The document provides key dates and events relating to US-Japanese relations prior to WWII. It outlines Japan's increasing imperialism in Manchuria in 1931 and China in 1937, and the US's neutral or non-confrontational responses. This included approving the Kellogg-Briand Pact outlawing war in 1929 but doing nothing in response to Japan's invasion of Manchuria in 1931. The document establishes the timeline of deteriorating relations between the two countries in the lead up to WWII.
40. 4
Country / Region / Event Description / Dates / Resources
Manchuria
Southeast Asia
China
Russia
Spanish American War
41. Possible FRs:
1930s Isolation & Neutrality
1) What could the US have done to
remain neutral during WWII?
2) What evidence supports the belief
that the US (FDR) never intended to
remain neutral?
3) Did the US provoke problems in
order to have war initially waged on
them?
Back
42. 4
JAPAN USA
Back to Long Road Skip to chronology
81. Each night a rubber tapper must remove a thin layer of bark along a downward half spiral on the tree trunk. If
done carefully and with skill, this tapping panel will yield latex for up to 5 years. Then the opposite side will be
tapped allowing this side to heal over. The spiral allow the latex to run down to a collecting cup. The work is
done at night so the latex will run longer before drying out.
136. Russia
Manchuria
JAPAN USA
CHINA
So Asi
Philippines
u th a
ea
ts
137. DATES TO REMEMBER
Date Event Significance
1852 –
1898 –
1905 –
1918 –
1937 –
1941 –
138. DATES TO REMEMBER
Date Event Significance
Admiral Perry opens Japan ends isolationism,
1852 – Japanese Ports Meiji begin to modernize Japan
1898 –
1905 –
1918 –
1937 –
1941 –
139. DATES TO REMEMBER
Date Event Significance
1852 – Admiral Perry opens 1) Japan ends isolationism,
Japanese Ports 2) Meiji begin to modernize Japan
1898 – Spanish American War • US controls Philippines
• US & Japan compete for Asia
1905 –
1918 –
1937 –
1941 –
140. DATES TO REMEMBER
Date Event Significance
1852 – Admiral Perry 1) Japan ends isolationism,
2) Meiji begin to modernize Japan
1898 – Spanish American War • US controls Philippines
• US & Japan compete for Asia
1905 – Russo Japanese War • US negoitates peace
• Japan win but feel short changed by US
1918 –
1920s -
1937 –
1941 –
Teddy Roosevelt with
Russians & Japanese
diplomats in 1905
141. DATES TO REMEMBER
Date Event Significance
1852 – Admiral Perry 1) Japan ends isolationism,
2) Meiji begin to modernize Japan
1898 – Spanish American War • US controls Philippines
• US & Japan compete for Asia
1905 – Russo Japanese War 1) US negotiates peace
2) Japan wins but feels cheated by US
3) Did US try to keep Japan weak?
1918 –
1920s -
1937 –
1941 –
Teddy Roosevelt with
Russians & Japanese
diplomats in 1905
142. DATES TO REMEMBER
Date Event Significance
1852 – Admiral Perry 1) Japan ends isolationism,
2) Meiji begin to modernize Japan
1898 – Spanish American War • US controls Philippines
• US & Japan compete for Asia
1905 – Russo Japanese War 1)US negotiates peace
2)Japan wins but feels cheated by US
3)Did US try to keep Japan weak?
1918 – Treaty of Versailles 1)Japan leaves early = does NOT get
promised land for fighting WWI.
2) US Pres. Wilson “War without victory”
1920s -
1937 –
1941 –
143. DATES TO REMEMBER
Date Event Significance
Admiral Perry 1) Japan ends isolationism,
1852 –
2) Meiji begin to modernize Japan
Spanish American War • US controls Philippines
1898 –
• US & Japan compete for Asia
Russo Japanese War 1)US negotiates peace
1905 –
2)Japan wins but feels cheated by US
3)Did US try to keep Japan weak?
1918 – Treaty of Versailles 1)Japan leaves early = does NOT get
promised land for fighting WWI.
2) US Pres. Wilson “War without victory”
1920s - Isolationism, 1) US isolated after WWI = Japan expands
Washington Conference, 2) Japanese rejects naval agreement
Kellogg Briand Pact, 3) Peace agreement = not enforced
Hawley Smoot Tariff
1937 –
144. DATES TO REMEMBER
Date Event Significance
Admiral Perry 1) Japan ends isolationism,
1852 –
2) Meiji begin to modernize Japan
Spanish American War • US controls Philippines
1898 –
• US & Japan compete for Asia
Russo Japanese War 1)US negotiates peace
1905 –
2)Japan wins but feels cheated by US
3)Did US try to keep Japan weak?
Treaty of Versailles 1)Japan leaves early = does NOT get
1918 –
promised land for fighting WWI.
2) US Pres. Wilson “War without victory”
Isolationism, 1)US isolated after WWI = Japan expands
1920s -
Washington Conference, 2)Japanese rejects naval agreement
Kellogg Briand Pact, 3)Peace agreement = not enforced
Hawley Smoot Tariff
1) Trade Embargo, 1)No sellings weapons, No loans to Japan
1937 –
2) Quarantine Speech, 2) Isolate aggressor
3) Panay Incident 3) Japanese bomb American ship in Yangtze River.
Japanese apologize and pay for damages
145. DATES TO REMEMBER
Date Event Significance
Admiral Perry 1) Japan ends isolationism,
1852 –
2) Meiji begin to modernize Japan
Spanish American War • US controls Philippines
1898 –
• US & Japan compete for Asia
Russo Japanese War 1)US negotiates peace
1905 –
2)Japan wins but feels cheated by US
3)Did US try to keep Japan weak?
Treaty of Versailles 1)Japan leaves early = does NOT get
1918 –
promised land for fighting WWI.
2) US Pres. Wilson “War without victory”
Isolationism, Washington 1)US isolated after WWI = Japan expands
1920s
Conference, Kellogg Briand 2)Japanese rejects naval agreement
Pact, Hawley Smoot Tariff 3)Peace agreement = not enforced
1937 – Trade Embargo, Quarantine 1)No sellings weapons, No loans to Japan
Speech, Panay Incident 2) Isolate aggressor
3) Japanese bomb American ship in Yangtze
River. Japanese apologize and pay for damages
1941 – Diplomatic ties cut
1941- Details leading to Pearl Harbor
146. Date Event Significance to U.S.
1929 24 July
1931 18 Sept.
1933 24 Feb.
1934 12 April
147. Date Event Significance to
U.S.
1929 24 July U.S. Approves
Kellogg-Briand
1931 18 Sept.
1933 24 Feb.
1934 12 April
148. Date Event Significance to
U.S.
1929 24 July U.S. Approves Outlaws war
Kellogg-Briand
1931 18 Sept.
1933 24 Feb.
1934 12 April
149. Date Event Significance to
U.S.
1929 24 July U.S. Approves Outlaws war
Kellogg-Briand
1931 18 Sept. Japan’s march
into Manchuria
1933 24 Feb.
1934 12 April
150. Date Event Significance to
U.S.
1929 24 July U.S. Approves Outlaws war
Kellogg-Briand
1931 18 Sept. Japan’s march U.S. does
into Manchuria nothing
1933 24 Feb.
1934 12 April
151. Date Event Significance to
U.S.
1929 24 July U.S. Approves Outlaws war
Kellogg-Briand
1931 18 Sept. Japan’s march U.S. does
into Manchuria nothing
1933 24 Feb. Japan walks out
of League
1934 12 April
152. Date Event Significance to
U.S.
1929 24 July U.S. Approves Outlaws war
Kellogg-Briand
1931 18 Sept. Japan’s march U.S. does
into Manchuria nothing
1933 24 Feb. Japan walks out No reprisals
of League
1934 12 April
153. Date Event Significance to
U.S.
1929 24 July U.S. Approves Outlaws war
Kellogg-Briand
1931 18 Sept. Japan’s march into U.S. does
Manchuria nothing
1933 24 Feb. Japan walks out of No reprisals
League
1934 12 April NYE Investigation
154. Date Event Significance to
U.S.
1929 24 July U.S. Approves Outlaws war
Kellogg-Briand
1931 18 Sept. Japan’s march into U.S. does nothing
Manchuria
1933 24 Feb. Japan walks out of No reprisals
League
1934 12 April NYE Investigation Munitions profits
Causes of war
156. 1935 31 Aug. 1st Neutrality Act
1935 9 Dec.
1936 29 Feb.
1937 1 May
1937 5 Oct.
157. 1935 31 Aug. 1st Neutrality Act Forbids arms to
belligerents
1935 9 Dec.
1936 29 Feb.
1937 1 May
1937 5 Oct.
158. 1935 31 Aug. 1st Neutrality Act Forbids arms to
belligerents
1935 9 Dec. Japan leaves 2nd
London Naval
Conference
1936 29 Feb.
1937 1 May
1937 5 Oct.
159. 1935 31 Aug. 1st Neutrality Act Forbids arms to
belligerents
1935 9 Dec. Japan leaves 2nd Only England &
London Naval U.S. agree to
Conference limitations
1936 29 Feb.
1937 1 May
1937 5 Oct.
160. 1935 31 Aug. 1st Neutrality Act Forbids arms to
belligerents
1935 9 Dec. Japan leaves 2nd Only England &
London Naval U.S. agree to
Conference limitations
1936 29 Feb. 2nd Neutrality Act
1937 1 May
1937 5 Oct.
161. 1935 31 Aug. 1st Neutrality Act Forbids arms to
belligerents
1935 9 Dec. Japan leaves 2nd Only England &
London Naval U.S. agree to
Conference limitations
1936 29 Feb. 2nd Neutrality Act No loans to
belligerents
1937 1 May
1937 5 Oct.
162. 1935 31 Aug. 1st Neutrality Act Forbids arms to
belligerents
1935 9 Dec. Japan leaves 2nd Only England &
London Naval U.S. agree to
Conference limitations
1936 29 Feb. 2nd Neutrality Act No loans to
belligerents
1937 1 May 3rd Neutrality Act
1937 5 Oct.
163. 1935 31 Aug. 1st Neutrality Act Forbids arms to
belligerents
1935 9 Dec. Japan leaves 2nd Only England &
London Naval U.S. agree to
Conference limitations
1936 29 Feb. 2nd Neutrality Act No loans to
belligerents
1937 1 May 3rd Neutrality Act No loans to
belligerents
1937 5 Oct.
164. 1935 31 Aug. 1st Neutrality Act Forbids arms to
belligerents
1935 9 Dec. Japan leaves 2nd Only England &
London Naval U.S. agree to
Conference limitations
1936 29 Feb. 2nd Neutrality Act No loans to
belligerents
1937 1 May 3rd Neutrality Act No loans to
belligerents
1937 5 Oct. FDR’s Speech –
Quarantine the
Aggressors
165. 1935 31 Aug. 1st Neutrality Act Forbids arms to
belligerents
1935 9 Dec. Japan leaves 2nd Only England &
London Naval U.S. agree to
Conference limitations
1936 29 Feb. 2nd Neutrality Act No loans to
belligerents
1937 1 May 3rd Neutrality Act No loans to
belligerents
1937 5 Oct. FDR’s Speech – Meets with
Quarantine the disinterest
Aggressors
166. Diplomacy Fails
July 25th, 1941 –
September 1941 –
October 1941 –
November 26th, 1941 –
November 30th, 1941-
167. Diplomacy Fails
July 25th, 1941 – FDR freezes all Japanese assets in the US.
Complete embargo on shipments going to Japan
prompted by Japanese aggression in South Indo-China.
September 1941 –
October 1941 –
November 26th, 1941 –
November 30th, 1941-
168. Diplomacy Fails
July 25th, 1941 – FDR freezes all Japanese assets in the US.
Complete embargo on shipments going to Japan
prompted by Japanese aggression in South Indo-China.
September 1941 – FDR turns down Conference in Hawaii
with Prince Konoye, the Japanese Premier since
Japanese will not make concessions in advance.
October 1941 –
November 26th, 1941 –
November 30th, 1941-
169. Diplomacy Fails
July 25th, 1941 – FDR freezes all Japanese assets in the US.
Complete embargo on shipments going to Japan
prompted by Japanese aggression in South Indo-China.
September 1941 – FDR turns down Conference in Hawaii
with Prince Konoye, the Japanese Premier since
Japanese will not make concessions in advance.
October 1941 – Konoye ministry falls to Tojo’s military coup.
November 26th, 1941 –
November 30th, 1941-
170. Diplomacy Fails
July 25th, 1941 – FDR freezes all Japanese assets in the US.
Complete embargo on shipments going to Japan
prompted by Japanese aggression in South Indo-China.
September 1941 – FDR turns down Conference in Hawaii
with Prince Konoye, the Japanese Premier since
Japanese will not make concessions in advance.
October 1941 – Konoye ministry falls to Tojo’s military coup.
November 26th, 1941 – Sec of State Hull demands Japan
drop all imperial claims & US will lift embargo and
unfreeze Japanese assets.
November 30th, 1941-
171. Diplomacy Fails
July 25th, 1941 – FDR freezes all Japanese assets in the US.
Complete embargo on shipments going to Japan
prompted by Japanese aggression in South Indo-China.
September 1941 – FDR turns down Conference in Hawaii
with Prince Konoye, the Japanese Premier since
Japanese will not make concessions in advance.
October 1941 – Konoye ministry falls to Tojo’s military coup.
November 26th, 1941 – Sec of State Hull demands Japan
drop all imperial claims & US will lift embargo and
unfreeze Japanese assets.
November 30th, 1941- Sec of Interior Ickes’ diary says Kai-
Shek & Churchill influence FDR to go against State Depts
call for a 6 month truce and limited trading of cotton,
gasoline and for other “civilian” purposes.
Back to main
172. Possible FRs:
1930s Isolation & Neutrality
1) What could the US have done to remain
neutral during WWII?
2) What evidence supports the belief that the US
(FDR) never intended to remain neutral?
3) Did the US provoke problems in order to have
war initially waged on them?
Back