AP World History
NDRD1945
AP World History Period 5: c. 1750-1900
ANSWER KEY ON COMPARING INDUSTRIALIZATION IN WESTERN EUROPE AND
JAPAN & ITS IMPACT ON SOCIETY
Themes
Western Europe
in the Industrial Age
Japan in the
Industrial Age
Source of
Capital
Private entrepreneurs – capitalists.
Limited foreign investment.
Energy
Resources
Large domestic deposits of coal for
steam power.
Large domestic deposits of iron for
building machinery.
Much of the technology that spurred
the industrial revolution was
developed in Great Britain:
Scarcity of capital and unfamiliarity
of new technology compelled “state”
direction and investment in initial
stages of development.
Later on – by 1890’s – a few wealthy
banking and industrial families
developed large business interests –
these were known as (Zaibatsus).
Very limited foreign investment.
Japanese peasants paid very high
taxes to government to fund this
rapid industrialization.
Japan was a resource poor nation – it
had to import energy sources such as
coal.
Availability of
Technology
Labor Force
Transportation
System
 Spinning machines – for
textile mills.
 Steam engines.
 Steel making processes.
Rise of population (5 to 9 million in
the 18th century – 18 million by 1850!)
and the rise of urbanization provided
the need for new labor in the factor
systems.
Internal railway system.
Shipping companies for export.
The advantage that Japan had was
that it did not have to “develop” the
machinery – however – the
disadvantage was that it had to import
the machinery from the West.
Japan also witnessed a rapid rise in
population and urban growth.
Internal railway system.
Shipping companies for export.
AP World History
AP World History Period 5: c. 1750-1900
NDRD1945
Themes
Western Europe
in the Industrial Age
Japan in the
Industrial Age
Impact on
Society
Rise of middle class – the bourgeoisie.
Conspicuous consumption and the
emergence of the Leisure class and
entertainment spheres of society.
Class tension.
Overcrowding in large cities –
environmental pollution – epidemics
of cholera, typhus, dysentery and
tuberculosis.
 The rise of crime and social
“ills” in large cities.
 Changing roles of the
“family”.
 Changing roles of women –
upper class women (separate
spheres).
 Reform movements:
 Labor unions.
 Socialism / Communism.
 Women’s suffrage (voting
rights).
 Universal education.
Japanese government introduced a
universal education system –
providing primary schools for all.
University education stressed the
importance of math, science and
technical subjects.
Education also stressed “traditional”
Japanese elements: loyalty to nation,
emperor, filial piety towards parents,
respect for superiors and traditional
family life.
 Despite changes brought by
industrialization and the
arrival of western cultural
habits – a reliance of the
subordinate position of women
remained.
 Japan also witnessed a rise of
social “ills” as the result of
rapid industrialization – many
faced malnutrition, starvation
– families living in destitution.
 Rebellions or labor unions or
strikes by workers were not
tolerated by the government –
military police or the army
were used to put down these
activities.