The Depression and the Manchurian crisis Cambridge IGCSE History revision
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In plain words
In 1931 a bomb went off beside a railway line in northern China. It did little damage to the track and a great deal to the League of Nations, because it showed the world what would happen if a great power simply said no.
9 things to know
- The Wall Street Crash of October 1929 began a worldwide economic depression. Trade collapsed and unemployment soared.
- The Depression made the League's work harder. Countries put their own economies first and were unwilling to stop trading with an aggressor. In Germany and Japan it helped extreme, militaristic leaders into power.
- Japan was hit hard, because its exports collapsed. Army leaders argued that Japan should take the land and raw materials that it needed by force.
- Manchuria was a province of China, rich in coal and iron. Japan already controlled the South Manchurian Railway there.
- In September 1931 there was an explosion on the railway at Mukden. The Japanese army blamed the Chinese and used the incident as an excuse to overrun Manchuria. In 1932 it set up a puppet state called Manchukuo.
- China appealed to the League. The League sent a commission under Lord Lytton to investigate. Its report took a year, and was published in late 1932. It said that Japan had acted unlawfully and should leave.
- In February 1933 the Assembly voted to accept the report. Japan refused, left the League, and went on to invade more of China.
- The League did nothing more. Sanctions would have been useless without the USA, Japan's main trading partner. Britain and France would not risk a war on the other side of the world.
- Consequences: the League was shown to be powerless against a strong country. Mussolini and Hitler watched and learned.
Worked example
Explain why the League failed to stop Japan in Manchuria. This is a 6-mark question.
- It was slow: the Lytton Commission took a year to report, by which time Japan controlled Manchuria.
- It had no effective weapons: sanctions were pointless without the USA, and the League had no army.
- Its leading members were unwilling: in the Depression, Britain and France would not risk trade or a distant war.
Tips and tricks
- Dates to learn: September 1931, the Mukden incident. February 1933, the vote, after which Japan left the League.
- Link Manchuria to the Depression. The Depression explains both why Japan invaded and why the League's members would not act.
It lands in your notebook with its questions as flashcards.
The Depression and the Manchurian crisis: 5 questions and answers
These are the quiz’s questions. Do the quiz first, then come back here for the ones that got you.
What event began the worldwide Depression?
Trade collapsed around the world.
What did Japan call the puppet state it set up in Manchuria?
It was set up in 1932.
Who led the League's commission of inquiry?
His report took a year.
How did Japan react when the League accepted the report?
It then went on to invade more of China.
Why would economic sanctions against Japan have been ineffective?Stretch
Japan could have carried on trading with the USA.
Quiz
5 questions
Tap an answer and you’ll see straight away whether it’s right, and why.
Worksheet
3 questions, 20 marks. Write your answers on paper, then check them.
The Depression and the Manchurian crisis
Cambridge IGCSE History 0470 · 20 marks · papermunch.org
Name ______________________________ Date ______________
What happened at Mukden in 1931?[4]
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There was an explosion on the Japanese-controlled South Manchurian Railway. The Japanese army blamed Chinese soldiers. It used this as an excuse to invade and take over Manchuria. In 1932 Japan set up the puppet state of Manchukuo.
Why did the Depression make the League's work more difficult?[6]
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Countries were suffering from falling trade and high unemployment, so they were unwilling to impose sanctions that would damage their own economies. They would not spend money on armed forces to act for the League. The Depression also brought aggressive governments to power, as in Germany and Japan, who saw conquest as a way out of their problems.
"The League failed in Manchuria because it was too slow." How far do you agree?[10]
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Slow: the Lytton Commission took about a year to report, and by then Japan was in full control. Other reasons: the USA was not a member, so sanctions would not work; the League had no army; Britain and France were unwilling to act during the Depression and far from Asia; Japan was a powerful permanent member of the Council. Judgement: slowness mattered, but the deeper reason was that no member was willing or able to force Japan out.
Answers: The Depression and the Manchurian crisis
- 1. There was an explosion on the Japanese-controlled South Manchurian Railway. The Japanese army blamed Chinese soldiers. It used this as an excuse to invade and take over Manchuria. In 1932 Japan set up the puppet state of Manchukuo.
- 2. Countries were suffering from falling trade and high unemployment, so they were unwilling to impose sanctions that would damage their own economies. They would not spend money on armed forces to act for the League. The Depression also brought aggressive governments to power, as in Germany and Japan, who saw conquest as a way out of their problems.
- 3. Slow: the Lytton Commission took about a year to report, and by then Japan was in full control. Other reasons: the USA was not a member, so sanctions would not work; the League had no army; Britain and France were unwilling to act during the Depression and far from Asia; Japan was a powerful permanent member of the Council. Judgement: slowness mattered, but the deeper reason was that no member was willing or able to force Japan out.