What steps did Japan take that led to World War II?

Japan
was primed for an entry in WWII because of the rise of militant fascism, an occupation of China,
and a treaty with Nazi Germany. Throughout the first half of the 20th century, Japan was in
turmoil both politically and economically. Liberal leadership in the 1920s infuriated Japan's
more traditional military leaders. Japanese leaders felt that the country was being held down,
so an extremist militant group attempted to assassinate Prime Minister Hamaguchi in 1930. The
gunshot wound he sustained from that assassination attempt caused his death nine months later,
in August 1931. This led to the rise of the militant leadership and ultimately to the rise of
Hirohito.

Then, in 1931, Japan fabricated a railway incident to seize
Manchuria. Although Japanese leadership opposed this, they ultimately resigned, and more
militant leadership came to power. By 1933, Japan had seized most of northern China.

Finally, in 1940, Japan signed the Tripartite Pact with Nazi Germany. This was the
formal introduction of Japan into the rising fascist world. The United States responded with an
oil embargo. Japan then suffered from some economic problems, which played a role in the
decision to bomb Pearl Harbor in 1941.

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