Routledge

Chapter Resources

Chapter 3: Japan, China and the Origins of the Pacific War, 1900–41

Debates

Debating the intelligence failure at Pearl Harbor

Maps

Japanese expansion in East Asia until 1939

Discussion Questions

  1. “Japan had a successful war but a disastrous peace conference.” Discuss with reference to the period between 1914 and 1919.
  2. Account for the convening of the Washington Conference in 1921.
  3. “The Northern Expedition brought about the collapse of the Washington system.” Discuss.
  4. What effect did the Great Depression have on the international politics of East Asia?
  5. Why was the Kwantung Army able to dictate Japanese policy towards Manchuria between 1931 and 1933?
  6. Why did the League of Nations fail to resolve the Manchurian Crisis?
  7. “Looking at Soviet-Japanese hostility is the key to understanding the instability of East Asia in the 1930s.” Discuss.
  8. Account for the end of Jiang Jieshi's non-resistance policy in 1936.
  9. Why did the Marco Polo Bridge Incident of July 1937 develop into full-scale Sino-Japanese War?
  10. Why did the United States and Britain fail to deter Japan from going to war in 1941?

Weblinks

This chapter does not lend itself to weblinks — please refer to the recommended reading in the textbook for additional support material.