1. Crisis and Conflict
An Enquiry Approach to Modern World History
Secondary 3
Chapter 5:
Authoritarian Regimes
— Case Study:
Fascist Japan

2. 2
Was the rise of Fascism in Japan
inevitable?
What led to the failure of the
What led to the rise of
democratic government in
Fascism in Japan?
Japan?
Factors that contributed to Factors that assisted the rise
the failure of democracy in of Fascist factions to gain
Japan control of Japan
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3. 3
In a Nutshell
 The 1920s saw the spread of Fascist ideas around the
world.
 Fascism grew to be a popular alternative to democracy.
 People began to lose confidence in democratic leaders
when they saw that they were not able to handle the
economic problems that came after the 1930 Great
Depression.
 In Japan, Fascist ideas were strongly influenced by its
powerful military.
 Another idea advocated by the Japanese Army officers
was Japanese superiority over other Asians.
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4. 4
The beginnings of Fascism
 The term Fascism, was first used by Mussolini who
founded the Fascist movement in Italy, 1919.
 Fascists believed that all individuals and groups in a
nation should put aside their interests and look after
the needs of the nation first.
 Power and violence were advocated by the Fascists.
These seemed very attractive to young people and
World War I veterans.
 Fascists also believed that a nation’s goal was to grow
strong and expand. People began to feel that Fascism
gave them a sense of belonging to a great nation.
 Events such as World War I and global unemployment
increased the popularity of Fascism.
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5. 5
What led to the
failure of the
democratic
government in
Japan?
Democratic
The Diet’s leaders failed
limited power to solve
Corruption economic
damaged problems
democracy’s
reputation
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6. 6
The Diet’s limited power
 The Diet/Parliament was set up in late 19th century.
 Real power however remained in the hands of the
Emperor and genro.
 The Diet did not have the power to make decisions or
policies. The members of the Diet did not even have
control over the nation’s budget.
 Furthermore the Diet could not control the ministers as
they were directly under the control of the Emperor.
 Limited power of the Diet made it possible for the military
faction to grow unchecked.
Back
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7. 7
Corruption damaged
democracy’s reputation
 Corruption among the politicians was common during
the 1920s.
 In order to fund their election campaigns, many
democratic leaders turned to zaibatsus, or powerful
and wealthy Japanese companies, for sponsorship.
 These zaibatsus were able to influence the policies of
the government.
 Such close ties led to many rumours of corruption
within the government.
 The Diet was hence unable to gain support of ordinary
Japanese due to its negative image.
Back
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8. 8
Democratic leaders failed to
solve economic problems
The workers’ difficult The farmers’
working conditions difficult living
conditions
Democratic
leaders failed to
solve economic
problems
Trade imbalance
Great Depression
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9. 9
The farmers’ difficult living conditions
 Less than half of the farmers had less than one and one
quarter acres of land.
 Most of the land belonged to landlords who rented out
the land at exorbitant prices.
 Between 1920 and 1929, rice prices fell sharply, further
reducing farmers’ earnings.
 Disputes between tenant farmers and landlords were
common throughout the 1930s.
Back
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10. 10
The workers’ difficult working
conditions
 The workers in Japan were unhappy with the democratic
government for lack of improvement in their working and
living conditions.
 Workers lived in crowded, miserable conditions.
 Many joined trade unions, some of which were supported
by Communists.
 Frequent strikes were common.
 Such activities affected the government’s stability.
Back
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11. 11
Trade imbalance
 While Japan’s economy was growing, there was a trade
imbalance.
 Japan’s exports were electronic products, china,
porcelain and textiles.
 However Japan needed many raw materials for their
major industries.
 Most of the raw materials had to be imported.
 The trade imbalance grew further when Japan had to
import more food to feed its growing population.
Back
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12. 12
Great Depression 1929
 The Wall Street Crash in the USA triggered a world wide
economic depression.
 It also led to a fall in Japan’s exports due to protectionism
(especially in the USA).
 Due to protectionism, countries such as the USA imposed
high taxes on Japanese goods like silk.
 This led to a fall in demand for silk. Silk farmers in Japan
suffered the most.
 As economic problems mounted, many farmers joined the
Army or patriotic societies.
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13. 13
Great Depression 1929
Loss of paper
Crash Less demand Lower prices
profits
Less bank Less money in Less Less
credit circulation employment production
Less building
Less
of factories Depression
employment
and homes
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14. 14
What led to the rise
of Fascism in Japan?
External Internal
reasons reasons
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15. 15
American expansion in Asia-Pacific
region threatened Japanese plans to
control the region
 Since 1853, American businessmen had taken interest in
doing business in the Asia-Pacific region.
 The USA took control of many tiny islands and used
them as bases for American trading ships.
 By 1930s, American control spread to the Philippines.
 Japanese militarists believed that the economic and
military interests of Japan and the USA would run into
conflict over who would control this region.
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16. 16
Paris Peace Conference, 1919
 Japan had fought alongside the Allies during World War I.
 During the Paris Peace Conference, Japanese
representatives made a request that the League of
Nations formally recognise that all races were equal.
 This was however rejected making Japan feel
discriminated.
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17. 17
Washington Naval Conference,
1921-1922
 This was held between 1921 and 1922.
 The Conference aimed to reduce naval forces of major
naval powers.
 The ratio of warships that were allowed for Japan was
lower than that of the USA and Britain.
 Many Japanese felt that this was an unfair treaty aiming
at restricting Japanese power.
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18. 18
London Disarmament Conference,
1930
 This was held in 1930.
 Many Japanese were unhappy that PM Hamaguchi
Osachi agreed to further limit the number of Japan’s
battleships as he wanted to improve ties with China.
 In addition to that, he tried to solve the problems of the
Great Depression by reducing spending on the Army.
 He was accused of being too soft and trying to betray
Japan.
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19. 19
Immigration laws in the USA in the
mid-1920s
 In 1924, the USA tried to prevent Asian immigration as part of
its isolationist and protectionist policies.
 Asian immigrants could not become citizens even if they had
stayed in the USA for a long time.
 In California, the California Alien Law ordered that all Asian
children attend schools separate from the Americans.
 Such laws angered the Japanese who formed the main bulk of
the immigrants.
 They saw such laws as regarding them as being inferior.
 This combined with other factors such as the Great
Depression, made many Japanese turn away from democracy.
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20. 20
Resurgence of Chinese nationalism
 Since 1894, China had been weakened by many internal
struggles.
 This however changed in 1927 when the KMT and CCP
formed an alliance to eliminate all internal enemies like
the Chinese warlords.
 General Chiang gained control of China and demanded
an end to all concessions that foreign powers had
enjoyed in China.
 Frequent strikes and boycotts of Japanese goods hurt
Japan’s economy.
 The Kwantung Army stationed in Manchuria proposed
that Japan occupy Manchuria and North China before
anti-Japanese feelings became too strong.
 This was supported by many Japanese. Back
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21. 21
The Showa Restoration
 From the 1930s, the education system of Japan
emphasised nationalism, loyalty to the Emperor, self-
sacrifice and obedience.
 Japan’s response to the Great Depression and foreign
opposition to Japan’s growing empire was the
inauguration of the Showa Restoration.
 This movement characterised all things Western in a
negative light and stressed the glorification of the
Emperor.
 This movement produced youths who were blindly loyal
to the nation.
 This further developed Japan’s militarism.
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22. 22
Patriotic societies
 Patriotic societies had been growing since the 1920s in
Japan.
 Many of them had close connections with the Army.
 They were extremely nationalistic and wanted Japan to
adopt an aggressive foreign policy.
 Some societies such as the Black Dragon Society wanted
to eliminate democratic leaders so that Japan would
adopt a more aggressive foreign policy.
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23. 23
Army’s and Navy’s great influence
over the government
 The Army and Navy had great influence over the
government.
 Since the late 19th century, they had been pressing the
government to acquire more colonies like what the
Western nations were doing.
 Military successes in Manchuria and parts of China
made them even more ambitious to pursue an
expansionist policy.
 Leaders who did not support the military ambitions were
often the subjects of assassination attempts.
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24. 24
Army’s and Navy’s great influence
over the government
 1894–1895 : Sino-Japanese War. Japan gained Taiwan and
parts of the Liaodung Peninsula.
 1904–1905 : Russo-Japanese War. Japan was the first Asian
power to defeat an European power.
 1905 : Japan gain rights to build a railway in Manchuria. It also
gained the southern Sakhalin Island.
 1910 : Japan gained full control of Korea.
 1914 : Japan joined the Allies in World War I and occupied
German territories in Shantung and parts of the Pacific
Islands.
 1915 : Japan issued 21 Demands on China.
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25. The considerable successes of the military made many 25
people in Japan think that supporting the military would
solve many of Japan’s economic problems.
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26. 26
Military takeover of Japan
 In 1930, the Army brought down Hamaguchi’s
government. He was shot and wounded. He died a year
later of the wounds.
 Hamaguchi’s assasins were left off with a light jail
sentence.
 In May 1932, the Army assassinated PM Inukai for
criticising the Kwantung Army’s actions in Manchuria.
 Succeeding PMs either felt pressured to support the
Kwantung Army or were already strong supporters
themselves especially after the Mukden Incident in 1932.
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27. 27
Impact of growth of Fascism in Japan
on the World
For Japan
For the next 13 years, Japan
became more aggressive in its foreign For Germany and Italy
policy. Japan started to forge closer
It disregarded the Washington ties with these Fascist States.
Naval Conference and expanded
its Navy.
For the USA, Britain and France
These countries were too
For China preoccupied with the Great
Japan became bolder towards Depression.
China and took steps to expand Furthermore they had a common
Further into China. enemy in the Communists.
They were hence generally more
cordial.
Most importantly, it was the growth of Fascism in Japan that led Japan into World War II.
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28. 28
Failure of democratic government
• Weakness of the Japanese
parliament
Summary
• Corrupt politicians Impact of economic problems
• Lacked support of workers • Problems at the end of World
and farmers War I
• 1929 Great Depression
What led to the
rise of Fascism Fear of Chinese Nationalism
• Anti-Japanese protests
in Japan?
Unhappiness with former Allied Powers
Unhappiness with Japanese • 1919 Versailles Treaty
leaders who wanted friendly • 1921–1922 Washington Naval Conference
ties with former Allied Powers • Mid-1920s immigration issues
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