what was one reason japan invaded Manchuria in 1931
A. the axis powers had agreed to divide up most of Europe and Asia
B. japan wanted to build an empire like the western powers
C. the Chinese provoked the war by attacking japan directly
D. Japan wanted to avenge its defeat from the first Sino-Japanese war
B. Japan wanted to build an empire like the western powers
what is an example of appeasement
A. forbidding the sale of arms to any nation at war
B. the US cutting off Japanese oil reserves
C. allowing Hitler to annex the Sudetenland as part of the Munich Agreement
D. the signing of the tripartite agreement
C. allowing Hitler to annex the Sudetenland as part of the Munich Agreement
The correct answer is B. Japan wanted to build an empire like the western powers.
To arrive at this answer, you can go through a process of elimination:
Option A. The statement that the axis powers agreed to divide up most of Europe and Asia is not accurate. The Axis Powers, which primarily consisted of Germany, Italy, and Japan, did have a goal of expanding their territories, but such an agreement to divide Europe and Asia does not exist. Therefore, option A is not the reason Japan invaded Manchuria in 1931.
Option C. The Chinese directly attacking Japan is also not an accurate reason. The incident that sparked the Second Sino-Japanese War was the Mukden Incident in 1931, commonly believed to be a false-flag operation by the Japanese military to justify their invasion of Manchuria. Consequently, option C is not the reason behind Japan's invasion.
Option D. A desire for revenge arising from the First Sino-Japanese War is not the primary reason for Japan's invasion of Manchuria. While the First Sino-Japanese War did give Japan control over Taiwan and influence in Korea, it wasn't the direct reason behind the invasion of Manchuria.
That leaves us with option B. The desire to build an empire, similar to the Western powers, was indeed one of the main motivations behind Japan's invasion of Manchuria in 1931. At that time, Japan was experiencing economic and political pressure, and sought to secure natural resources and expand its influence by conquering foreign territories, just as Western powers had done.
Thus, the correct answer is B. Japan wanted to build an empire like the western powers.