May our country,
taking what is good,
and rejecting what is bad,
be not inferior
to any other”
A I N S P I R AT I O N A L P O E M W R I T T E N B Y E M P E R O R M E I J I O F J A PA N I N T H E L A T E 1 8 0 0 S .
H O W I S T H I S P O E M A N I N S P I R AT I O N TO T H E P E O P L E O F J A PA N TO B E C O M E A M O D E R N C O U N T R Y ?
REWRITE I T I N YOUR OWN WORDS.
Background
 Tokugawa
family take power over Japan in 1603
Closed Japan to travel overseas
Nagasaki only port open; very limited trade and only w/ Dutch
200+ years Japan in isolation
Resorted to old ways of life while rest of world was developing
Discontent throughout Japan
Contact with America
News of British victory in Opium War and the treaties enforced on
China reached Japan
July, 1853, American Commodore Matthew Perry sailed into Tokyo
Commodore Perry brings with him a four warships, including two
steam frigates.
The two letters
With Perry’s ships came a letter from the President
The Japanese, needless to say, didn’t welcome the United States or
what she brought with her
Commodore Perry’s letter
Pull out the sheet we worked on
Wednesday/Thursday (depending on what class
period)
List the Characteristics of what you think makes up
a modern nation (think about the U.S. and similar
countries)
The Meiji Restoration
“A rich Country, a strong Military”
Study Western Ways. Adapt what we like.
Don’t have to give into Western demands
Members of Gov’t and young Samurai sent
abroad to study
The Charter Oath of 1868
By this oath we set up as our aim the establishment of the national weal on a broad basis and the framing of a
constitution and laws.
1. Deliberative assemblies shall be widely established and all matters
decided by public discussion.
2. All classes, high and low, shall unite in vigorously carrying out the
administration of affairs of state.
3. The common people, no less than the civil and military officials, shall
each be allowed to pursue his own calling so that there may be no
discontent.
4. Evil customs of the past shall be broken off and everything based
upon the just laws of Nature.
5. Knowledge shall be sought throughout the world so as to strengthen
the foundations of imperial rule.*
Gov’t
Meiji Constitution
All are equal before law
Emperor= Absolute power
Satsuma Rebellion 1877
Legislature- bi-cameral ( 1 house elected and 1 house appointed)
Western Style bureaucracy
Different depts. Supervise areas of gov’t
Ended Special privilege of Samurai to strengthen military
All men subject to military service
Industrialization
Modernization….now Imperialism
Korea: tributary state of China
◦ Tributary: recognizes supremacy of stronger
state, but still independent
Korea had shut its doors to foreigners (except
china and japan)
Chinese power declines, Russian and Japan
eye Korea
1876: Japan forces Korea to open ports
st
1
Sino(“Chinese”)-Japanese War
1894,
Japan wins easily
Gain ports in China and
control over Taiwan
Russo-Japanese War
Japan wins again!!!
Defeats troops in Manchuria
Destroys whole Russian Fleet
1905 Treaty of PortsmouthJapan now controls Korea
and rights in parts of
Manchuria
Japan’s rule over Korea for 35 years!
POSITIVES
NEGATIVES
Set to modernize
Harsh on the people
Build railroads, factories, communications
Set out to erase Korean language/ identity
Produced more rice than ever before
Korean nationalism will rise
1919; nonviolent protest is suppressed
w/violence
◦ Encourages nationalism
In reality, this all benefited Japan more than
Korea