Japan in World War II

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AP World History: Modern › Japan in World War II

Questions 1 - 9
1

In 1931 the Japanese army invaded __________.

Manchuria

Hong Kong

Siberia

Singapore

New Zealand

Explanation

1931 could reasonably be seen as the beginning of World War Two in East Asia. This was the year when Japan invaded mainland China, occupying the territory of Manchuria and insituting a puppet-government that lasted until the end of the war in 1945.

2

Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution, signed in 1947, __________.

permanently renounces Japan's sovereign right to use war as means of settling international disputes

declares that the Japanese military is now under the direct, and permanent, control of the United States of America

provided relief and support for victims of American bombing attacks towards the end of World War Two

stipulates that the Japanese government is subject to the support of and is accountable to the American government

limits the size of the Japanese bureaucracy to less than one percent of the population

Explanation

Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution is particularly important for understanding Japanese-American relations and Japanese-Chinese relations. The Article officially and permanently renounces Japan’s right to maintain an armed force for the purpose of using war to settle international disputes. According to the Article, Japan is effectively forbidden, in its constitution, from engaging in aggressive war and can only defend itself.

3

Which of these is an island that makes up part of the country of Japan?

Honshu

Hong Kong

Seoul

Tahiti

Osaka

Explanation

The only one of these answers that is an island that makes up part of the country of Japan is Honshu. The four main islands that make up the nation of Japan are Honshu, Hokkaido, Shikoku, and Kyushu. Honshu is the primary island that contains most of the nation’s largest cities, such as Tokyo. Seoul is the capital of South Korea, Osaka is a city in Japan, Hong Kong is an island off the coast of China, and Tahiti is an island nation in the South Pacific.

4

Which of these battles is considered the largest naval battle of World War Two?

The Battle of Leyte Gulf

The Battle of Midway

The Battle of Omaha

The Battle of Bataan

The Battle of Iwo Jima

Explanation

The Battle of Leyte Gulf was the largest naval battle of the Second World War. It was fought between the combined Allied forces, led by America and Australia, and the Japanese Imperial Navy. The battle resulted in an overwhelming defeat for the Japanese Imperial Navy, which was never again able to engage the Allied powers in large numbers.

5

Who was the Japanese Emperor during World War Two?

Hirohito

Chiang Kai-Shek

Meji

Tokugawa Ieyasu

Sejong the Great

Explanation

The Japanese Emperor during the Second World War was Emperor Hirohito. He encouraged Japanese militarism and argued that he was divinely ordained to rule the nation. Following Japanese surrender, Hirohito renounced his divinity and agreed to constitutional rule.

6

The Bataan Death March was a World War Two atrocity committed by the __________ against __________ soldiers.

Japanese . . . American and Filipino

Japanese . . . Chinese and Filipino

Chinese . . . Japanese and Korean

Chinese . . . American and Japanese

Japanese . . . British and French

Explanation

The Bataan Death March happened in 1942 after the Battle of Bataan in the Philippines. It involved the forced transfer of American and Filipino prisoners of war by the Japanese Imperial army, in which several thousand American and Filipino soldiers perished. It was later deemed a war crime by the Allied military commission.

7

Which of the following individuals is the Japanese Prime Minister who led Japan during World War Two and authorized the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor?

Hideki Tojo

Hirohito

Isoroku Yamamoto

Takano Sadayoshi

Tamon Yamaguchi

Explanation

Hideki Tojo led Japan during the Second World War as Prime Minister. He authorized the attacks on Pearl Harbor that brought the United States of America into the Pacific and Atlantic theatres of World War Two.

8

Japanese Admiral Isokoru Yamamoto is famous for all of the following EXCEPT __________.

personally surrendering the American forces at the end of World War Two

leading the Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor

leading the Japanese at the Battle of Midway

developing pioneering naval aviation

He is famous for all of these.

Explanation

Admiral Isokoru Yamamoto is one of the most famous military commanders of World War Two. He led the Japanese fleet in the attack on Pearl Harbor and coordinated the fleet at the Battle of Midway. He is also widely remembered for the pioneering developments in aviation that he fostered in the Japanese navy, namely the use of aircraft carriers and small planes used as the primary weapons of naval engagements. He is not, however, remembered for personally surrendering to the American forces at the end of World War Two, as his plane was shot down by an American pilot in 1943.

9

Japan began its invasion of mainland Asia in 1931 by attacking __________.

Manchuria

Cambodia

Hong Kong

South Korea

Australia

Explanation

The Japanese invasion of mainland Asia began in 1931 with the Japanese invasion and conquest of Manchuria. The occupation of Manchuria, which was re-named Manchukuo, lasted until the Japanese defeat at the end of World War Two.

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