Japanese Expansion in East Asia 1931-1941
This unit will cover the second case study for the IB History Paper 1. In this unit we will examine the causes, key events and international response to Japan's military expansion up til the US declaration of war and the and the beginning of the Pacific theater of World War II. Our inquiry will be focused around the below key questions:
1. How did domestic developments in Japan (political instability, economic limitations, nationalism and militarism) impact Japanese government and drive its foreign policy goals?
2. How did the political developments in China encourage Japan to expand its sphere of influence?
3. What were the causes of the Manchurian invasion (1931) and how did the response of the League of Nations embolden further aggression?
4. Why did Japan invade the rest of China in 1937 and what impact did it have on China and Japan's political and diplomatic alliances?
5. How did the American response to Japanese aggression in China lead to increasing tensions that culminated in the attack on Pearl Harbor (1941) and the beginning of the Pacific War?
6. How do use and evaluate sources to analyze causality and consequences of historical events?
Resources:
The primary resources that we will be utilizing will be Interwar Years: Conflict and Cooperation 1919-1939 and Kenneth Pyle's Making of Modern Japan. We will also use selections from The Move to Global War: IB History Course Companion and a variety of past paper questions.
Assessments:
-
Formative
-
Class Discussions
-
Short Answer Questions
-
Partial and Complete Past Paper 1 questions
-
-
Summative
-
Paper 1 Timed in Class
-
Japanese Expansion in East Asia 1931-1941
Paper 1 Details
Duration: 1 hour
Weighting: 30% SL, 20% HL
Paper 1 is a source-based examination paper based on the prescribed subjects. Each prescribed subject consists of two specified case studies, and in each examination session, the paper will focus on one of the two case studies specified for each prescribed subject.
The paper will contain four sources for each prescribed subject. Sources will be primary or a mixture of primary and secondary, and may be written, pictorial or diagrammatic. The paper will consist of four questions for each prescribed subject, and students must answer all four questions from their chosen prescribed subject. Some questions will be answered using only evidence from one or more of the sources, as indicated. In other questions, students will be asked to use their own knowledge of the prescribed subject as well as evidence contained in the sources.
First Question, Part A (3 Marks): This question will test understanding of one of the sources.
First Question, Part B (2 Marks): This question will test understanding of one of the sources.
Second Question (4 Marks): This question will ask students to analyze the value and limitations of one of the sources. In their analysis of value and limitations, students should refer to the origin, purpose and content of the specified source.
Third Question (6 Marks): This question will ask students to analyse the value and limitations of one of the sources. In their analysis of value and limitations, students should refer to the origin, purpose and content of the specified source.
Fourth Question (9 Marks): This will be an evaluative question that asks students to draw on both the sources and their own knowledge in their evaluation.
The maximum mark for this paper is 24. The paper is marked using a paper-specific markscheme, except for the final question for each prescribed subject, which is marked using the generic mark bands that follow, in addition to a paper-specific markscheme.
Unit Calendar
The Calendar outlines the plan for our day to day in class activities and the homework that will be assigned. The expectation is that students complete all homework assignments for the next lesson unless otherwise indicated on the calendar. Homework assignments are written in red
While we would like this to be set in stone, unforeseen events and intriguing tangents might change the plan so if you are ever in doubt on what is due and when, please ask!
How did domestic developments in Japan (political instability, economic limitations, nationalism and militarism) impact Japanese government drive its foreign policy goals?
Welcome Back and Get to Work
Arrival of Commodore Perry and Crisis
Arrival of Commodore Perry Document Analysis
Read Meiji Restoration (Landes)
How did domestic developments in Japan (political instability, economic limitations, nationalism and militarism) impact Japanese government drive its foreign policy goals?
Meiji Restoration and Modernization
Charter Oath and Iwakura Missions
Constitution of 1889
Impact of Meiji Modernization Mind Map
(Pyle Reading)
Prepare 3 minute or Less Response to the below key question:
How did domestic developments in Japan (political instability, economic limitations, nationalism and militarism) impact Japanese government and drive its foreign policy goals?
How did domestic developments in Japan (political instability, economic limitations, nationalism and militarism) impact Japanese government drive its foreign policy goals?
Japanese Foreign Policy and Expansion in East Asia
Korea and the Sino-Japanese War (1894/5)
Russo-Japanese War (1904/1905)
Japan in World War I and the 21 Demands
Short Answer with Mark Scheme
(3 paragraphs): To what extent did Japan challenge the power of Western nations in East Asia by the early 20th Century?
How did the political developments in China encourage Japan to expand its sphere of influence?
Political Instability in China from 1911-1931
Websites
The Chinese Revolution and Chinese Communism 1949
Chinese Revolution Topics (Alpha History)
Videos
A Century of Revolution (PBS)-0:00- 30mins
Crash Course in History-0:00-4:30
Feature History-Chinese Civil War-0:00-8:20
Small Group Socratic Discussion on Key Question
What were the causes of the Manchurian invasion (1931) and how did the response of the League of Nations embolden further aggression?
Causes, Key Events and Consequences of Manchuria Invasion
International Response
(Lytton Report)
Paper 1 Practice
Complete paper 1 question 1's on Manchuria Crisis
Why did Japan invade the rest of China in 1937 and what impact did it have on China and Japan's political and diplomatic alliances?
Review Practice Paper 1 on Manchurian Invasion (Peer Evaluation)
(21:00-28:00)
Causes, Key Events, and Consequences of the Second
Sino-Japanese War
Complete practice paper 1 Question 2 in partners
How did the American response to Japanese aggression in China lead to increasing tensions that culminated in the attack on Pearl Harbor (1941) and the beginning of the Pacific War?
To what extent was the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 "unprovoked and dastardly"?
Use the source below and 4-5 others to create a 3 minute speech (pairs) giving your answer.
Review and Practice of Paper 1 Question 3
Complete Practice Question 3 Review
How do we use and evaluate sources to analyze causality and consequences of historical events?
Question 3 Practice and Review
Question 4 Introduction and Practice
Complete Question 4 Practice
How do we and evaluate sources to analyze causality and consequences of historical events?
Share Question 4 Practice
Strategies for Success
Content Review/Notes Audit
Choose Your Own Adventure Review
Revise for in-class Paper 1
How do use and evaluate sources to analyze causality and consequences of historical events?
In-Class Paper 1