Chapter 5: What Factors Influence Change
in Meiji Japan?
How Did Outside Influences Create a
Crisis?
How Did Japan Respond to the Crisis?
How Did the Political System Change?
How Did Japan Begin to Modernize?
What Factors Influenced Change in
Meiji Japan?
In the mid 19th century…
Japan changed to a urbanized society
The Seclusion Policy’s wanted to be
continued
The outside world had other plans….
Thinking About Your Island
You have managed to keep your island isolated
from the rest of the world for hundreds of years.
You have discovered that other countries have
new technologies and ways of doing things that
you don’t have, ie. New medical procedures, new
warfare methods, technology.
1. How concerned would the people of your island be
that the rest of the world has all this advanced
technology?
2. You have decided to modernize your country to catch
up with the rest of the world in a short period of time.
How will you accomplish this? Where would you begin?
What would be your vision of your new society?
Individually complete a one page write up answering all
of the above questions
Thinking About Your Island
The Debate: Round Table Discussion
Which would be the best way to modernize a
country
Expectations
You need to raise your hand and wait for the
speaker to acknowledge you
Once acknowledged you may explain your
point
Remember: Your participation in the debate
and how your communicate your idea
determines your mark for this skill
Thinking About Your Island
#1. Going around the group what are
your ideas for rapid modernization.
#2. Who’s idea is the best?
Justify why!!!!
How Did Outside Influences Create
a Crisis?
It was inevitable that there would be
outside influence in Japan
Many trading ships passing by
Ship wrecked sailors washing up on
shore
The Bakufu and Shogun were afraid of
losing influence in Japan and the
sovereignty
They kept the isolation policies
How Did Outside Influences Create
a Crisis?
The Influence of Russia Assignment
Reading pages 166 and 167 find all the
information needed to complete the
assignment
The Influence of Russia
Think-Pair-Share
In groups of four compare your
conclusions
Decide on the best information to share
with the rest of the class
The Influence of Russia
Timeline
1798-Japan learns that Russia is settling in the
Kuril Islands
1801-Japan claimed the Kuril Islands and drove
the Russians off
1804-Russia asks for trade relations. Japan
makes them wait 6 months to tell them no
1805-Annoyed with the slow response a
Russian ship begins nuisance attacks
1811-Japan kept with isolation policy. They
captured the commander of the Russian ship,
held him in prison for 2 years before releasing
him to the Dutch
What Russia Did….
Why Did they take Interest in Japan?
What Russia Did….
To create a crisis?
What Russia Did….
What did they do to stop the crisis?
What Japan Did….
How did they respond to the interest?
What Japan Did….
To create a crisis?
What Japan Did….
To stop the crisis?
How Did Outside Influences Create
a Crisis?
Assignment: The Influence of Europe
and China
Complete the assignment working in
pairs reading pages 168-169
Assignment: The Influence of
Europe and China
Think-Pair-Share
In groups of four share your ideas and
decide on the most important ones to
discuss with the class.
What Europe Did……
Why was there increasing interest?
What Europe Did……
To Create a Crisis?
What Europe Did……
Were their actions positive/negative?
Possible consequences?
What Japan Did……
How did they respond to European
countries?
What Japan Did……
To Create a Crisis?
What Japan Did……
Were their actions taken positive or
negative? Consequences?
What Did China Do….
Why was there increasing interest?
What Did China Do….
To Create a Crisis?
To Create a Crisis?
Were their actions taken positive or
negative? Consequences?
What Japan Did……
How did they respond to European
countries?
What Japan Did……
To Create a Crisis?
What Japan Did……
Were their actions taken positive or
negative? Consequences?
Thinking About Your Island
Imagine that a foreign country arrived
in one of your ports with an army of
war ships claiming that they want to
discuss trade arrangements.
How would you view their methods?
Peaceful or forceful?
Would you be intimidated?
How would your approach the situation?
The Influence of the United States
The United States also wanted to
establish trade relations
Along a major trade route and wanted to
set up a coal refueling station
Assistance for any ship wrecked sailors
But things did not go as smoothly as
everyone hoped…
The Crisis With America: Fearing for
Sovereignty
1845: American Representative sent to
establish trade and coal station. They were
told to sail to Nagasaki after landing in Edo.
1853: Commodore Perry entered Edo with
4 war ships met with 5000 samurai to meet
with Japanese officials. Perry had three
goals
Get supplies and coal
Protect American ship wrecked sailors
Enter a trade agreement
The Crisis With America: Fearing for
Sovereignty
1854: Perry returned with a stronger
squadron. Bakufu signed the Treaty of
Kanasawa.
This allowed Japan to stay independent and
control their country
Perry only accomplished two of his goals with
the treaty
Two ports were open to the US
Shipwrecked sailors would be helped
The Crisis With America: Fearing for
Sovereignty
1856: A complex trade agreement was
trying to be established between the US
and Japan
Shogun supported it but the Emperor did not
1858: The Harris Treaty is signed after long
negotiations
Americans were alowed to live in Edo and
Osaka under American laws
1863: 5 ports were open to US ships,
allowing goods to enter Japan
US supplied Japan with ships, weapons,
technicians
Japans Response to Change…
The Bakufu and the samurai had heated
debates over the treaties
They were seen as unequal treaties favoring
the US
This started the pressure to sign treaties
with other European countries
Again these were unequal treaties and people
began to lose support in the shogun
Isolation was no longer possible
Japan had to change to compete with the
western world
The Crisis With The World: Fearing for
Sovereignty
Study Tool: Cause and Effect: Japan
Policy vs. The World
Complete cause and effect chart with a
partner
How Did Japan Respond to the
Crisis?
Thinking About Your Island
Two different point of views have been
created about your island coming out of
isolation
One says to stay in isolation and fight back
One says to change and begin trade to
avoid violence
Can you think of points that will support
each point of view for your island?
Thinking About Your Island
Points for staying is isolation…
-keep culture , religion, beliefs
-keep power and control
-less visitors
-not as many diseases
Thinking About Your Island
Points for opening up to trade…
-new weapons technology (technicians)
-different kind of food
-be informed of what other people have
-allies
-new language
-new visitors
How Did Japan Respond to the
Crisis?
Different Points of View
Japan would be forced into trade
agreements eventually
Not possible to remain isolated
Did not want to be taken over by other
countries
Japan needed to use western technologies
to become more powerful and independent
How Did Japan Respond to the
Crisis?
Different Points of View Cont
Japan should remain isolated
Declare war on western countries
Kill all foreigners in Japan
Believed that the common Japanese would
be exposed to a different way of living and
technology
Would undermine the social structure and
class system
How Did Japan Respond to the
Crisis? –Civil Unrest
Mid 1800’s unrest across all of Japan
Poor crops caused people to starve
Why pay taxes?
Blaming the government because they
could not control peoples unrest
This all caused people to lose support
for the Bakufu
Why were they making all these changes
dealing with foreigners?
How Did Japan Respond to the
Crisis? –Civil Unrest
Many samurai were beginning to
support the Emperor more than the
shogun
Harris treaty went against the Emperor
wishes
Felt stronger loyalty to Emperor
They truly never really supported the shogun
– Choshu, Satsuma, Tosa, Saga
They used the issue of foreign presence to
fuel contempt for Bakufu
How Did Japan Respond to the
Crisis? –Civil Unrest
The critics of the shogun wanted to
create a new government headed by the
Emperor
“Revere the emperor! Expel the barbarians”
They began to prepare for war using
western weapons
In 1867 samurai from Tosa convinced
the shogun to resign
Before this could happen Satsuma and
Choshu military intervened and claimed Meiji
as the emperor
He quickly abolished the shogun
How Did Japan Respond to the
Crisis? –Civil Unrest
Shogun responded with a military attack
Battle continued until the shogun’s military
was defeated in the spring of 1869 (The Last
Samurai)
Edo surrendered without a battle
Now the Imperial Court was the highest
authority in Japan
Edo was renamed Tokyo “Eastern Capital”
How Did Japan Respond to the
Crisis?
What kinds of civil unrest did the Bakufu have
to deal with during the 250 years following up
to the Meiji Period?
How many ways can you come up with that
Japan used to resolve the conflicts during
this period of isolation?
How Did Japan Respond to the
Crisis?
What kinds of civil unrest did the Bakufu have
to deal with during the 250 years following up
to the Meiji Period?
How many ways can you come up with that
Japan used to resolve the conflicts during
this period of isolation?
How Did the Political System
Change?
Meiji leaders used the creation myth to
their advantage with the Emperor
“sacred and inviolable”
Appeal to Japanese traditionalists to build
loyalty
Used a young Emperor as a symbol of unity
He was loved by all!!!!!!
How Did the Political System
Change?
The Charter Oath
1868 Emperor Meiji signed the Charter Oath
that outlined the goals of the new regime
Future policies would be based on consensus from all
daimyo in all domains
– Democracy????
The charter showed a change in all three areas
of a worldview
Political, social, culture
The leaders hoped this would be the new
model for Japan
The Unity of Rights and Rule
How Did the Political System
Change?
Deliberative assemblies shall be widely
established and all matters decided by
public discussion
Those who did not participate in the coup are
still involved in the national policy
Samurai will not be left out
All classes, high and low, shall unite in
vigorously carrying out the administration
of the state
Challenge to old social structure and plea for
unity
How Did the Political System
Change?
The common people, no less than the civil
and military officials, shall be allowed to
persue their own calling so that there shall
be no dissent
Abolish the feudal system, create freedom
Evil customs of the past shall be ended
and everything shall be based on the laws
of nature
Rewards based on merit, not family
How Did the Political System
Change?
Knowledge shall be sought throughout the
world so as to strengthen the foundations
of imperial rule
Shows true openness to foreign knowledge and
increase power
How Did the Political System
Change?
Thinking About Your Island
How do you think the citizens of your island
would react to the sudden opening of your
borders to other countries?
How would creating a Charter of Oath like
Japan affect the way you ruled your country?
How would that unify your country after a civil
war?
How can you see different points of view in the
Charter of Oath? Give specific examples
How Did Japan Reshape Its Worldview
and Begin to Modernize?
New Leadership
The Emperor was the official head of
government
The coup leaders created an oligarchy and were in
charge
Created changes that promoted economic growth and
industrialization
“Enrich the country, strengthen the military”
How Did Japan Reshape Its Worldview
and Begin to Modernize?
The new leaders were young, intelligent
samurai who wanted change
Academic and military skills
Traveled to other countries
Studied under Yoshida or Satsuma
Originally against foreigners but realized quality of
western technology and its benefits
They had two key goals
Modernize Japan and make economy grow
Renegotiate the “unequal treaties”
How Did Japan Reshape Its Worldview
and Begin to Modernize?
They wanted Japan to become strong to
have better negotiations with other
countries
Wanted to be seen as equals
They wanted to build a competitive nation
for the modern world but still be Japanese
The new leaders looked towards the
Western nations for a model to rebuild
Japan
They saw Europe and North America as
powerful and wealthy
How Did Japan Reshape Its Worldview
and Begin to Modernize?
Change in Japan’s Worldview
Invited foreign educators, specialists and
experts to assist in manufacturing and industry
Sent half their leaders to learn about
institutions, laws, and customs of successful
Western nations
The Iwakura Mission
How Did Japan Reshape Its Worldview
and Begin to Modernize?
How Did Japan Reshape Its Worldview
and Begin to Modernize?
The Iwakura Mission
Purpose was to find the best ideas around the
world and bring them back to Japan
Most urgent matter: change Japans education
system
They wanted to be like Germany and the US
Change government to a representative one
Charter Oath as a foundation for a national
constitution that shapes Japans laws
Be careful to ensure that the people are ready for that
type of government before using it
How Did Japan Reshape Its Worldview
and Begin to Modernize?
The Iwakura Mission
Seen the importance of religious freedom
Encouraged private enterprise and business
Needed new education system to teach this
The rest of the world is based on competitive,
colonial expansion
Japanese leaders must be careful with this
Conclusion of the trip
Japan was not in immediate danger of losing its
independence
Had to modernize Japan!!
How Did Japan Reshape Its Worldview
and Begin to Modernize?
How Did Japan Reshape Its Worldview
and Begin to Modernize?
Thinking About Your Island
Why would you look at other countries for ideas
to modernize/improve your island?
How would you decide which ideas were the
most important to modernize your island?
How would your island become modern but
keeping all the culture and traditions that you
had before?
Chapter Review
Position Paper Topic
Explain in detail what the role of the
samurai was in the transition from the
Edo period to the Meiji Period.
Review Check List
Do I Get It or Not?