Causes And Effects Of The Japanese War - 3355 Words

Causes and Effects of the Russo-Japanese War Prepared By: Joseph Coccia Submitted To: Dr. Eric Ash Course: Regional History 5333: The Soviet Union Virtual Campus, Summer Session Due date: May 10, 2015 The 1904-1905 war between Tsarists Russia and the Empire of Japan pitted a newly developed modern military against and poorly funded, organized, and outdated war machine. It to become the bloodiest war fought prior to World War I. The conflict gained universal recognition as the Russo-Japanese War. The Russians desired to expand eastward and reap the economic benefits created by the natural resources contained within China and Korea. In addition, and most importantly they desired year-round access to a warm-water†¦show more content†¦Throughout all of the years of war Russian leadership sought to maintain political control, expand westward, and defend its perceived sovereign territory. Russia, under the leadership of Peter the Great, looked to the West as a model for modernization and westernization. However, due to continued economic strife, and an inability to align with western nations Tsar Nicholas II, turned his attentions to the Far East. It was his hope that Russia wo uld be able to gain access to the warm-water of the Pacific Ocean at Port Arthur, Manchuria. By controlling the port Russia could institute a military presence, gain economic access to other Asian nations, and establish a gateway to the East. In 1898 the Qing, China’s ruling government leased the Liaodong Peninsula to Russia and by 1903 Russian expansionism into the Far East included Port Arthur. Russia anticipated open trade with China and Korea. The lease irked Japanese leadership and the citizens and would be a primary cause to the war. The leaders of Japan had previous dealing with westerners, and had grown tired of unequal treaties that they were forced to sign. Japan first encountered European traders in 1542. The Europeans introduced religion and Western technology to the Japanese. Even though the Europeans and Japanese considered each other barbarians, Japanese leadership realized that their system of governmental control was antiquated. A continuing