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Example research essay topic: Russo Japanese War Second Class Citizens - 2,071 words

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The purpose of this paper is to show the subjugation and exploitation of Korea by the Japanese from 1890 to 1945. The assassination of Queen Min marked the turning point of subjugation by the Japanese in the Korean Peninsula. The one known to us as the Last Empress is described as being peaceful, noble, and intelligent. Her subjects looked to her with great admiration. Miura Go, a Japanese minister, masterminded a plot to kill her on October 8, 1895. (Eckert, 229) Leading up to this event, Japanese-Korean merchants, known as Yuan Shih- k ai, meddled in Korean domestic politics. (Eckert, 212) These people targeted the poor, hungry peasant-farmers. Some of the farmers were deceived into buying useless trinkets from the Japanese.

The majority of the natives saw the Japanese as scoundrels. Yuan Shih- k ai were thought of as cheaters and bandits. Grandchildren were warned by the aged of the evil Japanese. Little did they know that they would be the generation of terror under Japanese rule. Well before the 20 th century, in 1876, Korea was compelled to sign the Kanghwa Treaty, which ended the kingdom s policy of seclusion. She had to grant Japan extraterritoriality and give up control over her customs revenue. (Ienaga, 4) By giving up her trade income, Korea surrendered something so important to the essence of an independent state.

Controlling trade and having a monetary system puts the power of the nation under the central government. It creates unity and pride- something the Japanese took away. August 30, 1882, the Treaty of Chemulp o (Inchon) gave Japan the right to station a company of troops in Seoul to guard the Japanese legation. (Eckert, 207) This next step gave Japan military control over the peninsula. Korea could no longer exercise its own power within the country or hold a system of defense against enemies. During the late 1890 s the Kb Reform was carried out under the sponsorship of Japanese aggressors. This affected many vital aspects of the administration, economy, and social fabric of Korea. (Eckert, 228) On April 25, 1899, Russia gave Japan a free hand for its aggressive operations in Korea in accordance with the Russo-Japanese Treaty III. (Colonization, 1) The exploitation of Korea was recognized by a major world power at the turn of the century!

Still the Koreans would be abused for nearly another 50 years. In the 1902 Anglo-Japanese treaty of alliance, Japan obtained international recognition for its aggressive policy toward Korea. (Colonization, 1) The Japanese- Korean relationship was an example of the imperialism that was taking place all over the world. Only this time, it was an Eastern, not a Western, country over another. It was the repetition of the primal theme- the strong conquers the weak and survival of the fittest. This was an age old custom. The Israelites took Jericho, the Romans built their Empire, Napoleon conquered Europe, and now Japan was seizing control over Korea.

Without imperialism, our world and its cultures would be far setback from where it is today. The decision to align with the west and become part of the imperialist club by seizing Korea was widely approved. (Ienaga, 4) On the other hand, because Hitler and his Nazi party exterminated the Jews, we look down on him as if he were evil incarnate. Wasn t this also the product of survival of the fittest? Obviously, the effects of imperialism aren t always good. In fact, they often aren t good. Advancement in culture cannot be used to justify imperialism.

We ourselves cannot be the judge of culture. But we can reason right from wrong through inconsistencies and intuition. Japan saw no inconsistency in demanding the abrogation of its own unequal treaties while simultaneously imposing one on its neighbor. (Ienaga, 4) Japan experienced the inequality of unequal treaties- hence the term unequal. Yet, while recognizing the displeasure of imperialism, she put Korea under the same, and even harsher treatment. Japan sent troops into Seoul in large numbers. On February 23, 1904, the Japanese forced the Korean government to sign the Korea-Japan Protocol.

This exacted Korean concessions necessary for Japan s execution of the war. (Colonization, 2) The Japanese took Korean goods and used them for her own benefit. She capitalized on the affliction of the Koreans. The defeat of the Russians during the Russo- Japanese war displayed the competency of the Japanese military. The Japanese slaughtered the very forces that beat Napoleon s army! This marked a huge breaking point in history. No longer could the East be considered barbaric and incapable of the accomplishments of the West.

The Principles Concerning Facilities in Korea was put into effect in May 1904. This granted extensive privileges to the Japanese. During the Russo-Japanese War, the Japanese used Korea, its closest mainland neighbor, to fight its enemy. And with the Principles Concerning Facilities in Korea, they were allowed to station troops in Korea even after the Russo-Japanese War. The Japanese confiscated land for military use, supervised Korea s diplomacy and financial administration, snared Korea s transportation and communications facilities, and abused concessions in agriculture, forestry, mining, and fisheries. (Colonization, 2) Meat Tanetaro brought Korean currency under the Japanese monetary system. He devaluated it from one-fifth to one-half in order to plunder Korean properties. (Colonization, 3) At this point there was little left for Koreans.

The one way that they were acknowledged was their divergent treatment from the Japanese. Koreans were not represented in the Japanese Diet. Their personal rights were severely circumscribed. They were treated as second-class citizens in their own country. (Ienaga, 7) Men in Seoul were often grabbed in the middle of the night to show up only six months or one year later. The Koreans were always in a constant struggle to be a perfect uniformed civilian. There was what they called volunteerism, but if you didn t volunteer, the Japanese would cut off your rations. (Collier, 114) The Koreans volunteered in the strive to survive.

In comparison with the Japanese, Koreans suffered from horrible living conditions. Discrimination against Koreans was all- pervasive. The results of discriminatory education and employment policies are seen most graphically in standards of living and life expectancy. In 1944, for example, Koreans earned a little less than one-third the income of Japanese. The vast disparity in sanitary conditions is apparent from health statistics: of the Japanese who contracted contagious diseases in 1937, 13. 1 percent died, compared to 30. 5 percent of the Koreans. (Ienaga, 15 The contrast between the privileged position of the ruling Japanese and the horrid predicament of the native population was sharp. An enormous amount of Korean land, the titles to which were vague by modern ownership criteria, was confiscated during the land survey from 1910 to 1918 and ended up in Japanese hands.

Landless Koreans resigned to go to Japan and accept meager wages as workmen in the hope of eking out a living. The journey only brought them closer to racial discrimination and abuse. (Ienaga, 7 - 8) Even among the Asians, the bias is enormous. Japanese children were encouraged to slander Koreans. Phrases such as, Oh! You Koreans stink! , Ew! Garlic! , and You Koreans, remember who you are! , were common.

Children weren t suppressed by those parents who should ve been more civilized. In fact, parents urged their children to lash out their hatred. While separate and unequal treatment was the rule, the government adopted and enforced a strict assimilation policy to turn Koreans into loyal if second-class citizens. The Korean language was banned from the schools. Koreans were required to recite the Oath of a Loyal Citizen: We are subjects of the Great Japanese Empire. We are loyal to His Imperial Majesty the Emperor.

After 1939, Koreans were encouraged to take Japanese surnames and stop using their Korean names. All Koreans were required to attend Shinto services; Christians were singled out for special persecution through shrine attendance and in other ways. (Ienaga, 158) Police spies and informants were everywhere. The authorities willingness to fabricate evidence and charges meant that not even the most innocent person was safe. A person had to be extremely careful of everything he said and did. (Ienaga, 114) It was dangerous to confide one s real feelings in a diary.

The police did not respect individual privacy. Detectives always rode the trains in Korea and on the Sanyo Line from Shimonoseki to Osaka because of the many Korean passengers and other travelers returning from the continent. The police made a practice of going through the passenger s baggage. (Ienaga, 114) Several brave Koreans participated in demonstrations. The young especially- mere teenagers spoke out against the unfair government.

The Japanese responded with troops. Thousands of Koreans were killed and wounded. The authorities encouraged false rumors of Korean looting in order to forestall anti-government violence. Thousands of innocent Koreans were murdered by local police squads and vigilant groups in and around Tokyo. (Ienaga, 8) Certain documents of the Pacific War contain interviews with Japanese war veterans who confessed to engaging in cannibalism. (Tanaka, 112) The Japanese did not only sacrifice Koreans. Their aggressive policy was evident throughout their spheres of influence and among their own people as well.

There was absolutely nothing to eat, and so we decided to draw lots. The one who lost would be killed and eaten. But the one who lost started to run away so we shot him. He was eaten, reminisces a retired soldier. (Tanaka, 114) Some 200, 000 Asian women, most of them Koreans, found themselves forced to serve as comfort women, as sexual partners for Japanese troops. (Edgerton, 16) Other sources report that an estimated 100, 000 women were mobilized. Eighty percent of these women are believed to have been Koreans. According to the Japanese military plan devised in July 1941, there was one women for every 35 soldiers.

The comfort women case could be shown as an instance of state-controlled criminal activity involving sexual exploitation of women. (Tanaka, 99) Comfort women were transported to the front lines in Army ships or on Army railways or trucks. On a few occasions comfort women were even flown by Army planes to the front lines. (Tanaka, 98) These women faced real danger right at the heart of the action. It is very well many of them were killed or severely injured. After that time, comfort women did not require a passport for overseas travel. This indicates that involvement in decision- making about comfort women went all the way to the top levels of government. (Tanaka, 98) Most of these women were forcibly taken to the brothels from their villages. Some women, however, were led to believe that they were going to do some other kind of job, such as working in a factory, only to find out too late that they had been deceived. (Tanaka, 98) It is evident that the Japanese forces exploited large numbers of Asian women as well as women from Allied nations under the excuse of preventing rape.

This was the official justification for the program. It shouldn t be forgotten that these women were themselves victims of rape. (Tanaka, 99) Commanding officers often turned a blind eye to rape, believing that rape was necessary to enhance soldiers fighting spirits. (Tanaka, 100) People in high positions silently approved of this behavior! The ideal plan of the Japanese was summed up in the idea of the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere. Ishiwara stated, The four races of Japan, China, Korea, and Manchuria will share a common prosperity through a division of responsibilities: Japanese, political leadership and large industry; Chinese, labor and small industry; Koreans, rice; and Manchus, animal husbandry. (Ienaga, 12) The Japanese believed in the separation of the races. Their fascist ideals put themselves on top. They thought that they were naturally the better people of the world.

This parallels Mussolini s philosophy. The Japanese were the aristocrats while her lowly neighbors supported her supremacy. At the closing of their reign, a Japanese officer stated, Taiwan and Korea are absolutely vital sources of food. Because they are essential to Japan s existence, we desire to allow to retain them. Independence was out of the question, of course, as far as Japanese leaders were concerned. The annexation of Korea in 1910 started Japan on the road to empire and aggression; the attempt to hang on to Korea in 1945 prolonged the final agony of defeat. (Ienaga, 156)


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Research essay sample on Russo Japanese War Second Class Citizens

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