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A PowerPoint Presentation by Ariel Hamilton Zach Kirschner Erin Teceno What is Imperialism? “The policy of extending a nation’s authority by territorial acquisition or by the establishment of economic and political hegemony (leadership or dominance) over other nations.” The Japanese spread all across South East Asia, claiming and imperializing as they went. During the early-mid 1900’s, Japan tried to invade China. The Japanese Empire 1942 Preparing a Young Prince to be Emperor Born in 1901, Hirohito was separated from his parents shortly after birth. He was cared for by a vice admiral in the imperial navy until November 1904. Even after returning to be with his parents, he had very little contact with them. Hirohito was trained to act with the dignity, reserve, and sense of responsibility his future role would require. In school, he was taught to respect the virtues of hard work, the importance of devotion to the nation, and the practice of stoicism (the ability to ignore pleasure or pain). Hirohito Becomes the 124th Emperor of Japan Prior to becoming Emperor, Hirohito was appointed (in 1921) to serve as acting ruler for his father, who had become mentally unstable. Hirohito took the throne as Emperor on December 25, 1926. He took as his reign name Showa (“Enlightened Peace”), and he was formally known as Showa Tenno. Under the constitution of Japan, the Emperor could not act except on the advice of his ministers and the chiefs of staff. Hirohito reigned during a period of internal unrest, foreign expansion, international war, and national defeat. Japan Prior to WWII Shortly after Hirohito became Emperor, Japan’s relations with the outside world began to fall apart. Early during his reign, Japanese army officers (without Hirohito’s consent) created conflict with Manchuria (a region in northeastern China) and soon Japan occupied parts of that country. Japan’s economic situation continued to worsen; the worldwide depression of 1929 hit Japan especially hard because its prosperity depended on foreign trade. The government of Japan seemed unable to solve its economic crisis so many people turned to the military, which began to take matters into its own hands. By 1932, military leaders had set up a military dictatorship in Japan. In 1933, Japan withdrew from the League of Nations because of the heavy criticism of its actions in China. Entering WWII and the Axis Alliance The three principle partners in the Axis Alliance were: Nazi Germany Fascist Italy Imperial Japan The Axis partners had two common interests: 1) territorial expansion and foundation of empires based on military conquest and the overthrow of the post-WWI international order; and 2) the destruction or neutralization of Soviet Communism. Hirohito did not favor the alliance with Germany and Italy in WWII, but he made no effort to oppose it. Japan Attacks Pearl Harbor When the final decision on war with the United States was made on September 6, 1941, Hirohito barely opposed. Because American military leaders were not expecting an attack so close to home, the naval facilities at Pearl Harbor were relatively undefended. To the Japanese, Pearl Harbor was an irresistible target. On the morning of December 7, 1941, hundreds of Japanese fighter planes attacked the American naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. The day after the assault, President Franklin D. Roosevelt asked Congress to declare war on the Japanese Empire. Japan Surrenders to the United States When it became evident that Japan would be defeated, Hirohito kept the war going looking for victories that would obtain better terms of peace. Only after the United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the Soviet Union entered the war against Japan, did Hirohito vote for surrender. The Japanese formally surrendered on September 2, 1945 onboard the battleship Missouri. Hirohito’s Role as Leader Following WWII While Hirohito shared responsibility for the war against the United States, General Douglas MacArthur wanted him to remain Emperor and not be tried as a war criminal. Hirohito cooperated with MacArthur and supported the new constitution which renounced war and the idea that the Emperor was “divine”. Hirohito became more active publicly in Japan and around the world. As the occupant of Japan’s throne for 63 years, he was the longest living ruler in modern history. Hirohito died on January 7, 1989, at the age of 87. Video Link Click here to view an interesting and informative video about the reign of Imperial Emperor Hirohito. OR Click here to view Japan’s surrender on September 2, 1945 and the end to WWII. Resources online-study-guide.com/history/japan-japanese/emperorhirohito/life-bio-biography.html www.japan-zone.com/culture/imperial.shtml www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/2WWhirohito.htm www.notablebiographies.com/He-Ho/Hirohito.html www.japan-guide.com/e/e2129.html www.history.com/topics/pearl-harbor