Key developments leading to the outbreak of World War II in the Asia-Pacific
G3 Elective History - syllabus K336, 2027
Why did Japan attack Pearl Harbour? The war in China, the search for Southeast Asian resources and the oil embargo led to Japan's choice of wider war in 1941.
- Why the League failed to stop Japan
The League of Nations criticised Japan for taking Manchuria but did nothing to make it leave, so Japan kept its gains.
- How the war in China widened the crisis
Japan captured Chinese cities from 1937 but could not end Chinese resistance, so the war drained resources and angered the USA.
- What Japan wanted in Southeast Asia
Japan called its plan Asian cooperation, but it really wanted to lead the region and control its oil, rubber and tin.
- Why the oil embargo pushed Japan to act
After the USA cut off oil in 1941, Japan had to either leave China or seize new oil, and its leaders chose war.
- Why Japan attacked Pearl Harbour
Japan attacked Pearl Harbour to stop the US fleet interfering with its conquests, but it brought the USA fully into the war.
- Put it together: Build the explanation for December 1941
Japanese expansion created a dispute; oil pressure made waiting costly; the fleet attack was a decision about how to pursue further conquests. Examine what each factor explains.
What you will be able to do
I can judge which reasons mattered most for the outbreak of World War II in Europe and in the Asia-Pacific.
Syllabus K336, War in Europe and the Asia-Pacific, Learning Outcomes. Evaluate the reasons for the outbreak of World War II in Europe and the Asia-Pacific.
Taught in Why the League failed to stop Japan, How the war in China widened the crisis, Why the oil embargo pushed Japan to act, Why Japan attacked Pearl Harbour
I can judge how far leaders, governments and the League were responsible for the steps that led to World War II.
Syllabus K336, War in Europe and the Asia-Pacific, Learning Outcomes. Evaluate the roles played by individuals and groups in developments leading to the outbreak of World War II.
Taught in What Japan wanted in Southeast Asia, Why Japan attacked Pearl Harbour
Sources and context
Background reading for this chapter.
- National Archives: Day of Infamy Address
Paraphrase of the US National Archives account of Roosevelt's 8 December 1941 address to Congress; retrospective archive description.
- The road to Pearl Harbour
Paraphrase of the US Office of the Historian's historical account, Japan, China, the United States and the Road to Pearl Harbor, 1937-41.