Chapter 6: How Did Rapid Change During the Meiji Period Affect Japans Worldview? How Did Japan Decide to Implement Change During the Meiji Period How Did

Chapter 6: How Did Rapid Change During the Meiji Period Affect Japans Worldview?

How Did Japan Decide to Implement Change During the Meiji PeriodHow Did Modernizing the Japanese Political System Reflect a New WorldviewHow Did Japan Change Its Economic SystemHow Did Japan Change Its Military System to Meet Political NeedsHow Did Japan’s New Worldview Change its Social SystemsHow Did Japans Culture ChangeHow Did Changes in the Edo Period Compare to Changes in the Meiji Period

Thinking About Your IslandAs the leader of your island you have decided to adopt some ideas and technologies from other countries. You are concerned as how you are going to maintain the traditional culture you have created

Select one of the values/belief that you would want to keep as you change your island.

How are you going to keep it?How are you going to convince others that this value/belief is worth keeping

How are you going to make decisions and who will be involved in choosing between the traditional ideas of the island and the new ideas you want to introduce

How Did Japan Decide to Implement Change During the Meiji Period?

To secure Japan’s future, the leaders of Japan borrowed ideas from Western ideologies

Implemented aspects of DemocracyElected representatives

Adjust society to an Industrialized nationPublic education was important for this!!!

Accepted new technologiesThese rapid changes dramatically changed Japans worldview

The values and beliefs about culture, social systems, and political/economic systems

How Did Modernizing The Japanese Political System Reflect a New Worldview? Pg 194-198

The leaders of the Meiji government decided to prepare for a constitutional government

Did not want to rush into it

They needed to prepare Japan for such a change

How Did Modernizing The Japanese Political System Reflect a New Worldview?

To Modernize the government the oligarchy decided that they would need to..

Unify the territory of JapanUse models of government that could be adapted to Japanese NeedsChange the social order so all citizens would have the same loyalty and obligation to the stateCreate a constitution so the most important Japanese values and beliefs would guide the country in the future

How Did Modernizing The Japanese Political System Reflect a New Worldview? Pg 194-198

Individually read pages 194-198 and complete the missing information on the power point slides.


Unifying the CountryThe young leaders used their relationships with samurai to help unify the former domains and their military forcesThe daimyos from Choshu, Satsuma, Tosa and Hizen surrendered their lands and records to the imperial government

They all asked to be placed under a set of unified laws and regulations

1871 all the domains were abolished and replaced by a prefecture system

Kind of like a large country

The Emperor was used as a symbol to create nationalism in the newly unified nation


Searching for a New Model of GovernmentThe leaders wanted to be efficient and economical with their new government

There was some disagreements– Some wanted a liberal government, some wanted a

conservative government

They finally made a choice: The German-style government

Strong cabinet and limited powers of parliament

Centralized Control

The new government was called the Dajokan


Political Change Affects Social SystemsThe government wanted people to be loyal to the central state and Emperor, not the daimyo

They eliminated the hierarchical social order

Feudal class system was abolished– People can now choose their occupations freely!!!

With these changes national unity was slowly growing


Creating a ConstitutionJapan believed that they were a world leader

Strong and capable like any other nation

The leaders were in favor of creating a constitution for these reasons

Strong European countries had one

They would be regarded as a powerful nation if they had a Western-style constitution

It would unify Japan further


Creating a ConstitutionThere was disputes as to what model Japan should follow with their constitution

Former samurai, now called shizoku, were not satisfied with the control from a central government

Wanted greater participation in government and elected assembly


The Constitution of Japan-1889The Emperor is inviolable and above the law of the constitution

Government ministers are responsible to the Emperor

The Emperor has the power toCommand the military and forign policy

Disolve the Imperial Diet at will

The Imperial Diet is divided into two houses of equal power

Citizens are granted the freedom of speech, religion and association. However, the government can withdraw these rights


But there was trouble brewing...3 political parties backed by different newspapers were formed

They had public debates/violent revolts

The Meiji oligarchy created more restrictionsThe government can sensor the papers

Public assemblies were banned

Peoples rights activists reacted by creating organizations and clubs calling for a representative government


Reflect and Respond #3Working together with a partner

Full sentences and paragraphs

How Did Japan Change Its Economic System? Pg 199-202

Review of terms…With a partner create/remember the definitions for the following words

Barter Economic System

Feudal Economic System

Capitalism

Industrialization

How Did Japan Change Its Economic System?

Thinking About Your IslandDuring your hundreds of years in isolation your island used a Feudal-system based economic system (all the wealth is located at the top of your social structure and trickles down to the rest via spending, paying for labor, ect). Before you modernize your country you need to change your economic system to a capitalism based operation. Think of five ways that you would be able to do that to your island.


The ways to change from Feudalism to Capitalism


Under the shoguns, Japan had created a very strong foundation to modernize and become more industrialized

Road systems

Markets

Vibrant merchant class

Small businesses

Some banks

These were huge for Japans successful modernization

Why??


Although the Japanese were ready to rapidly evolve, there were some restrictions that would slow down the process

Trade agreements made with Western powersThey cannot lower the taxes on domestic goods and raise taxes on foreign goods

– The Unequal Treaties……

Why would it be beneficial to Japan to lower domestic taxes and increase foreign taxes?

Hint: Its on page 199


IndustrializationIn the beginning all the new industries and manufacturing were government funded and owned

This was needed to jump start Japans modernization and catch up with the West

But this was really expensive for the Japanese government

They sold all the industries and manufacturing to private businesses but kept all military-based industries


Industrialization (cont)Because the government-run industries being sold to private investors a large part of Japans major industries were controlled by private companies

This reduced economic competition and worried economists

– Why??

These private companies were called zaibatsu and were closely tied with the government

This further increased support for Emperor Meiji


CapitalismIn 1881 Matsukata became Japans Minister of Finance

He believed that….Japan needed to renegotiate the unequal treaties and adopt new economic policies. Until those are done the government needs to reduce spending

Create new taxes and lower the value of printed money to raise more money for modernization

The government will not manage industries but create conditions that will encourage private business

Create a Department of Agriculture and Commerce and a State Bank


The benefits of Matsukata’s policies were not quickly felt in Japan

Many small farmers lost their lands

Many small businesses went broke

But at the end of the Meiji period Japans national income doubled and was quickly on its way to becoming a capitalist society


What is a capitalist society?Individuals/government are engaged in business

Focus is on the entrepreneurs who establish/operate companies

Goal is to make a profit by producing/obtaining goods at a low price and selling them at a high price

People work for wages and use it to purchase goods they need/want


The new “Western Based” Japanese government helped the economy change and grow by…

All four major islands were joined via railroad and all roads were pavedDeeper harbors Telegraph and phone linesThe brought in new technologies and foreigners to train the japaneseSet up the Ministry of Banking to provide subsidies to new businesses


Reflect and Responding

Full sentences and paragraph form!!!Why might lower taxes on imported goods such as books and machinery but high taxes on imported clothing been beneficial?

Mini Skills AssignmentA Speech to Support a Radical Thought

Thinking About Your Island

To help modernize your island you have decided that you need to use your military to do so. How would you use your military to help modernize your island?

How Did Japan Change Its Military System to Meet Political Needs?

Notes AssignmentWith a partner read pages 203-206 completing the missing information on the power point slides.


To model after western countries, Japan wanted a strong military for several reasons

It would strengthen the governmentMilitary is an extension of their political-military goals

They can also defeat internal opposition

Would be considered a minor nation by western nations without military strength

This was needed to renegotiate the unequal treaties

Japan wanted to become a colonial power

Leaders needed a strong military to ensure they can meet their political goals


Japan decided to create a powerful navy and army

Modeled after Britain's navy and Germanys army

The new leaders of Japan had military experience from past wars

Satsuma had built a strong navy

Choshu had built a strong military

Both used western models to train and develop their armed forces


At the same time Japan was building their army the west was reorganizing and rebuilding their own armies

How might this make Japan a little upset?

Timeline of a New Military1870

An Imperial Guard is created with 30 000 troops under control of the Emperor

1872Japan sent its naval officers to Britain to study their navy and ships. They also bought some British ships but built some of their own

1873New army used the French idea of conscription. All men had to go into the army

1876Japan used “gunboat diplomacy” on North Korean to have them open their ports for trade and sign an unequal treaty

Timeline of a New Military1880

Japans army based on Germany: strict discipline and tight admin control

1882A new bushido code: loyalty to Emperor

This code was the same one that was used by the old samurai class (now abolished!!)

1894Japan took North Korea from China with a quick victory.

Made China sign an unequal treaty in their favor

1900Japan aided western nations to put down a Chinese rebellion against the British

This showed that Western nations saw Japan as an important nation


The national military change affected Japanese worldview

Young Japanese men were forced to leave their homes

They all received educational training

They brought modern technology back home when they returned

They also brought home a new sense of nationalism and loyalty to the Emperor

Reflect and Responding

Answer the following questions in complete sentences and in paragraph form.

The military is part of the political and economic element of worldview. How could the military be used as a powerful tool for reuniting citizens?

How were the traditional values and beliefs of the samurai used to create a strong military?

Thinking About Your Island:Social Change

Because you have changed your economic system and military system you need to update your social system. What changes would you make to have your social classes work well with the newly modernize island?

How Did Japan’s New Worldview Change Its Social System? 207-210

With a partner complete the chart assignment: Comparing Edo Social System to the Modernized Meiji System

Due at the end of class


When Japans leaders implemented rapid change the social system was drastically affected

The traditional feudal system was abolishedNo ridged class structure

Individuals were free to better their own status, change occupations, and move around the country as they desired

A huge part of this change was the education system that Japan used…


The adaptations during the Meiji period changed how Japanese society was organized..

Iwakura mission discovered that successful nations had a strong education system

Japanese citizens had to be educated for the country to be successful


The government decided that for the people to carry out and accept these new reforms and long-term educational plan was needed

They used it to strengthen national and social unity

Widen the support of the people

Ensure that the values of citizenship and duty were taught

Technical schools were set up and elementary became compulsory for all children


In 1871 the government established a Ministry of Education

Used to develop an national education system

Goal was to develop a system for all children that would break down class and regional identities and help raise the standard of living


In 1884 Mori became the Minister of Education

He restructured the national school system to include universal primary and middle schools

Set up a system of universities

Government curriculum promoted strong, common moral values, a strong national identity, and loyalty to the Emperor


Mori believed that universities should have academic freedom

Promote students to be innovative

He established the Imperial University and a second national university that was government ran

Tuition was free for those who were accepted

Graduates automatically were qualified for government jobs


Why did the Japanese government decide that it was important for everyone to be educated? How did this aspect of the Meiji worldview differ from the Edo worldview?

How did traditional values and beliefs influence the new education system?

What do you think was the most positive change from the Feudal Social System to the Meiji Social System?

Write a short (1/2 page) paragraph explaining why.

Thinking About Your Island: Changing Your Culture

Now after you have changed your social system, political and economic system and your beliefs and values in your island your culture is drastically going to change. How would your culture change in these areas?

Religion

Attitudes of your citizens

The ideas of citizenship and participation in society

How Did Japan’s Culture Change? Page 211-213

The values and beliefs about Japanese culture also changed during the Meiji Period

The role of religion

Changing attitudes

Ideas of participation and citizenship


What role did religion play?Oligarchy wanted to make Shintoism the national religion and part of school curriculum

If everyone had the same belief system it would create better national unity

There was a bit of confusion…Confucian virtues still being taught in schools, military and through bushido

No matter what the government did many people still practiced Buddhism and Confucianism


How Did the Attitudes Change?Young intellectuals believed and promoted the idea that if Japan was to succeed, the individual had to succeed

Periodicals were writing about liberty and individualism

This was contradictory to the old Japanese belief that the individual was not valued but to work with the group


How Did the Attitudes Change?The attitude towards Japan’s history changed and a new sense of nationalism emerged

They used their rich history because the Meiji government failed to renegotiate the unequal treaties

– Bitterness felt towards the west

They also felt that the move towards a western lifestyle had gone too far and Japan was losing its identity

Japanese writers argued for the virtues and importance of being JapaneseWrote about maintaining Japanese traditional values


How did ideas of citizenship and participation change?

With the new social system peasants had more opportunities to become more involved in society

Many became strong lobbyists and wrote to the government

Before it was unheard of for a commoner to complain to the government and demand more

This scared the Meiji government who felt that was still a need of strict government control over the country


JaponismeAfter Japan opened their borders to the west, Americans and Europeans were entranced with Japanese art and culture

Influenced western paintings, sculptures, graphic arts, architecture, and ceramics

Soon the demand for Japanese art became a cultural craze

Many people started to demand anything Japanese for their homes

– Decorative art, interior design, furnishings, clothing, literature and theater


Reflect and RespondingReading page 215 think of an area of your modern life that Japan has some way influenced. Write a short description of how your life might have been if the Japan would have never opened their borders.

Full page in length. Paragraph forms.

Chapter 5 Review

End of Chapter 6: page 220-221

Do I Get It or Not-Chapter 6

Comparing the changes in the Edo Period to the Meiji Period

Preparation for the position paper

Japan Unit Position Paper Topic

In your opinion, what was the event in Japanese history that drastically changed its worldview.

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Chapter 6: How Did Rapid Change During the Meiji Period Affect Japans Worldview? How Did Japan Decide to Implement Change During the Meiji Period How Did