15/16

• Perry and pressure from the outside

  • He presented a letter from President of the united startes. It demanded that Japan open up for trade.
  •  Perry said that he would return for the Japanese answer to these demands.
  • one year later, he returned with eight black ships
  • the shogun then signed the Treaty of Kanagawa, which opened up Japan for trade.
• The treaty of Kanagawa

  • after this treaty was signed, a treaty that gave further rights to the united states was signed
  • Many Japanese were unhappy with the terms of these “unequal treaties”, which had been forced on them. They had lost control over their trade.
• american expansionism

  • the americans had an ethnocentric worldview called " manifest destiny "
  • This was a belief that the United States had a mission to spread its territory and ideas about democracy and economics across North America and beyond.
• japanese response

  1. the Japanese wanted to maintain their sovereignty, and did not want to engage in a war with the US.
  2. they did not want to bring a battle with the superior army of US and their weapons, just to lose
• pressures from within

  • there was a loss of respect for the shogun as many felt that he had abandoned them in a time of need
  • many saw the signing of the treaties as a sign of weakness
  • people started to riot in the streets
  • daimyo that opposed the shogun were arrested and their samurai were executed
• the end of the shogun

  1. in 1868, the shogun resigned and petitioned for the emperor to take over
  2. this caused a civil war to break out between supporters of the shogun and supporters of the emperor
  3. the 30,000 troops supporting the emperor destroyed the opposition
  4. Prince Mutsuhito was made emperor
• Meiji restoration

  •  Mutsuhito was given the name Meiji, which means

   “enlightened rule”

  • the first 3 years of his rule was known as the meiji restoration as the emporer was being restored to his rightful place as head of Japan
• changes in government

  1. One of the first things the Emperor did was create an oligarchy or unelected group of powerful advisors, called the Imperial Council 
  2. this council realized that Japan would have to change in order to keep Westerners from taking over. Japan needed to become a strong country with economic and military power.
  3. they then created the five charter oath
• the five charter oath.

  1. Everyone in Japan shall have a say in government and all matters decided by public discussion

  2. All classes high and low shall unite, and shall contribute equally to society (equality)

  3. Everyone shall be allowed to pursue their own calling in life

  4. Evil customs of the past shall be broken and everything based on the just laws of nature

  5. Knowledge shall be sought throughout the world so as to strengthen the foundations of Japan
• end of the feudal system

   - The Meiji leaders made the Daimyo turn over their lands to the state. 

  • In addition, the Samurai system was abolished by the government
  • Peasants, Artisans and Merchants were now allowed to pursue whatever job they wished
  • Merchants were already leading Japan’s economic growth.
  •   The feudal system in Japan had now come to an end.
• education reform

  • the Meiji leaders wanted to reform the Japanese education system to bring it closer to those of the west. 
  • They believed educated individuals would make a rich and strong country.
• new rights

  • Commoners were given new rights after the Five Charter Oath. They were allowed to choose where they would live and what occupation they would pursue. 
  • The  old rules about dress and marriage were no longer enforced
  • the lower classes could now own land. 
• Industrialization in Japan

  1. goods changed from being made by hand to being made by machines that could do this work more efficently
  2. Factories were built where many workers were employed to produce large amounts of goods, using machinery.
  3. Transportation and communication were also revolutionized by machines
  4. this happened relatively quickly
  5. this period was called the industrial revolution
• experts in industrialization

  • Japanese hired experts in to teach them these new ideas, and also sent people out to learn.
  • Japanese representatives visited Europe and the United States to learn about Western culture, ship-building, military science, factory construction and medicine.
  • after this time was over they came back to Japan to report what they had learned
• economic ideas

  • In europe, a new economic system had developed
  • In order to compete with the economies of the West, Japan built large, essential industries.
  • Once these businesses were prosperous they were sold at low prices to people interested in buying them. In this way, they stimulated economic growth.
• westernization

  • this meant the adoption of Western ways and ideas. The motto of this movement was “Civilization and Enlightenment”
  • The Meiji government wanted to change the unequal treaties with the Western countries. They believed that being a westernized country would result in being viewed as an equal, and the treaties would then be revised.
• backlash against westernization

  • Many Japanese people thought that their society was going too far in its westernization, and that traditional customs and values were being ignored.
  • They soon realized that although westerners were enjoying this new westernized Japan, they were not willing to change the treaties that the Japanese felt were so unfair. 
  • Backlash - a hostile reaction to a trend, was beginning to settle in against Westernization.
• • The Meiji leaders looked at the powerful countries of the West and saw three things that these countries had in common:
  •  Control over foreign colonies or territories
  •  Military power to defend these territories
  •  A strong and independent economy
• strong army = strong country

  • The Japanese government began to strengthen its military so that they could acquire territory in Asia and be able to protect itself against other countries
  • To test its military power, Japan and China went to war over Korea.
  • The Japanese victory worried the Western powers, and Russia, France and Germany stepped in and took Korea away.
• a war in the US

  • Japan was infuriated by the western interference in its war against China and built up its military strength. In 1904 they launched a surprise attack on Russia. Japan got Korea back and had finally been recognized as an imperial power.
  • The militarization and grudge against the US for it’s unfair treaties led Japan to its involvement in WWII and its eventual defeat with the dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. 
• One of the first things the Emperor did was create an oligarchy or unelected group of powerful advisors, called the Imperial Council 
• The advisors realized that Japan would have to change in order to keep Westerners from taking over as they had done in other countries. Japan needed to become a strong country with economic and military power.
• Gradually, machines were invented that could do this work more quickly and efficiently. Factories were built where many workers were employed to produce large amounts of goods, using machinery. Transportation and communication were also revolutionized by machines. called the Industrial Revolution.