Autonomy and Responsibility: Japan Enters World War II World War II is considered by many to be the most significant event of the 20th century. The outcome of that war defines the modern world. World War II led to the tragic death of a huge population of people around the world. What led to the loss of so many lives? What led the nations of the world to embark on the path of war? This analysis seeks to answer these questions in terms of autonomy and responsibility and focuses on Japan. Japan was a major player in the war. As the aggressor of the war, Japan had gone into military action before the start of the European War and was not defeated by the Allied Powers until V-E Day. Several factors combined to create the war between the United States and Japan that led to the fateful bombing of Pearl Harbor. They were: Japan's imperialist foreign policy, the invasions of Manchuria and China, the signing of the Tripartite Pact. Japan's foreign policy before World War II was that of imperialism. Japan, seeking to increase its autonomy, was eager to gain control of new territories. Like the Europeans, especially Great Britain, Japan wanted to extend its borders beyond the seas. Imperial colonies would bring Japan the self-sufficiency it aspired to by providing new and expanded national resources. A Japanese empire would eliminate the need to import goods from other countries. To establish this empire, Japan decided to expand into Manchuria, China, and Southeast Asia, countries that were close to Japan and could be more easily invaded and taken over by the European powers that currently controlled them. National pride, another factor of imperialism, was very high in Japan. This pride is what drove the desire to au...... middle of paper ......Vail-Ballou Press, 1958), 35. Paul W. Schroeder, 56. Gus V. Griffin . "Timeline of World War II". World War II.http://www.qt.org/worldwar/timeline/. (March 5, 2000).7. Paul W. Schroeder, 228. Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress9. Herbert Feis, The Road to Pearl Harbor. As cited in Paul W. Schroeder, 210. Paul W. Schroeder, 311. Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress12. Tripartite pact. As cited in Paul W. Schroeder, 1913. Paul W. Schroeder, 19-2114. The Avalon project. William C. Fray and Lisa A. Spar, co-directors. “Pearl Harbor Documents” The Avalon Project at Yale Law School Documents in Law, History, and Diplomacy. http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/wwii/pmenu.htm. (March 5, 2000).15. Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress16. Gus V. Griffin