Aim: How did Japan change into an industrial and
imperial power during the Meiji Period?
• Do Now: According to this cartoon what changes are
taking place in Japan during the Meiji period?
Mr. McEntarfer * Global History * HSLPS
Instructional Objectives
• We will be able to:
– Explain the causes of the Meiji Restoration
– Describe the changes that took place during
the Meiji Period.
– Discuss how Japan would go on to become
an imperial power.
The Meiji Restoration
• Japanese period beginning in 1853 when Japan
went from a non-industrial feudal nation to a
modern, industrial and imperial power.
Causes of Meiji Period
• Japanese saw what happened to their neighbor
China. One Japanese visitor noted…
“The Chinese have become servants to the foreigners.
Sovereignty may belong to China but in fact it's no
more than a colony of Great Britain and France”.
China’s “Unequal Treaties”
After the Opium War of 1839-1842,
Japan was convinced that it had to Open Up
to the West.

American Intervention
• Commodore Matthew Perry forces Japan
to open it’s ports to American ships.
The Treaty of Kanagawa - 1854
Japan Changes
• The Japanese overthrew the last Shogun and put
their emperor in charge.
• Japan ended it’s policy of isolationism.
• Emperor Meiji’s government decided the only way
to avoid China’s fate was to modernize through
selective borrowing from the Western nations.
New slogan:
Japanese Spirit;
Western
Technology!
The Rulers Set the Tone
with Western Dress
Emperor Meiji
Empress Haruko
(1868- 1912)
Changing Women’s
Fashions
1900 Styles
The First
“Miss Japan”
(1908)
Abolition
of the
feudal system
Modern
Banking
System
Land
Redistribution
Meiji
Reforms
Written
Constitution
(Germans)
Westernize
the School
System
(Fr. & Ger.)
Modernize
the Army
(Prussian)
Build a
Modern Navy
(British)
Human Rights
& Religious
Freedom
Emperor
Worship
Intensified
In order to Industrialize you
must…
• Japan followed queue with other
industrialized nations and went after an
empire to get…
Soldiers on the Battlefield
During the Sino-Japanese War
The Treaty of Shimonoseki ended the war.
Japan Is a Player in China
Japan Annexes Korea
The Russo-Japanese War:
1904-1905
The Battle of Tsushima:
The results startled the world!
But, Japanese Power Would Grow . . .
Activity: Read pages 348 to 351
and answer the following questions
1. Why were many Japanese people becoming
unhappy with their rulers in the nineteenth
century?
2. Why did Commodore Perry visit Japan? What
did he accomplish?
3. What changes did the powerful nobles bring to
Japan
4. How did the new Japanese government hope
to prevent the West from taking over Japan
5. Did this new government model itself after the
Western democracies? Explain.
The arrival of Commodore Matthew Perry in Japan in
1853 signaled the end of Japanese
1.
2.
3.
4.
cultural contacts with the West
policies of isolationism
militarism in Southeast Asia
trade relations with the United States
•
•
Correct Answer Number: 2
Explanation: After Perry’s
demonstration of American military
prowess, Japan ceased to be isolated
and began trading with the United
States.
In Japan, the Meiji Restoration resulted in the
1.
2.
3.
4.
•
•
division of the nation between the European powers
modernization of the nation’s industry
abolition of the position of emperor
government being controlled by the samurai
Correct Answer Number: 2
Explanation: After being reinstated as the political leader of
Japan after Commodore Perry’s visit in 1853, the Emperor Meiji
feared that Japan would become a victim of Western imperialism
as had happened to its neighbor China. Therefore, he set out on a
program of rapid industrialization designed to put Japan on par
with nations in the West.
A major goal of the Meiji government in Japan was to
1.
2.
3.
4.
isolate Japan from other nations
achieve political union with China
establish Japan as an industrial power
encourage colonization of Asia by Western nations
•
•
Correct Answer Number: 3
Explanation: After being reinstated as the political
leader of Japan after Commodore Perry’s visit in 1853,
the Emperor Meiji feared that Japan would become a
victim of Western imperialism as had happened to its
neighbor China. Therefore, he set out on a program of
rapid industrialization designed to put Japan on par
with nations in the West.
The modernization of Japan during the Meiji
Restoration resulted in
1.
2.
3.
4.
a return to a feudal system of government
the rise of Japan as an imperialistic nation
an alliance between China, Korea, Russia, and Japan
a strengthening of Japan’s isolationist policies
•
•
Correct Answer Number: 2
Explanation: After industrialization, Japan became imperialistic. It
began to seek colonies as a source for raw materials and new
markets for its finished products. These colonies were taken
through warfare. The two best examples of this policy are the
Sino-Japanese War fought against China, and the RussoJapanese War fought against Russia. Both ended with a
Japanese victory and the acquisition of new territories.