The Russo-Japanese War
The Russo-Japanese War began when Japan attacked the Russian fleet off Port Arthur, Manchuria, on February 8, 1904. These two countries went to war to gain control over Korea and Manchuria. Centuries before the war began Japan went through long years of isolation and had just begun acquiring parts of mainland Korea. Russia, however, had been longing to expand their nation up to the Pacific Ocean. The conflict first began in 1894 after Japan gained control over the Liáodōng Peninsula and Port Arthur after defeating China in a war. After being granted permission by China, Russia obtained a 25-year lease on the Liáodōng Peninsula that had already been claimed by Japan. In 1902 Japan and Britain signed an alliance. The Russian troops who were in Manchuria were supposed to leave by April 1903. However, when the time came, the troops were still there going against an earlier agreement with China. Japan had tried to compromise peace agreements with Russia, but nothing was resolved. Japan eventually attacked Russian ships and won numerous battles in the war against one of the most powerful countries on the globe at that time.