Have you ever wondered what it would be like if a Japanese soldier broke into your house, raped your mother and sister, and then killed your father, all while you're forced to watch? We hope not, but unfortunately at some point in our history, this happened to hundreds of thousands of people in Nanjing, China. This Rape of Nanking or Nanjing Massacre can sometimes be called “the forgotten Holocaust of World War II,” as it took place near the start of World War II and is not talked about as much as the German Holocaust with the Jews . . It all happened in December 1937, when Nanjing fell to the Japanese. In my opinion, the United States could be blamed for Japan's aggression. Unlike most countries, Japan did not make progress during the Industrial Revolution due to its isolation. It was not until 1852, when Millard Fillmore sent Matthew Perry to Japan, that their isolation began to end. At one point, Perry sent steamships into Tokyo Bay giving the Japanese their first look at steam power, something they had not yet experienced (Chang, Iris 21). Seeing these ships, the Japanese prepared for battle but ultimately simply had to acknowledge the fact that American military technology was superior. During this visit, Perry managed to convince Tokugawa, who was the leader of Japan, to sign treaties with the United States and open its doors to trade with other countries. This obviously angered the Japanese people, but they realized that a war would only harm themselves (21). They wanted to prepare to fight in the end, but the Tokugawa simply preferred to watch and wait, which made them doubt the shogun's power and ultimately wanted the emperor to be able to ... middle of paper .... ...king massacres, but it serves to remind us of what some people have been through. The Rape of Nanjing is important because it shows us what we might be going through, but fortunately we are not going through anything that the Chinese went through. Yes, at any time a country could attack the United States and attempt to take over North Tonawanda, but these days that seems more unlikely. I'm not sure I feel this way because I live in the United States and I know my country has a strong and powerful military, but it might be different for other people in other countries. Some may face starvation or poverty, but at least they are not raped by multiple soldiers, beheaded, and used for bayonet practice. The Rape of Nanjing is important because it is able to tell us to be grateful for our life now because we could see it much worse.