1. 1889: The Constitution
1.1. Given to the people by the emperor, and only he had access to change it.
1.2. 1925 - Only men could vote (excluded women)
1.3. Very strong executive branch
1.3.1. The Emperor could;
1.3.1.1. declare war
1.3.1.2. legislate by edict
1.3.1.3. control the military
2. 1894-1895: First Sino-Japanese War
2.1. To Japan, Korea was a very big threat
2.2. There was a desire to keep Korea free from foreign domination
2.3. Japan wins → Peace settlement
2.4. Lots of intervention following the peace treaty
3. 1905: Russo-Japanese War
3.1. Japan rapidly industrialized, urbanizing at the turn of the century
3.2. Japan attempting to throw off Asia
4. 1905-1918: Era of Popular Protest/Violence
4.1. 1905 - Hibiya Riots
4.1.1. Erupt in Tokyo to protest terms of the treaty that ended the Russo-Japanese War
4.2. Early 1900’s
4.2.1. Society more politically active
4.2.2. Government gets nervous of social diseases from West coming to Japan
5. Turmoil in the 1920s:
5.1. Increased fear of communist radicals
5.2. Increased pushback to Taisho policies by right-winged ultra-nationalists
5.3. Concept of “mutilated victory”
5.4. Belief that through treaties, the West was simply trying to limit Japan’s imperial power and expansionist agenda
6. 1928: Huanggutan Incident
6.1. Kwantung army assassinated warlord Zhang
6.1.1. Kwantung Army went rogue
6.1.1.1. Group with imperialistic intentions
6.1.1.2. Extremly nationalistic
6.1.1.3. Kwantung Garrison active in Russo-Japanese War
6.1.1.4. Prepared to dominate and overthrow Japanese civilian governments
6.1.2. Tanaka forced to resign
6.2. Manchuria no longer can keep Japan at bay
6.2.1. Kept Manchuria allied with the nationalists
7. 1929: Great Depression
7.1. Belief in the need to expand the empire for new markets to grow and combat the rapid increase in population
7.2. Japan had been in recession since WWI
7.2.1. Economy falls under the control of the Zaibatsu
7.2.2. Povertiy and unemployment so bad that many poor families sold daughters into prostitution
7.2.3. Farmers hit the hardest
7.2.3.1. Died due to starvation
7.2.3.2. Right Wing continued blaming the government
7.2.4. Called for expansion of markets and resources
7.2.5. Manchuria had the resources Japan was looking for
8. Oct. 1930: London Naval Treaty
8.1. UK, Japan, France, Italy, Us agree to reduce naval armaments
8.2. Poorer economy and high taxes to pay for the militarization of the time
8.3. Right-Wing nationalist shoots PM Hamaguchi in protest
8.3.1. The treaty didn’t align with their festering nationalist and militarist agendas