Term 3: World War 2 

Lesson 1: Are you right or Left wing?

WW2- The war in the Pacific.

Prior to the outbreak of WW2 Asia was dominated by the great powers of Great Britain, the United States, France, and the Netherlands (Holland) plus emerging Asian power Japan, only China, herself consumed by civil war, and Thailand (Siam) were independent.

• Great Britain controlled a wide swath of territory from India in the west, Burma, Malaya in the middle and on the east naval and commercial bases in Singapore and Hong Kong.

• The United States controlled the Philippine Islands in the Central West Pacific.

• France governed Cochin China, present day Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.

• The Netherlands (Holland) held present day Indonesia.

• Japan ruled the Korean peninsula and Formosa (Taiwan) plus the vast expense of islands to the east, Micronesia.

• Shanghai (Paris of the East) – Colonial Jewel of Asia was the Treaty Port of Shanghai on China’s northeast coast. Shanghai was composed of four parts- 1) The International Settlement (Britain and USA) 2) The French Concession 3) The Japanese/ Chapei area and 4. The Native Chinese City.