Meiji Restoration

AP World History

Uvalde High School

Internal Problems

By early 19th century, Japanese society was in turmoil– Declining agricultural productivity– Periodic crop failures, famine, and starvation– Harsh taxes on peasants– Samurai and daimyo are in debt to merchants– West arrives demanding trade with Japan

Challenge of the West

Arrival of Matthew Perry (1853)– Unequal Treaties

Similar to the treaties signed by the Qing dynasty

– Perry’s “Black Ships” steam into Tokyo Bay

– Force the Japanese to establish trade and diplomatic relations with the U.S.

Japanese depiction of Admiral Matthew Perry

Internal ConflictShogunate’s deals with West viewed as dishonorable– Popular slogan: “Revere the emperor, expel

the barbarians”

Demands for reform include lowering of rice prices and expulsion of foreign “barbarians”Two minor wars between supporters of emperor and supporters of the shogun– January 3, 1868, the last shogun abdicated

and the shogunate was destroyed

Modernization: Meiji Restoration

Abolish feudal order– Administrative districts replace feudal domains– Daimyo removed from power– Samurai class is abolished

Constitutional government– Constitution of 1889 based on German model

Establishes constitutional monarchy with legislature

– Emperor commanded armed forces, named prime minister, and appoint the cabinet

Left: Structure of Meiji Governement; Above: Mutsuhito, the Meiji

Emperor

Modernization: Meiji Restoration

Constitutional government (con’d)– Recognized individual rights

Could limit rights in the interest of the state

– Suffrage limitedOnly 5% of population could vote in 1890 election

Japanese industrialization– Modernize transportation, communication,

and education– Sold government businesses to private

investors

Modernization: Meiji Restoration

Japanese industrialization (con’d)– Creation of zaibatsu

Combination of state initiative and private investmentConsolidates economic power into the hands of a few powerful familiesMany companies started by men of samurai origins

Social Developments

No reforms to ease burdens on rural population

Massive population growth– Strained resources and kept labor costs low

Role of women– Maintain inferiority of women in the home– High-school education for women (1899)– Silk industry relied upon women working in

factories

Japanese Imperialism

Sino-Japanese War– Japan gains influence

over Korea

Russo-Japanese War– Japan’s navy leads to

victory over Russia

Japan annexes Korea in 1910