2. Preview Questions
• What effect did the Meiji Restoration have
on Japan?
• What steps did Japan take to become an
imperialist nation? Why?
3. Old Japan Background
• For hundreds of years, Japan was
an un-unified nation. Nobles
controlled their own lands and
were constantly fighting with their
neighbors.
• Samurai warriors were at the top
of the Japanese social order and
although only made up 10% of the
population, they were the most
elite and most powerful class.
4. Tokugawa Shogunate
• In 1603 however Japan became ruled by
a centralized authority in a gifted general,
Tokugawa Ieyasu.
• The Tokugawa rule brought a long
period of peace known as “Great
Peace.”
• He became shogun (general) in 1603
and created and solidified the Tokugawa
shogunate, which would rule Japan for
the next 250 years.
5. Why was Japan a Country of
Isolation?
• Just as the Tokugawa shogunate were unifying Japan,
the first Europeans began to arrive.
• They were welcomed at first but after destroying
religious shrines in attempt to convert the Japanese
people to Christianity, all missionaries were expelled.
• Not soon after, all foreign traders and merchants
were banned as well.
• Japan valued it’s culture and practices and to protect
them, entered a period of isolation from the rest of
the world.
6. Japan in Isolation
• To Europe and the United States, the
continued isolation of Japan was a
challenge.
Why do you think they cared if Japan was in
isolation or not?
Economic interests. All Western powers were
convinced that global trade would benefit all
nations.
7. An End to Isolation
• The first country to succeed with Japan was
the United States.
• In the Summer of 1853, the US sent a fleet of 4
warships led by Commodore Matthew Perry.
This
No, not Matthew
this one… Perry
8. Perry’s Visit to Japan
• Perry brought a letter
from the President
asking for better
treatment of
shipwrecked sailors.
• He also requested the
opening of foreign
trade between Japan
and the U.S.
9. Perry’s Return
• Perry returned 6 months later. This time with a
fleet of 7 warships.
• The shogunate officials had been discussing the
issue.
– Some, intimidated by the Western military
recommended concession, or to make a political
compromise.
– Others felt that contact with the West would hurt
Japan.
• Under military pressure, Japan agreed to the
Treaty of Kanagawa which provided the return of
shipwrecked sailors and the opening of 2 ports to
Western traders.
10. Resistance to the Treaty
• The decision to open relations with
Western powers was highly unpopular in
parts of Japan. Especially with the old
samurai warriors.
• The alliance of the Satsuma and Choshu
warrior clans (Sat-Cho) fired on some
ships.
• The Westerners fired back of course and
destroyed the Sat-Cho fortifications.
11. End of the Tokugawa Shogunate
• The incident caused the Sat-Cho leaders to
be more determined not to give in to the
West.
• The also convinced the Sat-Cho leaders
that they must strengthen their military.
• In 1868, the Sat-Cho warriors attacked the
shogun’s palace and defeated him
• This was the end of the shogunate system.
12. The Meji Restoration
• Although the Sat-Cho leaders disliked the West,
they knew they had to change to survive.
• They knew they needed to reform and transform
Japan into a modern industrial nation.
• To create a symbol of the new era, the Sat-Cho
appointed the young Mutsuhio emperor.
• He called his reign the Meiji, or “Enlightened
Rule.”
• This period became known as the Meji
Restoration
13. Sat-Cho Power
• The emperor reigned,
but was nothing more
than a figurehead.
• The Sat-Cho leaders
ruled.
– One of their first acts of
power was to strip the
Daimyos of their titles
and land.
14. Transformation of Japanese Politics
• The Meiji government believed the rest of
the world didn’t view them as a “real”
power and they desperately wanted to
change that. Why?
• They carefully studied Western political
systems and although some wanted a more
democratic model like the U.S., most
wanted more power to the executive
branch.
• The new Meiji constitution was modeled
after that of Imperial Germany.
15. Building a Modern Social
Structure
• They knew they needed a modern military
to be able to compete with the Powers of
the West.
• Their motto became “Strengthen the
Military” and that is what they did.
• All men were required to serve 3 years in
the military and the new army was well
equipped with modern weapons.
16. • Answer the following:
– Why did Japan feel it needed to become an
imperialistic nation and expand it’s territory?
– Were they effective in their expansion? What were
the results?
17. Modern Education Structure
• The Meiji leaders realized they had to reform the
education system that included modern
technology.
• They adopted the American model of elementary,
secondary, and universities.
– It brought foreign scholars in math, science, and
engineering to teach in the new schools
– Also sent their brightest students to prestigious
universities in America and Europe
18. Education (cont.)
• Although the new education system was
Western in inspiration (modeled after American
and W. European schools), a great deal of
emphasis was still placed on the important
Japanese values of loyalty to the family, one
another and especially the emperor.
– Both teachers and students were required to
bow before a portrait of the emperor each
day.
19. Joining the Imperialist
Nations
• Why did Japan feel it needed to become an
imperialistic nation and expand it’s
territory?
– They saw other nations like Great Britain do
so successfully to amass great wealth and
power by expanding.
– As an island, they had no more land to expand
so they had to take it from someone else and
create colonies.
20. Japan’s War with China
• In 1874, Japan claimed control of Ryuku
Islands which were previously under the
control of the Chinese Empire.
– This began a war with China that Japan would
win.
– Japan then claimed Korea and Taiwan.
21. Japan’s War with Russia
• Russia was upset at Japan for taking Korea as they were
competing for the land as well but didn’t see them as
much of a threat.
– “We will only have to throw our caps at them and they will run
away.”
• In 1904, Japan launched a surprise attack on the Russian
naval base.
– The Russians turned out to be no match for the brave and
relentless Japanese troops and were forced to surrender.
• The Japanese victory stunned the world and in half a
century, Japan had become one of the great world
powers.
