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The Meiji Restoration. Asia’s “Success Story” in the Age of Imperialism. Tokugawa Japan. Since 1600, Tokugawa Japan had followed a policy of isolationism Shoguns had closed Japan off to foreign traders and missionaries and did not allow Japanese to travel overseas. Tokugawa Japan.
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The Meiji Restoration Asia’s “Success Story” in the Age of Imperialism
Tokugawa Japan • Since 1600, Tokugawa Japan had followed a policy of isolationism • Shoguns had closed Japan off to foreign traders and missionaries and did not allow Japanese to travel overseas
Tokugawa Japan • Many Japanese felt this was the best way to preserve Japanese culture and independence • But as European colonialism spread throughout Asia, it became obvious that Japanese isolation could not last forever
Japan Opened • In 1853, a fleet of American ships commanded by Commodore Matthew Perry sailed to Tokyo demanding the Japanese open their ports for trade
Japan Opened • The reluctant shogun was forced to accept several unequal treaties very much like the ones that existed between the Chinese and British (Treaty of Kanagawa) • Soon other European powers moved in and created similar treaties with the powerless Japanese
The Meiji Restoration • Many Japanese resented the growing dominance of Europeans, who they viewed as barbarians • As a result, the shogun was overthrown in 1867 and replaced with the Japanese Emperor
The Meiji Restoration • This “restoration” of the Emperor is perhaps the most important turning point in Japanese history • For the next 44 years, Meiji reformers successfully transformed Japan from a “backward” country into one of the richest and most powerful nations in the world
The Meiji Restoration • Rather than reject the west as most Asian nations had done, the Japanese sought to learn from Westerners and eventually beat them at their own game • Members of the Japanese government were sent abroad to study the government, economies, technologies, militaries, and customs of the west
Government Reform • In 1889, a new constitution modeled after Germany was set up • Limited suffrage was given to males and legislature was created, but the Emperor had autocratic, or absolute, power
Military Reform • A new military system was set up as well to replace the old samurai system • All able men were required to serve and the newest weaponry was adopted • By 1890, Japan had a powerful army and navy capable of expelling foreigners
Economic Reform • Following the lead of Britain and the United States, the Japanese built thousands of railroads, mines, and factories in the late 1800’s
Economic Reform • By the turn of the century, Japan was one of the top industrial powers in the world • And like those powers, Japan now desired to create an empire of its own Industrial Output 1900
The Sino-Japanese War • Being a small island, Japan lacked many natural resources essential to industrial growth like coal and iron • In 1894, Japan fought and defeated China in order to gain more land and resources, annexing Korea and Taiwan
The Russo-Japanese War • Ten years later, competition over Korea and Manchuria led to war between Russia and Japan • After gruesome fighting, the Japanese surprised the world by defeating Russia • It was the first time in modern history that an Asian power had humbled a European nation and the event forced the Western world to recognize Japan as a major global power
How was Japan able to modernize so quickly? • Adaptability • Homogeneous Society • Nationalism
Quiz • What is isolationism? • Whose expedition opened up Japanese ports to trade? • Identify two ways that Japan Westernized. • Why did Japan pursue a course of imperialism? • What two countries did Japan go to war with, and defeat at the turn of the century?
