The Manchurian crisis

• Who called the 1930s the Dark Valley?

  Piers Brendon
• Why did Piers Brendon refer to the 1930s as the Dark Valley?

  It was a period of tension and mistrust that led to the Second World War.
• What were the key events of the Manchurian Crisis?

  • September 1931: Japanese army bombed a railway in China.
  • 1932: Japan installed a puppet government in Manchuria.
  • Japan ignored the League's inquiry led by Lord Lytton.
  • February 1933: Japan invaded Jehol.
  • By 1937, Japan had invaded most of China.

  
• What was Japan's justification for invading Manchuria?

  Japan claimed it was rich in natural resources and needed to rebuild its economy.

  
• What did the League of Nations conclude about Japan's actions in Manchuria?

  The League concluded that Japan was wrong in its actions.

  
• What was the response of Japan to the League's inquiry led by Lord Lytton?

  Japan chose to ignore the inquiry's conclusions.

  
• How did the League of Nations' actions affect Hitler and Mussolini?

  The League's ineffectiveness gave them confidence to pursue their own expansionist agendas.

  
• What types of sanctions did the League of Nations consider against Japan?

  • Moral Sanctions: Condemnation of Japan's actions.
  • Economic Sanctions: Stopping trade with Japan.
  • Military Sanctions: Lack of an army to enforce actions.

  
• Why did the League of Nations not impose economic sanctions on Japan?

  Countries were reluctant to risk losing vital trade with Japan due to the Great Depression.
• What was the consequence of Japan's invasion of Manchuria by 1937?

  Japan had conquered the majority of China and would not leave until the end of World War II.

  
• What did Japan do after leaving the League of Nations?

  Japan was no longer bound by the League's Covenant or the principle of collective security.
• What were the reasons behind Japan's invasion of Manchuria?

  • Rich in raw materials for economic rebuilding.
  • Tariffs from the USA made markets inaccessible.
  • Belief that no one would dare stop them as a powerful League member.
  • Need for materials to fuel industrial development.
  • Overpopulation in Japan necessitated expansion.

  
• How did the Great Depression influence the actions of dictatorships in the 1930s?

  Dictatorships promised to fight the Depression by seizing foreign territory and resources.
• Which countries were mentioned as democracies that were at their weakest during the 1930s?

  Britain, USA, and France.
• What was the impact of the Wall Street Crash in 1929 on the global economy?

  • Triggered the Great Depression.
  • Caused widespread economic hardship.
  • Led to political instability and the rise of dictatorships.