Primary Source Analysis: Message To The United States
Primary Source Analysis
Japanese Fourteen- Part Message to the United States
December 7, 1941
Introduction
Japan in 1942 was at the height of its expansion . Japanese political culture and ideology was driven by nationalistic pride and its aim to dominate the Asian political scenario. During this expansionistic period of Japan, idealism dominated realism. Japan wanted to be the hegemonic power in Asia. Its limited resources, mainly due to the lack of land, created a dependency on foreign trade for essential commodities. The Japanese Government wanted to be independent from economic dependence on the United States; the American Government took to use that dependence to limit Japans ambitions. The Japanese wanted to reverse the international status quo in Asia, whereas the United States wanted to preserve it . Japan wanted to be a power with a reputation matching that of the United States, but lacked the resource capacity to do so.
Japan took the first step towards its goal of Imperialistic expansion by signing the Treaty of Shimonoseki;1 whereby Japan claimed Taiwan and the Liaotung Peninsula in southern Manchuria . In the 1930 Japanese military leaders …show more content…
The United States imposed sanctions on Japan on the 26th of July 1941. The aim of this embargo was to bring Japan to its senses but instead it brought it to its knees. Due to the sanctions Japanese assets were frozen and its supply of steel and oil drastically went low. According to Miller, Japan was left with three options: first suffer economic impoverishment, second accede to America’s demands to yield it territorial conquests or third go to war with the United States and its allies . Japan chose the third option and its intention to do so was made clear to America and the world on the 7th of December 1941 when it attacked Pearl
Japanese Fourteen- Part Message to the United States
December 7, 1941
Introduction
Japan in 1942 was at the height of its expansion . Japanese political culture and ideology was driven by nationalistic pride and its aim to dominate the Asian political scenario. During this expansionistic period of Japan, idealism dominated realism. Japan wanted to be the hegemonic power in Asia. Its limited resources, mainly due to the lack of land, created a dependency on foreign trade for essential commodities. The Japanese Government wanted to be independent from economic dependence on the United States; the American Government took to use that dependence to limit Japans ambitions. The Japanese wanted to reverse the international status quo in Asia, whereas the United States wanted to preserve it . Japan wanted to be a power with a reputation matching that of the United States, but lacked the resource capacity to do so.
Japan took the first step towards its goal of Imperialistic expansion by signing the Treaty of Shimonoseki;1 whereby Japan claimed Taiwan and the Liaotung Peninsula in southern Manchuria . In the 1930 Japanese military leaders …show more content…
The United States imposed sanctions on Japan on the 26th of July 1941. The aim of this embargo was to bring Japan to its senses but instead it brought it to its knees. Due to the sanctions Japanese assets were frozen and its supply of steel and oil drastically went low. According to Miller, Japan was left with three options: first suffer economic impoverishment, second accede to America’s demands to yield it territorial conquests or third go to war with the United States and its allies . Japan chose the third option and its intention to do so was made clear to America and the world on the 7th of December 1941 when it attacked Pearl