What was the relationship between America and Japan?
a. Japan continued to industrialize and sought peaceful economic and diplomatic relationships globally to access more raw materials and markets for their products.
b. Japan notably strengthened its connections with Manchuria and the U.S. In Manchuria, Japan accessed essential resources like grains, coal, and iron ore, while it imported petroleum, steel, scrap iron, and other materials from the U.S. However, by the end of the decade, Japan faced resource shortages, a growing population, and domestic economic depression.
c. Evaluating its situation, Japan deemed China and Russia weaker and opted for military expansion over peaceful trade and diplomacy. Japan swiftly took control of Manchuria by 1932, establishing it as a puppet state.
d. In 1940, the U.S. imposed economic sanctions on Japan, including bans on exporting iron ore, scrap iron, and steel, aiming to curb Japan's imperialistic ambitions in China and Indochina, but these measures were unsuccessful.