Japanese Revolutions

Stephanie HoangJasmine KlarYounji Lee

The Meiji Restoration (1860-1868)

The Meiji Restoration – Analysis of the Causes

Lead by Commander Commodore

Matthew Perry,

American gunships began to

come to the Japanese coast in 1853.

After his request for

Japan to open its

economy for foreign

trade, the shogun

decided to end Japan’s isolation; in

doing so, other

European countries requested that Japan be open to

them as well.

In response to this, samurai

leaders from the southern provinces of

Satsuma and Choshu formed an

alliance and urged the shogun to

protect itself from

foreign intimidation.

The Sat-Cho

alliance believed in restoring imperial rule to protect itself

against the threats

Japan was facing.

However, the Shogun continuousl

y made decisions

and ratified treaties (without imperial consent)

that lead to more

contact with

Westerners, which

increased the

daimyo’s disapproval

of the Shogun.

The Sat-Cho

Alliance fought to

end Japan’s relations with the west. In 1867, a Cho-shu fortress attacked Western ships.

In January 1868, the Sat-Cho Alliance

over threw the

Shogunate, and Meiji,

who became

emperor in 1867,

became an emperor with full imperial powers.

The Meiji Restoration – Analysis of the Causes

Impact resulting from the

Causes of the Meiji

restoration/Differences

from Previous Tokugawa Shogunate

During the Tokugawa

Shogunate, the emperors held the title of ruler, but the shoguns

had the legitimate power. The

Meiji Restoration increased all the imperial

powers of the emperor

Contact with the Western nations

compelled Japan to industrialize, which

caused major changes in Japan’s economy

During the late Tokugawa

Shogunate period, Japan

ended its isolationist

foreign policy; although the

Meiji Restoration was initiated

in the hopes of ending foreign

influence, Japanese leaders

realized the need to end its

isolationist policy

Society based on a rigid

social hierarchy in

the Tokugawa Shogunate; this social

structure was not prevalent

after the Meiji

Restoration

Impact of Meiji RestorationCategory Description

Political In 1868, the new Meiji government seized Tokugawa lands and placed them under their In control

In 1869, because many daimyo were compelled to return domains to the emperor, in the process, a new central government was created

Political positions were increasingly dependent on merit, competence, and civil service examinations

Intellectual Adopted Western learning in order to avoid Western domination Meiji sent young members of the upper class to visit or study in Europe and America

to learn engineering, economics, and military science

Religion In 1868, the Imperial government ordered the separation of Buddhism and Shintoism; it was compelled to do so to unify the country and prevent Shintoism from being changed with foreign influences

Art/Architecture In 1871, the Iwakura Tomomi Mission impacted Japanese art as foreigners brought back specialists to assist in the arts and crafts

Meiji government encouraged Japanese artists to expose themselves to Western ideas, and many Japanese artists were sent abroad to study

The Paris Exposition of 1867 played an important role in promoting Meiji period ceramics, which became popular with western clients

Impact of Meiji Restoration Continued

Technology Implemented a Ministry of Industry in 1870 New railroads, steamships, ports, and canals were constructed each year 1869 – the first telegraph line established between Tokyo and Yokohama

Economy Government encouraged private enterprise, which allowed the middle class to grow Government provided political and financial security, making it possible to invest in

new industries and technologies Much industrialization occurred

Society Abolished feudalism, and hereditary privileges of individual samurai were taken away Government stipends to the samurai were eliminated, and former samurai were

forbidden to wear swords in public Rigid social hierarchy from the Tokugawa Shogunate was eliminated Taxes increased for farmers Japanese society adopted Western dress, fashion and manners, and the Western

calendar

Chronology of the Changes that Occurred

1853: Commodore Matthew Perry arrives with four warships and requests that Japan open its economy to foreign trade.

1854: Japan signs the Treaty of Amity – this opens the ports of Shimodo and Hakodate to foreign ships. Japan ends its policy of isolationism.

1857: The US Consul General and the Shogun make another trade treaty which includes more opening of Japanese ports and fixed trade tariffs.

1858: Although the Emperor refuses to ratify the treaty, the Shogun ratifies multiple treaties without his consent. This heightens disapproval and discontent with the Shogun’s exhibition of power.

1863: Choshu bombards British, French, and Dutch ships in the strait of Shimonoseki, following an imperial order to expel foreigners.

1864: Britain, France, US, and Holland attacks and burns city of Shimonoseki in response. Choshu attacks shogun forces in Kyoto.

1867: Choshu and Satsuma attacks the Tokugawa shogun army 1868: Collapse of the Tokugawa Shogunate, and Tokugawa Yoshinobu (last

Tokukgawa shogun) resigns; imperial power is restored to the emperor Meiji

Comparison of Government Structure and EffectivenessOriginal Final

• The Edo government began to decline in the 1850s.

• By the mid 1860s, Choshu was in the hands of an anti-Tokugawa administration.

• By 1868, Shogun Tokugawa Yoshinobu resigned as a shogun

• The emperor’s imperial power is restored

• On January 3, 1868, a group of young samurai came into power.

• The “alternate attendance” system required most of the domain lords to spend every other year in Edo to serve the shogun

• Most of the power rested within the shogun

• The emperor, although given the title of the ruler, had very little power

• Lords served an authoritarian government

• Emperor has power

• Social class still present

Comparison of Government Structure and Effectiveness

The goal of this revolution was to abolish the Tokugawa Shogunate and restore the emperor’s imperial power. Although the emperor was deemed ruler during the Tokugawa era, the power rested solely with the shoguns. However, in 1868, Tokugawa Yoshinoby, who was the last of the Tokugawa shoguns, resigned from his position. This ultimately caused the collapse of the Tokugawa Shonugate, returning the imperial power back to the emperor. This revolution was effective because it restored the emperor’s imperial power.

Key Leaders of the Meiji Restoration

Kido Takayoshi Okubo Toshimichi Tokugawa Yoshinobu-last shogun

Commander Matthew C. Perry

Charts of the Meiji Restoration

Reasons for Tokugawa’s collapse

Maps of the Meiji Restoration

Map of the Boshin war (1868-1869); Satsuma, Chōshū and Tosa joined forces to defeat Shogunate forces at Toba-Fushimi

Map showing areas of Shogunal rule

Meiji Empire to Constitutional Monarchy

(1868-1889)

Causes

Category Information

Political -Itagaki Taisuke, a powerful Tosa leader, started a school and movement towards a constitutional monarchy (The Freedom and People’s Rights Movement). -1871-1873: land and tax laws were enacted as the basis for modern fiscal policy and private ownership was legalized.-Aikoksha (Society of Patriots) created by Itagaki to push for a representative government-1882: Imperial Rule Party was established. Political demonstrations followed, which resulted in further government restrictions.-Osaka Conference reorganized government with an independent judiciary and an appointed Chamber of Elders-A small clique of elite continued to rule Japan, making decisions reserved by the emperor and controlling the political government.

Religion -Shintoism becomes the prevalent religion with Japan

Intellectual -Major western influence-Leaving Asia argued that Japan should orient itself at the “civilized countries of the West”. This allowed for the economic and technological rise of Japan.

Art/Architecture -Major western influence incorporated into the pottery and art of Japanese artists-Japanese art becomes more prevalent in the west

Impact of Meiji Constitutional Monarchy

Impact of Meiji Constitutional Monarchy

Cont.Technology -Technology was borrowed from the West.

-1871: a group of Japanese politicians (Iwakura Mission) toured Europe and the USA to learn the western ways-The Bank of japan (1877) used taxes to fund model textile and steel factories.-Education was expanded

Economy -Japan gradually took control of Asia’s marked for manufactured goods, beginning with textiles.-First Asian industrialized nation-It began as mercantilism and changed to embrace the concept of a market economy and adopted British and North American forms of free enterprise capitalism.-Reforms included a unified modern currency based on yen, banking, commercial and tax laws, stock exchanges, and a communications network.

Society -One of the first acts of the government was to establish new ranks of nobility.-Five ranks: prince, marquis, count, viscount, and baron-Leaving Asia argued that Japan should orient itself at the “civilized countries of the West”. This allowed for the economic and technological rise of Japan.

Chronology 1873- Itagaki Taisuke, a powerful Tosa leader, had resigned from the

Council of State over the Korean affair 1874- The Tosa Memorial was written, which criticized the power of the

oligarchy and need for a representative government 1875- The Osaka Conference led to the reorganization of the government

with independent judiciary and an appointed Chamber of Elders, which reviewed proposals.

1878-The nationwide Aikokusha (Society of Patriots) was organized and pushed for a representative government.

1882- The Rikken Kaishinto (Constitutional Progressive Party) was established and called for a British-style constitutional democracy.

1885- The Council of State was replaced with a cabinet headed by Ito as prime minister.

1889- The Constitution of the Empire of Japan (The Meiji Constitution) was signed by the emperor and provided for the Imperial Diet, which was composed of a popularly elected House of Representatives, the House of Peers, and a cabinet.

Comparison of Government Structure and Effectiveness

Original Final

• Leaders were inexperienced and young

• Created pragmatic policies without considering their effects; policies were often revised

• Wanted to industrialize and pursue internationalization; modeled after the West

• Government faced many problems, including inadequate revenues, challenges from imperialist nations, threats from domains, and lack of organizational structures

• Government structure was reorganized multiple times

• Membership in leadership also changed multiple times

• Social classes abolished

• Ito Hirobumi, one of the youngest Restoration leaders, studied European political systems. He helped draft the first national constitution and create several institutions

• The constitution was declared on February 11, 1889. It gave the emperor full sovereignty, creating a weak legislature and a strong, cabinet, with the prime minister appointed by the emperor.

• Political parties did not yet have real power due to the lack of unity among their members.

• Social classes remain abolished

• Presence of industrialization

• Emperor’s imperial power restored

Comparison of Government Structure and Effectiveness

The goal of this revolution was to modernize Japan and create a centralized government. This revolution was an overall success because Japan became a constitutional monarchy. Because a constitution was promulgated that gave the emperor full sovereignty, this allowed for a centralized and modernized government; the emperor’s imperial power was fully restored. Also, during this period, Japan underwent many changes leading up to its modernization. For example, social classes were abolished, education systems were reformed, transportation and communication improved, and the economy changed from an agrarian to an industrialized one. Furthermore, there were many changes applied in certain aspects to Westernize the country as a whole, including trade. Because this revolution created a more centralized and modernized country, it was successful.

Key Leaders

Emperor Meiji Ito Himawari Hijikata Toshizo Saigo Takamori

Charts

Chart of government structure of Meiji during modernization

Pictures

Emperor Meiji moving from Kyoto to TokyoMeiji Constitution

Maps

Map showing alliances against Tokugawa

Works Cited Huffman James. "About Japan:1868-1889 | Japan

Society." Japan Society. Web. 10 Feb. 2011. <http://aboutjapan.japansociety.org/content.cfm/the_meiji_restoration_era_1868-1889>.

"Japanese History: Meiji Period." Japan Living Guide. Web. 9 Feb. 2011. <http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2130.html>.

"Meiji Restoration - Change in Japan's Political and Social Structure." Japan Information Resource. Web. 11 Feb. 2011. <http://www.japan-101.com/history/meiji_restoration.htm>.

"Modern History: The Meiji Restoration and Modernization." Asia for Educators. Columbia University. Web. 8 Feb. 2011. http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/japan/japanworkbook/modernhist/meiji.html.

Division of Work

Younji Lee – 1,2, chronology for Meiji Restoration

Jasmine Klar – 1,2, chronology for Meiji Empire to Constitutional Monarchy

Stephanie Hoang – All graphics of both revolutions, Comparison for both revolutions