World Events Set Stage for Isolationism

1. What was the Japanese reaction to the Treaty of Versailles? (pgs. 4 - 5)

They didn't want to take part in the principles of the international cooperation espoused by Wilson and the League. And turned away from the West and towards a more nationalists stance.

2. Read the pull-out box on page 4 entitled, "Japan Becomes a Great Power." Cite specific evidence Japan was becoming a strong power that rivaled European & American interests. And, why specifically was Japan threatened by U.S. actions?

They decided to open themselves up to the world. They improved their navy, army and constitution, and banking system. They also defeated Russia in the Russo-Japanese War and then declared war on Germany. Japan wanted to take over the U.S. islands, for example, Hawaii.

3. Why was the Washington Naval Conference convened and what was accomplished? (pg. 6) (Note: Japan signs the agreement.)

Japan's growth as a naval power in the Pacific threatened the U.S. interests. The nine nations agreed to open trade with China, limit the size of naval ships, placed a moratorium on building new battleships, outlawed the use of poison gas, and limited the role of submarines in future wars.

4. The Senate's willingness to ratify the Kellogg-Briand Pact relected two strong and widely held sentiments. What were they? (pgs. 6 - 7)

Americans wanted to avoid being dragged into another European war and policy-makers continued to resist the obligations of permanent alliances and wished to preserve the ability to act when and where they wanted.

5. Why did Hitler enjoy popular support in Germany for most of the 1930s? Give three reasons. (pgs. 9 - 10)

He would enact new laws without approval of the president or parliament, they are controlling all aspects of German society, and when the president died he called himself the president.

6. Japan voiced its intentions to invade China for what two reasons? (pg. 10)

To obtain raw materials and increase their power.

7. Compare the Reichstag fire and the explosion on the Japanese railway in Manchuria. What did they accompllish?

Historians think that the Japanese bombed their own railway so that they could blame it on China and invade the country in both situations. They set up a puppet government.

8. Why was the united States unable to oppose Japan in the early 1930s with a significant military force? (pgs. 11 - 12)

The size of their military decreased drastically since WWI

9. Describe the major similarities and differences among liberal democracy, fascism, and
socialism. (pg. 8)

They all agree with one another