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Meiji Restoration

Meiji Restoration. Mr. Millhouse AP World History Spring 2006. Internal Problems. By early 19 th 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

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Meiji Restoration

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  1. Meiji Restoration Mr. Millhouse AP World History Spring 2006

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. Internal Conflict • Shogunate’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

  5. 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

  6. Left: Structure of Meiji Governement; Above: Mutsuhito, the Meiji Emperor

  7. Modernization: Meiji Restoration • Constitutional government (con’d) • Recognized individual rights • Could limit rights in the interest of the state • Suffrage limited • Only 5% of population could vote in 1890 election • Japanese industrialization • Modernize transportation, communication, and education • Sold government businesses to private investors

  8. Modernization: Meiji Restoration • Japanese industrialization (con’d) • Creation of zaibatsu • Combination of state initiative and private investment • Consolidates economic power into the hands of a few powerful families • Many companies started by men of samurai origins

  9. 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

  10. 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

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