What Factors Influenced
Change in Meiji Japan?
The end of Isolation
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Outcomes
8.1.6.1 – What were the motivations for
the radical changes in Japan’s model of
organization during the Meiji period?
 8.1.6.2 – How did Japan adapt to changes
brought on by the transition from feudal
to modern models of organization?
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Key words
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Czar: Russian monarch
Assimilate: to be absorbed into a larger
group, often by giving up aspects of identity
Commodore: a former US Navy ranking
above captain and below rear admiral
Inviolable: not to be violated or injured
Representative government: a government in
which decisions are made by elected
representatives
Focus Questions
How did outside influences create a
crisis?
 How can individuals change the way
others view the world? (Focus on inquiry
question)
 How did Japan respond to the crisis?
 How did the political system change?
 How did Japan reshape its world view and
begin to modernize?
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Factors that influenced Japan
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This chapter focuses on the outside
influences that forced Japan to make many
changes that modernized the country.
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What Made Japan Change To A
Modern Country?
By
the mid 19th century, Japan was changing
into an urbanized society
It tried to keep everyone out and
remained isolated from the world
The outside world however would not
leave Japan alone
The only trading that happened with Japan
at this time was with the Dutch East India
Company
How Did Outside Influences Create
a Crisis?
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Japan’s contact with the outside world was
inevitable – Why do you think this is?
Foreign ships continued to sail along Japan’s
coast line to trade to other countries, but
once in a while ships would sink and sailors
would be washed ashore
The Shogun and the Bakufu were worried
they would lose power in society if they
abandoned the policy of isolation
The Influence of Russia
Russians
began to build outposts on the Kuril
Islands and introduce Christianity to the Ainu.
 The Russians were eventually forced to leave by
the Japanese as they claimed the islands for Japan
The Russians continued to try and establish trade
relations with Japan but even in 1804 the Japanese
still refused
In 1811, to demonstrate their strength, the
Japanese captured a captain off one of the Russian
ships that continued to pester them with trade
propositions. They held him captive for two years
before releasing him to the Dutch
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The Influence of Europe
European influence, through the Dutch East India Company,
convinced the Japanese they needed to learn more about
Western Civilization
 They imported and translated books about western history,
institutions, military and science.
 Some Japanese officials believed that European languages
were basically one language because all were written
horizontally, not vertically, like Asian languages
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◦ They thought this was a plan to fool their enemies
They also noticed Europeans dressed in a similar manner
 The officials believed since there were similar languages and
clothing that there must be one superpower in Europe.
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The Influence of China
In
1842, Japan learned that the powerful
country of China had lost its independence to
the European nation of Great Britain after
losing a war
Britain gained right to land at specific ports,
having low fixed tariffs, as well as not having
Chinese law enforced on Westerners
All of these resulted in China being very weak;
and Britain extended these rights to all
countries wanting to trade with Britain
The Japanese were now afraid they might also
lose their independence if they did begin trading
with the western nations.
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China
1839, war between China
and Britain
 Opium trade (very addictive
drug)
 Britain started smuggling it
(China not happy)
 Chinese banned the sale
 Britain sent warships and
attacked (Britain won)
 China had to sign “Unequal
Treaties” where they got
“carved up like a melon” by
other European countries
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http://www.us-china-edu.com/images/china1.jpg
Opium Wars
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The Influence of the
United States
At this time the United States was
looking to open coal stations for its ships
along the Japanese coast because it was a
long journey and needed to re- fuel
 Also the United States wanted promises
that if one of their ships went down; their
sailors would get assistance on Japan’s
shores
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July 14th, 1853
Commodore Perry arrived at Japan with 2
steamships, 2 sailing vessels, 977 men, and
66 guns
 Came with letter from President Millard
Fillmore
 Wanted trade, protection for
shipwrecked Americans, and the right to
buy coal for ships
 Perry said he’d return for an answer
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1854
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Perry returned with 18 black ships and more
troops
Treaty of Kanasawa- opened two Japanese ports,
established an American consulate, and demands for
shipwrecked sailors and coal were accepted
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American Expansionism
Were constantly
expanding West in
their country since
their dependence
 Manifest Destiny The belief that the
USA had a mission to
spread its territory
and its ideas about
democracy and
economics westward
across North America
and beyond
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http://www.historyonthenet.com/American_West/images/manifes
tdestiny.jpg
1856-1863
An American consul, Townsend Harris was
sent to Japan to organize a more complex
trade agreement
 After long negotiations the Harris treaty was
finally signed (1858)
 This treaty allowed Americans to live in Edo
and Osaka under protection of American law
 Five ports were now open to the US, as well
as the US negotiated an agreement to supply
Japan with ships, arms and technicians
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Internal Unrest
There were several heated debates between the
Bakufu and the samurai as to whether they
should have agreed with the United States
requests
 Many viewed the two treaties as favoring the
States
 Japan signed similar treaties with England, France,
the Netherlands, and Russia later that year
 Isolation was no longer possible!
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◦ Japan now needed to compete with West in order to
protect Japan’s sovereignty and meet foreign
challenges
Culture Shock
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When people are
suddenly exposed
to an unfamiliar
way of life, culture,
or attitudes
 What do you
think that main
shocks would be
between the
USA and Japan?
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Civil Unrest
By the mid 1800’s there was widespread
unrest across the country
 Bad weather caused crop failures resulting
in many farmers and peasants starving
 Not only did they begin to question the
taxes but the government as well
 Support for the Bakufu was weakening
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Civil War
Treaties seen as weakness of the Shogun
People started rioting in the streets and
using violence
 Opposing Daimyo were retired or put
under arrest
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◦ Their samurai then imprisoned, exiled or
executed
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Attacks on foreigners increased
◦ Foreign gunboats then bombarded Japan’s
shore
1868
The shogun resigned
Petitioned emperor to take over power
More civil war because some wanted
shogunate restored
 Others wanted emperor to rule
 Country is divided
 In end, 30,000 troops (emperor
supporters) blasted the shogunate
stronghold, set it on fire: new era
starting
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New Emperor
Moved into the Tokugawa castle of Edo
and renamed the city Tokyo
 Tokyo means “Eastern Capital”
 Finally the Tokugawa Era that last more
than 250 years was over
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Political System changing…
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The Meiji leaders declared the Emperor
sacred and inviolable
Young Emperor was seen as symbol of unity
and became an icon to bind the country
together
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The Charter of Oath
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The organizers of the takeover knew it was
important to gain the confidences of all the
domains in the new government
In April 1868, Emperor Meiji signed the
Charter of Oath which outlined the goals of
the new regime
Future policies would be based on the
consensus of the daimyo of all domains
This charter showed change in all three
elements of worldview: political and
economic systems, social systems and
culture
The Charter Oath (pg.182)
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
Deliberative assemblies shall be widely established and
all matters decided in public discussion
All classes, high and low, shall unite in vigorously
carrying out the administration of the state
The common people, no less than the civil and
military officials, shall each be allowed to pursue their
own calling to that there shall be no dissent
Evil customs of the past shall be ended and everything
shall be based on the just laws of nature
Knowledge shall be sought throughout the world so
as to strengthen the foundations of imperial rule
New Leadership
Although the Emperor was the official
head of government, the men who had
overthrown the Tokugawa Bakufu formed
and oligarchy and were in charge
 They created changes in Japan that
promoted economic growth and
industrialization
 Their slogan was “Enrich the country;
strengthen the military”
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New Leadership
The new leaders were young
intelligent samurai eager for
change
 Average age among them was
30
 They had two goals:
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◦ To modernize Japan and make
the economy grow
◦ To renegotiate unequal treaties
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The new leaders decided that
they did not want to restore
traditional ways but create but
a new modernized Japan
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Modernizing Japan
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The new leaders wanted models so they could
rebuild Japan
They looked towards Western nations as they
saw Europe and North America as being wealthy
and powerful
Through modernization Japans worldview
changed drastically
Japan now welcomed foreigners and brought it
educators and experts to help Japan along in the
process
Japan also sent some of the leaders abroad to
learn about laws and customs in successful
Western nations
The Iwakuru Mission
In 1871, the new governments sent 50 officials and 50
students on a 22 months tour of 12 countries
 Their purpose was to find the best ideas throughout
the world and bring them back to Japan
 Iwakuru Tomomi, led the mission as a Chief
Ambassador and completed his report in 1878
 He concluded that:
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◦ Japan was not in any immediate danger of losing its
independence to another country
◦ Japan must modernize their society
◦ They were hopelessly behind as the had expected
Modernization of Japan
The country was now ready to face new
challenges…
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References
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Information taken from:
◦ Our Canada, Nelson, a division of Thomson
Canada, 2006. pg. Chapter 5.