Elements for a Pacific War essays

Elements for a Pacific War essays Japan had several reasons to declare war on the US and several other countries, both diplomatically and militarily. Here I will discuss a few of them. Oil: Oil was very important to the Japanese. With their small surface area and lack of natural resources, Japan needed outside sources to get its raw materials. Having accomplished getting rich coal mines in Manchuria in the 1930s, the United States placed an embargo on oil and other resources vital to Japan on the country until they pulled out of Manchuria. This never happened so Japan just decided to acquire French IndoChinas oil fields. Food: Once again Japans limited surface area prevented the country from growing much food to feed its rapidly growing population. China seemed the obvious answer to this problem. With extensive rice fields and proximity to home, Japan saw China as a way to feed hungry mouths around the country. Stability threats: The threat of the United States jumping in and stopping Japan from taking over its neighbors and taking their resources was just too great for the Japanese military commanders to let nothing be done about it. They decided that a surprise attack against the Pacific naval fleet along with fast attacks against other targets would suffice enough to be able to repel any counterattack the Allies may have. Tradition: The Japanese have always lived up to a moral code called Bushido or way of the warrior. This made the Japanese more ready and more prone to conflict and fighting. They were soldiers who didnt have fear whenever they went to fight a battle because to them dying in battle meant you went to Heaven. Opportunity: No country would attack another unless they were either suicidal or they thought they had a very good chance of winning. Japan was a little of both, they were ready to fight to the death and they saw an opportunity to gain more territory ...