When the Wicked Rise: American Opinion-Makers and the Manchurian Crisis of 1931-1933

Many historians regard the Japanese invasion of Manchuria in 1931 as the opening shot of the Second World War. This careful examination of the American reaction to Japan's action is a study in decision making and public opinion. It analyzes the influence of public attitudes on the American attempt to respond to the crisis and concludes that despite stereotypes of an aloof and isolationist United States, serious efforts were made to thwart Japanese imperialism. Illustrated.