Modern+History+Year+12

=Modern Japan. =

Why study Japanese History? Why study history?

To understand people and societies To explain why the world is the way it is Because it’s fun and interesting!

To learn from our mistakes: "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it” - George Santayana Why study Japanese history? Japan has the world's 3rd-largest economy (behind the US and China). Japan cannot officially declare war! (Yet it has a modern and extensive military). Japan has the 2nd lowest homicide rate, highest life expectancy and the 3rd lowest infant mortality rate in the world. Why?

Goto Google Earth and study the geographical nature of Japan.

Goto Google maps and observe the close proximity of Japan to China, Korea, Russia, USA.

__Traditional Japanese Society__ __Cultural Values__ Chinese originated cultural influence – religion (Daoism + Confucianism) + customs (calligraphy, the calendar + tea drinking) Confucianism – acceptance and harmony in social behavior Daoism – importance of harmony with nature and the universe __Buddhism__ Introduced by Korea and China Main religion; Government gave priests authority over cemeteries – associated with funeral rites

__Zen Buddism__

1. devotion to duty
2. meditation and prayer 3. scholarship 4. a peaceful, uncluttered mind - freedom 5. compassion 6. nirvana 7. devotion to nature 10. A Zen Buddhist Pagoda

__Shintoism__ Shintoism is a religion, but without set rules, rather with beliefs in spirits and practices.

During the 7 th Century, Shintoism was made into a cult which combined elements of Buddhism and Confucian Tradition.

__Family Structure__ The father is the head of the family, and other members are ranked by age and gender. The concept of ‘saving face’ is valued in Japanese society so that one does not offend or embarrass others while interacting. The individual is expected to contribute to their family, workplace, and society as a whole.

__Feudal Japan__ Feudal system emerged in the 11th Century

Heirarchy: Emporer - Shogun (commander) - Daimyo (local lords) had the real power and developed their own power, based on their military might

The Daimyo maintained a group of warriors known as ‘Samurai’, who were soldiers bound by a strict code of conduct, known as ‘The Way of the Warrior’ or ‘Bushido’. __  The Tokugawa Shogunate __ Tokugawa family ruled Japan from 1603 until 1868  It also known as the Edo period Relations with the West Forbade Japanese from going abroad (punishable by death) Prohibited construction of large ships Expelled Europeans from Japan Forbade the import of foreign books  __ The Samurai __ •Samurai 侍 (those who serve) •The Rise of the Samurai •In the 7th century, conscript army were commonly based on Chinese examples •In the 10th century, clans recruited warriors for permanent armies: samurai. • •Samurai - Fought mainly for land. •Only 8% of the population • •Only a samurai was allowed to carry a katana in Japan.

•Bushido •“way of the warrior” •Conduct themselves with “calmness, fairness, justice, and politeness”. •Wanted “a proper death in battle” for the cause of their lord. • •Samurai unswervingly obey their daimyo. Seppuku: An honourable form of suicide for defeated or dishonour: –Sometimes, when a samurai was defeated after a good fight, the victor would allow the opponent this honorable death.

•Decline of the Samurai •During the Tokugawa period there was less need for warriors, so most samurai became bureaucrats, artist or teachers. • •By 1868, Japan’s feudal era ended and the samurai class was abolished. •Samurai Reaction to the Meiji Restoration •Satsuma rebellion in 1877 •Brought an end to the Samurai class.

JAPAN: The Meiji Restoration, Japanese Imperialism, __<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;">Japanese Culture and Economy __ <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;"> Religion ¤ <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; font-size: 11pt;">Mixture of native Shintoism (living spirits in all things) and Chinese Confucianism (based on the teachings of Confucius) <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; font-size: 11pt;">Economy ¤ <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; font-size: 11pt;">Growing internal trade during the Edo period ¤ <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; font-size: 11pt;">Merchants began to surpass the samurai in wealth <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; font-size: 11pt;">Rigid social stratification ¤ <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; font-size: 11pt;">But these limits were being tested by the end of the Tokugawa shogunate <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline;">End of Japanese Isolation <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline;">U.S. Commodore Matthew Perry (1794-1858) ¤ <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; font-size: 11pt;">1853 – gunboat diplomacy ¤ <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; font-size: 11pt;">1854 – trade treaty with the United States ¤ <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; font-size: 11pt;">Great Britain, Holland (Netherlands), and Russia soon gained similar trading rights <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline;">Townsend Harris (1804-1878) ¤ <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; font-size: 11pt;">United States Consul General to Japan ¤ <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; font-size: 11pt;">1858 – commercial treaty between U.S. and Japan ¤ <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; font-size: 11pt;">European powers soon gained similar rights in Japan ¨ __<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; font-size: 11pt;">Meiji Restoration __

¨ <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; font-size: 11pt;">Shogun forced to relinquish power ¨ <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; font-size: 11pt;">Power officially in hands of Emperor Mutsuhito ¤ <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; font-size: 11pt;">His reign was called the “Meiji” <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline;">Japan westernized ¤ <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; font-size: 11pt;">Quickly went to work crafting a constitution ¨ <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; font-size: 11pt;">Governmental Reforms ¨ <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; font-size: 11pt;">Diet – Japan’s bicameral legislature ¤ <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; font-size: 11pt;">First convened – 1889 ¨ <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; font-size: 11pt;">Meiji (Imperial) Constitution ¤ <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; font-size: 11pt;">Adopted – 1890 ¤ <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; font-size: 11pt;">Followed until the end of World War II <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline;">Economic Reforms ¨ <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; font-size: 11pt;">Abolition of feudalism ¨ <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; font-size: 11pt;">Currency (yen) adopted, 1872 ¨ <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; font-size: 11pt;">Encouragement of foreign trade ¨ <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; font-size: 11pt;">Expansion and encouragement of industrialization ¨ <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; font-size: 11pt;">Growth of factories ¤ **<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; font-size: 11pt;">First large factories manufactured textiles ** ¤ **<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; font-size: 11pt;">First textile factory workers were girls and women ** ¨ <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; font-size: 11pt;">Land reform ¨ <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; font-size: 11pt;">Zaibatsu (large conglomerates) built and expanded ¨ <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; font-size: 11pt;">Military Reforms ¨ <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; font-size: 11pt;">Before the Meiji era: Armies were run by local daimyo and thus not subservient to a central government ¨ <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; font-size: 11pt;">Meiji era: Modern army and navy established which were loyal to the Japanese government ¨ <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; font-size: 11pt;">Used Prussia (Germany) as primary model ¨ <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; font-size: 11pt;">Firm belief that if Japan was to be taken seriously by Western powers, and was to avoid China’s fate, Japan would have to compete militarily ¨ <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; font-size: 11pt;">Conscription (1873) – all men had to serve for three years after turning twenty-one ¨ <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; font-size: 11pt;">Social Reforms ¨ <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; font-size: 11pt;">Universal compulsory elementary education ¨ <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; font-size: 11pt;">Universities established ¨ <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; font-size: 11pt;">Westernization of many laws ¨ <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; font-size: 11pt;">Social Changes ¨ <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; font-size: 11pt;">Adoption of Western architecture, fashions, music, and literary styles (magazines and novels) ¨ <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; font-size: 11pt;">Diversity of intellectual and political thought ¨ <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; font-size: 11pt;">Growing independence and empowerment of women ¨ <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; font-size: 11pt;">Movement of peasants from countryside to factories ¨ <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; font-size: 11pt;">Imperialization of Japan ¨ <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; font-size: 11pt;">Why? ¤ <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; font-size: 11pt;">Lack of fertile land for agriculture ¤ <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; font-size: 11pt;">Markets for finished products ¤ <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; font-size: 11pt;">Need for the raw materials of industry ¤ <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; font-size: 11pt;">Population growth ¤ <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; font-size: 11pt;">Response to Western imperialism ¨ __<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; font-size: 11pt;">Meiji Japan at War __ ¨ <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; font-size: 11pt;">- An Imperial Rescript professing total obedience to the state was kept in every school and regularly read out loud. ¨ <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; font-size: 11pt;">- Patriotism and self sacrifice were noble and fundamental traits to be pursued by all citizens. ¨ __<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; font-size: 11pt;">Invasion of Korea __ ¨ <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; font-size: 11pt;">The 1592-98 //<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; font-size: 11pt;">Imjin War //<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; font-size: 11pt;"> sprang from the desire of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the samurai warlord who reunited Japan after centuries of civil war, to conquer China and dominate Asia. ¨ <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; font-size: 11pt;">In 1873 sections of the Japanese elite were prepared to invade Korea after insulting remarks were made about the Meiji government.

=__ The Sino-Japanese War __= ¡Imperialism The policy of extending the rule or authority of one nation over foreign countries, or of acquiring and holding colonies and dependencies. This may, or may not include, include military, cultural and economic domination.

¡Japan as a Global Power By 1894 Japan had transformed itself into a major world power. In 1854 Japan was literally bullied out of seclusion. In 1904-5 Japan crushed the military forces of the Russian Empire.

A feature of late nineteenth-century Japan was growing militarism and nationalism. ¡ ¡Why embark on military expansion? §Lack of fertile land for agriculture §Markets for finished products §Need for the raw materials of industry §Population growth §Response to Western imperialism ¡ __ Sino-Japanese War __ - 1894-1895 - First significant military victory of modern Japan. - Korean revolt against ruling family caused major instability. -China marched into Korea on the pretext of stabilising the situation. . - Japan objected to the military move and saw this as Chinese expansion into an area of Japanese influence.

¡The outcome of the war: §Japan sent troops into Korea and in a surprise attack on 29 July 1894 they sank a Chinese troopship. §Japan won the war in only nine months §Japan gained Taiwan, ports in China, and Korea became a protectorate of Japan. ¡ ¡The Treaty of Shimonoseki ¡Article 1: China recognised the independence of Korea. ¡Articles 2 & 3: Japan obtained control of Formosa (Taiwan) and the eastern portion of the Liaotung Peninsula. ¡Article 4: China paid Japan a large financial ¡Article 6: China grants Japan “most-favoured-nation” treatment. (similar to some Western powers) ¡ ¡Significance of Shimonoseki -Demonstrated the success of Japan’s modernisation. -Japan impose on China what itself had resisted. - Produced a strong reaction from the Western imperial powers which shocked Japan.

¡The Triple Intervention ¡Russia feared that the treaty of Shimonoseki would threaten their power in the region and objected to the terms of the treaty. ¡ France and Germany joined them to exert greater pressure on Japan. ¡As a result, Japan had to hand back possession of the Liaotung peninsula in return for more money (an additional 30,000,000 Kupingtaels). ¡Aftermath of the intervention ¡The Japanese government reluctantly agreed to the intervention. ¡Russia immediately occupied the Liaotung Peninsula, including Port Arthur. ¡Japan was humiliated and angry that they were forced into submission by Russia. ¡This was a major factor and increased tension that triggered the Russo-Japanese War. ¡Possibly caused Japan’s aggressive military expansion.

=<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;">The Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905) = __<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;">Russia __ <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; vertical-align: baseline;"> By 1900: <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; vertical-align: baseline;"> #4 in the world in steel production. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; vertical-align: baseline;"> #2 in the world in petroleum production and refining (behind the US). <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; vertical-align: baseline;"> Growing imperial power __<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;">Russian Policy __ <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; vertical-align: baseline;"> Russia had a growing interest and strength in East Asia due to the construction of Trans-Siberian Railway. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; vertical-align: baseline;"> The Crimean War (1850s) had been a critical factor in the reorientation or Russian policy. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; vertical-align: baseline;"> Similarly, German unification had a major impact on Russian territorial expansion. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; vertical-align: baseline;"> Russian attention threatened Japanese interests in Manchuria. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; vertical-align: baseline;"> Trans-Siberian Railroad: connected European Russia with the Pacific. __<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;">Reasons for conflict __ <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; vertical-align: baseline;"> Russia continued to develop a strong relationship with China in the late nineteenth century as part of increasing its sphere of influence in this region. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; vertical-align: baseline;"> Russia promoted itself as a potential protector of China from future Japanese aggression. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; vertical-align: baseline;"> Russia move into Manchuria was a threat to Japan’s plans for raw material security. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; vertical-align: baseline;"> Japan failed in diplomatic attempts to have the Russians withdraw. __<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;">Japan as a Global Power __ <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; vertical-align: baseline;"> Japan launches a surprise attack against the Russian ships in port. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; vertical-align: baseline;"> Japan surprised the West and Russia by military victories on land and sea. In 1905 Japan also destroyed the entire Russian fleet. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; vertical-align: baseline;"> Russia is forced to withdraw from Korea <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; vertical-align: baseline;"> German (army) and British (navy) advisors assist Japan in the period immediately before the war. __<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;">Reasons for the victory __ <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; vertical-align: baseline;"> 1904, Japan wins primarily because Russia cannot mobilise its forces quickly enough. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; vertical-align: baseline;"> Japanese soldiers fought to the death out of loyality to the Emperor. __<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;">Ramifications __ <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; vertical-align: baseline;"> It was the first time in modern history an Asian military force had soundly whipped the army and navy of a major imperial power <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; vertical-align: baseline;"> This event forced the Western world to recognise Japan as a major global power. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; vertical-align: baseline;"> The prestige of the Japanese military was greatly elevated in Japan. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; vertical-align: baseline;"> The people felt the civilian government were cheated at the Treaty of Portsmouth. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; vertical-align: baseline;"> THEODORE Roosevelt

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; vertical-align: baseline;"> (the U.S. President) Said: <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; vertical-align: baseline;"> ``if [the Japanese] win out, it may possibly mean a struggle between them and us in the future” __<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;">The results of the treaty __ <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; vertical-align: baseline;"> Russia had to recognise Japan as the dominant power in the region. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; vertical-align: baseline;"> Russia retreated from Manchuria and handed control of it to Japan. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; vertical-align: baseline;"> As a result, no nation could stop Japan annexing Korea in 1910

=<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;">Japanese Imperialism = <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; vertical-align: baseline;">A New Imperialist Power

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; vertical-align: baseline;"> Japan had defeated China in 1894-5

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; vertical-align: baseline;"> Japan defeated Russia in 1904-5

**<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;">Japanese Empire in 1910 **

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; vertical-align: baseline;"> World War I

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; vertical-align: baseline;"> On August 23, 1914, Japan entered World War I on the side of the Allies

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; vertical-align: baseline;"> It captured several German-occupied locations in China and the Pacific

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; vertical-align: baseline;"> Building on this momentum, Japan presented the Chinese government with a secret list of Twenty-One Demands which would have reduced China to a protectorate of Japan

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; vertical-align: baseline;"> World War I

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; vertical-align: baseline;"> The Chinese leaked the note to the British who spoke up for the Chinese and prevented complete capitulation, but still China acquiesced to many of the demands

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; vertical-align: baseline;"> The Twenty-One Demands reflected Japan’s determination to dominate east Asia and served as a basis for future Japanese pressure on China

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; vertical-align: baseline;">Post WWI

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; vertical-align: baseline;"> Japans aggressive expansion deteriorated relations with the US.

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; vertical-align: baseline;"> The war greatly expanded Japanese production capacity and wealth.

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; vertical-align: baseline;"> This increased the need for raw materials security.

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; vertical-align: baseline;"> The failure of Japan to persuade the League of Nations to declare equality for all nations humiliated the Japanese people.

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; vertical-align: baseline;"> This was used as propaganda by militarists to promote anti-Western hatred in the years before WWII.

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; vertical-align: baseline;"> Conquest of Manchuria (1931)

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; vertical-align: baseline;"> Pretense that Chinese bandits were destroying the Southern Manchurian Railway

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; vertical-align: baseline;"> League of Nations

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; vertical-align: baseline;"> China asked League for help

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; vertical-align: baseline;"> Lytton Commission sent to China to investigate

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; vertical-align: baseline;"> Noted harshness of Japanese rule in Manchuria

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; vertical-align: baseline;"> Recommended that Japan withdraw from Manchuria

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif; vertical-align: baseline;"> Japan instead withdrew from the League of Nations in 1933

=<span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua',serif;">Extra Info =

Modern Japan - Meiji period. Emperor became the Great High Priest of the nation and the earthly representative of the Sun Goddess, the source of all power. Shintoism was remodelled and combined with the ethical teachings of the Bushido, synchronised with Confucianism and Christian morality. This became the official state religion in 1882. The Satsuma-Choshu was a coalition of two powerful clans which dominated power. The political nation consisted of both peaceful and aggressive, militaristic factions that vied for power. Many of the daimyo had been involved in light industry. Many of these were enthusiastic supporters of modernisation and industrialisation. Plots, assassinations and intimidation using thuggery became features of Japanese politics. Many powerful elites in the Upper House (House of Peers) assumed the position of founding fathers of the new Japan and became known as the Genro. They were dominated by members of the Satsuma-Choshu clique and were the real power in Japan up to WWII. In 1900 an Imperial Ordinance proclaimed Ministers of War and the Navy must be serving generals or admirals. They shared with the Prime Minister the right of direct access to the Emperor. Army established a military police force in 1878 which was used for political intimidation. This became an extreme nationalistic force called the Black Dragon Society, who adopted principals of the ronin, or independent samurai warriors. The behaviour of Western countries in the Boxer rebellion made many Japanese cynical to their principals. The conflict with Russia drew Japan into a close alliance with Britain resulting in the Anglo-Japanese Alliance of 1902. This gave Japanese elites a sense of equality with the Western powers. By 1900 Japan was building large commercial steamers and in 1906 major warships. The effects of rapid industrialisation and the subsequent exploitation of workers resulted in a growth of communist ideas and groups. This was countered by powerful right wing nationalistic forces.

= Australian Foreign Policy = = = = 1941 The Great Betrayal? = = = =The Atlantic Charter.=

Atlantic Charter Document - Promised Liberation for nations struggling under western colonialism Pasted from <[]> Franklin Delano Roosevelt (1945) Pasted from <[]> The Atlantic Charter was an agreement between the United States of America and Great Britain that established the vision of [|Franklin Roosevelt] and Winston Churchill for a post-World War II world. One of the interesting aspects of the charter that was signed on [|August 14, 1941] was that the United States of America was not even a part of the war at the time. However, Roosevelt felt strongly enough about what the world should be like that he put forth this agreement with Winston Churchill. The Atlantic Charter can be boiled down to eight points: This was a bold step on the part of the Great Britain and the United States. As stated it was very significant for the United States because they were not yet involved in World War II. The impact of the Atlantic Charter can be seen in the following ways:
 * 1)  The United States And Great Britain agreed to seek no territorial gains as a result of the outcome of [|World War II].
 * 2)  Any territorial adjustments would be made with the wishes of the affected people taken into consideration.
 * 3)  Self-determination was a right of all people.
 * 4)  A concerted effort would be made to lower trade barriers.
 * 5)  The importance of the advancement of social welfare and global economic cooperation were recognized as important.
 * 6)  They would work to establish freedom from fear and want.
 * 7)  The importance of freedom of the seas was stated.
 * 8)  They would work towards post-war disarmament and the mutual disarmament of aggressor nations.
 * The Allied nations agreed to the principles of the Atlantic Charter thus establishing a commonality of purpose.
 * The Atlantic Charter was a significant first step towards the United Nations.
 * The Atlantic Charter was perceived by the Axis powers as the beginnings of a United States and Great Britain alliance. This had the impact of strengthening the militaristic government in Japan.
 * Though the Atlantic Charter pledged no military support for the war in Europe it had the impact of signalling the United States as a major player on the world stage. This was a position that the United States would firmly hold after World War II in its efforts to rebuild a war torn Europe.