Manchurian Incident

Definition

The Manchurian Incident was a staged event that served as a pretext for the Japanese invasion and occupation of Manchuria in 1931. It marked a significant turning point in the lead-up to World War II, as it demonstrated Japan's growing aggression and disregard for international law.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The Manchurian Incident began on September 18, 1931, when the Japanese Kwantung Army staged a false-flag attack on a Japanese-owned railway line in Manchuria, blaming it on Chinese dissidents.
2. In the aftermath of the staged attack, the Kwantung Army rapidly invaded and occupied Manchuria, establishing the puppet state of Manchukuo with the last emperor of China, Puyi, as its nominal ruler.
3. The League of Nations condemned Japan's actions in Manchuria, but was unable to effectively intervene or stop the invasion, highlighting the organization's growing ineffectiveness in the face of aggressive nationalism.
4. The Manchurian Incident marked a significant shift in Japan's foreign policy, as it transitioned from a more moderate, cooperative stance to a more militant, expansionist approach that would eventually lead to its involvement in World War II.
5. The Manchurian Incident was a crucial precursor to the Second Sino-Japanese War, which began in 1937 and eventually became a major theater of World War II, drawing in the United States and other global powers.

Review Questions

• Explain the significance of the Manchurian Incident in the context of the lead-up to World War II.
  • The Manchurian Incident was a pivotal event that demonstrated Japan's growing aggression and disregard for international law. By staging a false-flag attack and rapidly invading and occupying Manchuria, Japan established the puppet state of Manchukuo, which highlighted the ineffectiveness of the League of Nations and foreshadowed Japan's increasingly militant and expansionist foreign policy in the years leading up to World War II. The Manchurian Incident marked a critical turning point that set the stage for the Second Sino-Japanese War and the broader conflict of World War II.
• Describe the role of the Kwantung Army in the Manchurian Incident and its aftermath.
  • The Kwantung Army, the Japanese military unit stationed in Manchuria, was the driving force behind the Manchurian Incident. They orchestrated the staged attack on the Japanese-owned railway line, using it as a pretext to rapidly invade and occupy Manchuria. The Kwantung Army then established the puppet state of Manchukuo, with the last emperor of China, Puyi, installed as its figurehead ruler. This action demonstrated the Kwantung Army's autonomy and disregard for the Japanese government's more moderate foreign policy, foreshadowing the military's increasing influence and the country's shift towards a more aggressive, expansionist stance in the lead-up to World War II.
• Analyze the impact of the League of Nations' response, or lack thereof, to the Manchurian Incident and its implications for the organization's effectiveness.
  • The League of Nations' response to the Manchurian Incident highlighted the organization's growing ineffectiveness in the face of aggressive nationalism. Despite condemning Japan's actions, the League was ultimately powerless to intervene or stop the invasion and occupation of Manchuria. This failure to take decisive action undermined the League's credibility and demonstrated its inability to maintain peace and security, as it had been established to do after World War I. The League's impotence in the Manchurian Incident foreshadowed its eventual collapse and the inability of the international community to prevent the outbreak of World War II, as nations increasingly prioritized their own interests over collective security.

Related terms

Kwantung Army: The Japanese military unit stationed in Manchuria that orchestrated the Manchurian Incident and subsequent invasion.

League of Nations:

The international organization established after World War I to maintain peace and security, which condemned Japan's actions in Manchuria but was ultimately powerless to stop the invasion.

Puppet State of Manchukuo: The new state established by Japan in Manchuria after the invasion, with the last emperor of China, Puyi, installed as its figurehead ruler.