Meeting & Exceeding Expectations: Modernization Comes to Japan & Siam

1. Meeting & Exceeding Expectations: Modernization Comes to Japan & Siam A Series of Firsts: Meiji Restoration 1868

2. The First Step: The Charter Oath (1868) The Meiji Restoration Officially Starts Here! • issued, not written, by Emperor • “defensive posturing” • audience: domestic & ABROAD • intentionally vague! • never outside the country • “gradual” development & change Start of Long Journey! “Victory” in 1910!

3. The Meiji Restoration Meiji Ishin “Meiji Era” (1869) Edo renamed Tokyo Yen (¥) national currency Move Emperor to Tokyo This = “civilized” This = opportunity This = renegotiate Taking steps towards modern Japan . . .

4. The Meiji Restoration: Who’s In Charge Here? “Men of High Purpose” - Shishi • Choshu, Satsuma, Toza • Had undertaken independent reforms • Of lower samurai status • Do not want Bakufu resurrection • Nationalism, politicize monarch • Have slogans, no clear-cut plan of attack • “Defensive development” • West has knowledge we need! 1. Samurai 2. Domains 3. Education 4. Politics 5. Industry 6. Military

5. CIVILIZATION & ENLIGHTENMENT “Bunmei-Kaika” “Risshin-Shusse” BE A SUCCESS!

6. What’s The Ishin Plan? 1) Why is it called the Meiji Restoration? 2) The Meiji Period (1868-1912) 3) Who are the Genrō? PLAN OF ATTACK . . . • Must modernize; renegotiate treaties • National goals - not individual ones • Hierarchy of needs: end internal struggles • figure out domestic issues • lastly, “go international” “[A hallmark of the period was] it’s disciplined search for models that would be applicable for a Japan in the process of rebuilding its institutions.”

7. What Are the Ishin Challenges? How can we change the Japan’s history? 1. Gain support of powerful domains 2. Work with our relatives = networking 3. Place key supporters in government 4. Work with everyone . . . until strong enough to ignore them! In a competitive world, educated & united succeed! Where can we improve? • restricted society • isolation (trade, economics) • bloated, inefficient bureaucracy • internal division (domains challenge each other & central authority)

8. Adios to Old Times: Goodbye, Domains Technically, domains held in trust Initially, daimyo heavily consulted “Haihan” “The lands in which we live are the Emperor’s lands. The people we govern are the Emperor’s people . . . We now surrender our registers to the throne . . .” • Peer pressure! • A large carrot! 2nd Revolution - we accept your debts = samurai stipends - you are now appointed governors - focus on ability, NOT birth - you keep 1/10th of taxes 48 modern prefectures

9. Adios to Old Times: Goodbye, Samurai “Under the Bakufu the problem had been one of employing as many of the domain samurai as possible; now priorities were those of efficiency & economy.” • too much bloat & NOT modern! • not based on “men of talent” • 1/3 NATIONAL INCOME = stipends Resistance is futile . . . • do not foresee the Meiji changes that happen • not well organized • lack power and influence

10. We CanBe Equals! Education Is The Key “Nothing has more urgency for us than our schools; unless we establish an unshakable national foundation we will not be able to elevate our country’s prestige in a thousand years . . . Our people are no different from the American and Europeans of today; it is all a matter of education.” Emissary’s Diary Tokugawa Meiji +200 samurai schools 1,500 private schools 10,000 temple school 28,000

11. Education Legislation Schooling is compulsory, uniform, purposeful! - 4 years mandatory - start at age six - boys and girls Imperial University National University (1872) Special Schools Regular Schools Ministry- controlled Prefecture- controlled (1890) - primary, secondary, university - some selective, state and local control

12. Imperial Rescript on Education (1890) • obedience to Emperor • follow the constitution (1890) • offer self to State (in times of trouble)

13. “Enrich the Country;” Cannot Do It Alone . . . • oyatoi: “honorable alien employees” • engineering, education, art • laws, government, architecture • temporary, not permanent • foreigners = tutors/teachers • British, French, American, German BUT CAN DO IT! • (1877) 1st imperial car • (1878) 1st tunnel • (1890) 1st constitution

14. “Enrich the Country, Strengthen the Military” (1886) cannot petition officials (1887) Peace Preservation Law Rescript to Soldiers & Sailors (1882) • - to reinforce Conscription Law • first duty is loyalty • if you’re loyal, you’re not political • reduce gimi, increase gimu Conscription Law (1873) “Strength the military” = self-defense (from defensive to offensive) - 4 yrs. service; 3 yrs. reserves - all males (20 yrs.) serve - exemption for 270 ¥

15. The Meiji Restoration: Review (15 pts.) • Summarize the Genrō’s initial plans of attack • in terms of modernizing Japan. • Highlight THREE key areas of change, focusing • on: • a) the pre-Meiji situation/condition/problem • b) the Meiji solution/action/legislation • In referring to question #2, what was the greatest • challenge to Meiji Japan and why?

16. “Enrich the Country, Strengthen the Military” “Enrich the Country” = economically conscious efforts after 1880 CONTINUITY begins: government involvement & zaibatsu growth • national resource survey = by bootstraps! • only ONE foreign loan (railroad) • cut spending, sell government property, new taxes

17. Meeting & Exceeding Expectations: Modernization Comes to Japan & Siam The One Domino Not to Fall 1851-1910

18. Like Father, Like Son . . . Saving Siam • desires change . . . eliminate • slavery, better women’s status, • modernize Siam’s bureaucracy • lacks support of royal princes • unable to internally promote change, welcomes farang • (foreigner, Westerner) pressures – via unequal treaties! King Mongkut (Rama IV, 1851-1868)

19. Like Father, Like Son . . . Saving Siam • Bowring Treaty (1855) justifies what he wants to do • 1st Thai king to travel outside nation • invites Western governess for children . . . • cedes territory but maintains independence!

20. Like Father, Like Son . . . Saving Siam King Chulalongkorn (Rama V, 1868-1910) • 1st Thai king with Western education • meets generational resistance . . . “Do you want an alternative to foreign rule?”

21. Like Father, Like Son . . . Saving Siam • Undertakes dramatic modernizing initiatives . . . • - a cabinet system - centralize taxation • - abolishes slavery - abolishes gambling • - reform law courts - salaried bureaucracy • - salaried police, army - 1st railroad (1896) • - Western calendar - promote agriculture • - promote education - banknote currency • - political prisoner amnesty

22. a) Army and Navy answer ONLY to the Emperor = problems? b) . . . “within the limits of the law” Cabinets PM Diet “Be a Success!” In Politics: A New Constitution (1875) First local elections (1890) First national elections Constitution of 1890 “[Emperor] governs the people, he does not personally administer the state,” Ito EMPEROR • Emperor appoints all ministers, senior officials • cabinets (by function) independent of Diet • Diet controls the budget, has limited powers • PM signs all laws; coordinates policies • lower cabinet officers chosen by service exams • no official Genro positions