• 

Plan an answer to the question set

• 

Write a focused opening paragraph

• 

Avoid irrelevance and description

• 

Write analytically

• 

Write a conclusion which reaches a supported 

judgement based on the argument in the main body 

of the essay 

 
CHAPTER 1

 Causes of expansion 

 Japanese nationalism and militarism 

 Militarism and foreign policy 

 Economic and political issues 

 Domestic instability and foreign affairs 

 

COMMAND TERMS
Ultranationalist 

A belief in 

which a person or state’s 

nationality is considered 

superior to that of all others 

and usually involves racist and 

discriminatory beliefs against 

others not of the same 

nationality

Meiji Restoration 

The 

creation of a new 

government of Japan after 

centuries of military 

government, in which Japan’s 

Emperor held new powers 

and new, more modern 

systems of governance were 

created; it is named after the 

ruling emperor of that 

period.


Meiji Emperor 

Emperor of 

Japan between 1867 and 

1912 in whose name 

modernizing reforms were 

instituted.

Form of 

government in which nobility 

and their associates, such as 

warriors, hold substantial 

governing power.

Small 

government body of elites 

whose approval was required 

for laws, major political 

appointees and more; they 

controlled access to the 

Emperor of Japan and were 

heavily relied on by the 

Emperor owing to their 

prestige and experience.

Ministers of a 

government.
Suffrage 

The right to vote.

Radical nationalism 

An 

extreme form of nationalism 

which can include racism and 

other forms of discrimination 

and prejudice against those 

not part of the nation, which 

is usually narrowly defi ned; 

this belief often justifi es 

violence to achieve certain 

goals.

A term derived 

from the Fascist Party of Italy. 

It refers to a governing 

philosophy that glorifi es the 

state, war and sacrifi cing 

oneself for the state while 

de-emphasizing individual 

rights and freedoms. This 

term is often used to refer to 

non-democratic, militaristic 

governments.