League of Nations.
• The League failed to impose sanctions or military intervention, leading to Japan's continued occupation of Manchuria and later invasion of China in July 1937.

Consequences of the Manchurian Crisis

• The crisis undermined the concept of internationalism, as it highlighted the weaknesses of collective security arrangements.
• The League of Nations was perceived as ineffective, particularly without the support of the United States.
• Demonstrated to other nations, such as Germany and Italy, that the international community lacked unity in countering aggression.

Explore the key concepts related to Japan's invasion of Manchuria from 1931 to 1933 with these informative flashcards. Delve into the economic and political reasons behind this significant historical event and enhance your understanding of its impacts and implications.