11. Japan 1912-1990 HL Only

This unit includes some of the content required for the Move to Global War (Paper One).

  • The impact of the First World War and the post-war conferences (especially the Treaty of Versailles).
  • Taisho democracy: the growth of liberal values and the two-party system.
  • Reasons for, and the impact of, the rise of militarism and extreme nationalism, the increasing influence of the army in politics, political coups and assassinations.
  • Invasions of Manchuria (1930) and China (1937), the impact on relations with the West, the Three-Party or Tripartite Pact (1940) and US embargo (1940).
  • Japan and the Pacific War (1941-45), the decision to bomb Pearl Harbor, the initial successes and reasons for defeat in the theatre.
  • The US occupation (1945-52): social, political and cultural changes, the reverse course (1950).
  • Reasons for Japan’s “economic miracle”, social, cultural and economic impact of globalisation.