Japan and the Meiji Restoration

1
Japan and the Meiji Restoration

• Japan becomes a National Power

2
Tokugawa Isolation

• Prior to the arrival of Matthew Perry of the U.S.
  in 1854 Japan had been isolated for 200 years.
• In 1500s Europeans had tried to trade with Japan
  however the Shoguns had gained control of Japan
  and banned contact with almost the entire outside
  world.

3
Japanese Isolation

• Japan had built an highly ethnocentric society
• Japanese were not allowed to travel outside the
  nation
• Foreigners were not allowed inside the nation
• By the 19th Century The U.S. and Europe were
  looking for markets were ever they could find
  them and they turned to Japan

4
Commodore Matthew Perry

• In 1854 Perry gave Japan a letter asking them to
  open trade with the U.S.
• Americans and Europeans wanted to not only open
  trade with Japan but also use Japanese ports to
  repair and resupply their ships.

5
Treaty of Kanagawa

• The Japanese shoguns were impressed by the
  American show of force.
• Japan agreed to open its ports and signed the
  Treaty of Kanagawa.
• The Treaty gave trading rights to the U.S. and
  soon other countries like Britain, France and
  Russia also gained trading rights.

6
Treaty of Kanagawa

• The Treaty had a powerful impact on Japan.
• It weakened the power of the shogun who some
  Japanese felt had given in to foreigners.
• It showed that for for Japan to compete with the
  west that Japan had to modernize and
  industrialize.
• The Japanese rebelled against and overthrew the
  Shogun, restored the emperor, and began to
  modernize and industrialize.

7
The Meiji Restoration

• In 1867 the samurai led the rebellion to remove
  the Tokugawa shogun from power.
• In 1868 the emperor was established as the leader
  of Japan.
• The period from 1868 to 1912 is known as the
  Meiji Restoration.
• Meiji means enlightened one

8
Modernization and Industrialization

• Once the Emperor was in place he began to make
  changes to Japan that would make Japan a world
  power.

9
Modernization and Industrialization

• Borrowing from the West
• The emperor sent advisors and government
  officials to western nations to study government,
  economics, technology, and customs.
• Foreign experts were also invited to Japan.

10
Modernization and Industrialization

• Economics
• The Meiji government used western methods and
  machinery to industrialize Japan.
• The government built factories and then sold them
  to wealthy Japanese businessmen, know as
  zaibatsu.
• The government developed a banking system.
• The government built ports and railroads
• By 1890 the economy was strong, the population
  had grown, and peasants moved to the cities
  looking for jobs.

11
Modernization and Industrialization

• Government
• The Meiji wanted a strong central government and
  used Germany as their model.
• The Meiji liked the strength of the Germanys
  constitution and that the government was run by
  only a few select men.
• The constitution gave the emperor
  autocratic(dictatorial) power. The emperor was
  not elected by the people.
• The constitution created a two house legislature
  (bicameral).
• Only one house was elected and voting was
  limited.

12
Modernization and Industrialization

• Military
• Samurai are no longer the only warriors in Japan.
• Japan admired the discipline of the German army
  and the skill of the British navy.
• All men must join the military
• Japan modernizes its navy
• Japan develops a strong army and navy and defeats
  European powers in warfare.

13
Modernization and Industrialization

• Social Reforms
• Positives
• Public education system
• Japan admired the the American system of
  education.
• Development of universities
• Negatives
• Still a class system
• Women seen as 2nd class citizens

14
Japan as a Global Power

• By 1894 Japan had transformed itself into a major
  world power.
• Japan used its military strength to become
  imperialistic.
• Japan became imperialistic looking for colonies
  for raw materials and new markets.
• Japan found these colonies through warfare.

15
Japan as a Global Power

• Sino-Japanese War
• 1894-1895
• Japan tries to expand into Korea.
• China goes to war with Japan over Korea.
• Japan quickly wins the war
• Japan gets Taiwan, ports in China, and Korea
  becomes a protectorate of Japan.

16
Japan as a Global Power

• Russo-Japanese War
• 1904-1905
• Both Japan and Russia have interest in Korea.
• Russia refuses to recognize Japans rights to
  Korea.
• Japan launches a surprise attack against the
  Russians destroying the Russian navy and driving
  the Russian troops out of Korea.
• Russia is forced to withdraw from Korea
• Japan is seen as a major military power with the
  defeat of a European nation

17
Japan as a Global Power

• Dependence on a World Market
• Japans economy depended on trade. It needed new
  markets.
• Japan is an island and lack many of the natural
  resources to keep their industrialization alive.
• For Japan to compete with the world market Japan
  would have to continue to be imperialistic.

18
Japan as a Global Power

• Results of Imperialistic Japan
• Japan borrowed many western ideas to become a
  modern and industrialized nation.
• Japan quickly establishes itself as a strong
  military power.
• Japan needs to continue to colonize to keep raw
  materials coming in and finished products going
  out of the country.
• Japan is truly the only country that needs to
  colonize because they lack raw materials

19
Japans Industrial RevolutionvEuropes
Industrial Rev

• Japan
• Japans Ind. Rev only took about 30 years because
  they borrowed everything
• Private corporations-Wealthy class
• Urbanization
• Need for raw materials

• Europe
• Europes industrial Rev. a century because they
  had to invent everything
• Private Corporations-Wealthy class
• Urbanization
• Need for raw materials