Causes and Course of the First Sino-Japanese War (1894–1895)
- The war began over control of Korea, which both China and Japan viewed as strategically vital.
- Japan, modernized under the Meiji reforms, had built a strong army and navy modeled on Western powers.
- China’s military lagged behind due to failed reforms like the Self-Strengthening Movement.
- The immediate cause was the Donghak Rebellion (1894) in Korea, prompting both nations to send troops.
- Japan’s superior organization and technology led to quick victories on land and sea, including at Pyongyang and the Yalu River.
Definition
Donghak Rebellion
a peasant uprising in Korea that triggered foreign intervention and war.
Definition
Modernization
- The process of updating technology, industry, and infrastructure to meet new economic and social needs.
Case study
The First Sino-Japanese War (1894–1895)
Japanese Strategy and Victory
- Japan’s navy, trained along British lines, quickly destroyed China’s Beiyang Fleet.
- The Japanese army used railways and telegraphs effectively to coordinate campaigns.
- The fall of Port Arthur (1894) and Weihaiwei (1895) marked major turning points.
- Japan’s victory showed the success of Meiji military reforms and national unity.
Results of the War
- The Treaty of Shimonoseki (1895) forced China to cede Taiwan and the Liaodong Peninsula and recognize Korean independence.
- Japan gained the right to trade in Chinese ports and received a large indemnity.
- However, the Triple Intervention by Russia, France, and Germany forced Japan to return Liaodong, fueling resentment toward the West.
- The victory signaled Japan’s arrival as a modern power and exposed China’s weakness.
The Russo-Japanese War (1904–1905)
- Tensions grew as both Japan and Russia sought influence in Manchuria and Korea.
- After failed negotiations, Japan launched a surprise attack on the Russian fleet at Port Arthur in February 1904.
- The war was fought on land in Manchuria and at sea in the Tsushima Strait, where Japan achieved a decisive naval victory.
- Japan’s modern army and efficient supply systems outperformed the larger but poorly organized Russian forces.
- The war ended with the Treaty of Portsmouth (1905), mediated by the United States.
Definition
Manchuria
- a region in northeastern China rich in resources, contested by Japan and Russia.
Definition
Treaty of Portsmouth
- the peace agreement that ended the Russo-Japanese War, brokered by U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt.
Case study
The Russo-Japanese War (1904–1905)
Japanese Military and Diplomatic Successes
- Japan’s army captured Port Arthur after a long siege, proving its endurance and organization.
- The Battle of Mukden (1905) became one of the largest land battles in history at that time.
- The Battle of Tsushima destroyed nearly the entire Russian Baltic Fleet, shocking Europe.
- Japan’s success made it the first Asian power to defeat a European nation in modern warfare.
Outcomes and International Impact
- The Treaty of Portsmouth gave Japan control of Korea, southern Sakhalin, and leasing rights in Port Arthur.
- Japan replaced Russia as the dominant power in East Asia.
- The victory inspired nationalism across Asia, proving Western domination could be challenged.
- Domestically, Japan’s victory increased military prestige and public pride but strained the economy.
Regional and Global Impact of Japan’s Military Victories
- Japan’s victories shifted the balance of power in East Asia from China and Russia to Japan.
- Korea became a Japanese protectorate (1905) and was later annexed in 1910.
- Japan’s growing power alarmed Western nations but also earned international respect and treaty revision.
- Asian nationalists, especially in India and Southeast Asia, viewed Japan as a symbol of resistance to imperialism.
- However, Japan’s success encouraged imperialist ambitions, setting the stage for future expansion into Manchuria and China.
Definition
Protectorate
- a country controlled and protected by a stronger power.
Definition
Imperialism
the policy of expanding a nation’s power through colonization or military force.
Common Mistake
- Students often mix up the Sino-Japanese War and Russo-Japanese War, forgetting that the first was against China and the second against Russia.
- Many focus only on military battles without explaining why the wars increased Japan’s influence in the region.
- Some ignore how foreign intervention (Triple Intervention, Treaty of Portsmouth) affected Japan’s sense of pride and future ambitions.
Exam technique
- Use the structure cause → event → result → impact when analyzing each war.
- Include specific treaties and dates (Shimonoseki 1895, Portsmouth 1905) to show detailed knowledge.
Theory of Knowledge
- How does military success influence a nation’s identity and worldview?
- Can rapid modernization lead to both progress and aggression?
Self review
- To what extent did Japan’s victories in war transform its position in East Asia?
- Assess the causes and consequences of the Russo-Japanese War.
- Compare the regional impact of the First Sino-Japanese War and the Russo-Japanese War.
