Contrasting Destinies: China and Japan in the Age of Imperialism
China By 18th c., BEIC had replaced the Dutch as main Chinese trading partners British trade deficit grew McCartney mission dispatched in 1793 failed to resolve the issue
“I set no value on strange or ingenious objects and have no use for your country’s manufactures.” Qianlong Emperor to King George III
Chinese Opium Den
Opium War (1839-1842) broke out when China decided to crack down on Opium smuggling at Canton
Treaty of Nanking ended the war in 1842 Provisions: -5 treaty ports opened -Hong Kong became a British colony -British in China granted “extraterritoriality” -Tariff on imports to China set at 5% -China paid Britain $21m indemnity
French cartoon titled "China -- the cake of kings and... of emperors"
Rebellion was only put down w/help of Western powers Civil war (Taiping Rebellion) broke out 1850-1864 between rebels and Qing gov’t Causes: -Foreign domination -Christian millenarianism -Qing Dynasty Rebellion was only put down w/help of Western powers
Anti-foreign and anti-Qing sentiment grew throughout late 19th c. Qing finally overthrown by Nationalist forces in 1911 Republic of China formed in 1912 under leadership of Sun-Yat-sen
The Modernization of Japan 1868-1912
Commodore Perry’s “Black Ships” arrive in Tokyo Bay-1853
Commodore Perry meets with Japanese officials
Believing the Japanese could not win a conflict with the U. S Believing the Japanese could not win a conflict with the U.S., the Shogun agreed to a treaty U.S. and Japan now freely traded with one another and a U.S. consul was established in Japan British, Russians, French, and Dutch soon won similar trading privileges
Some Japanese criticized the Shogun for not being able to resist foreign powers Civil war broke out between the supporters of the emperor and the shogun 700 years of rule by the shoguns came to an end when the Tokugawa were defeated in 1868
The Meiji Restoration Crown Prince Mutsuhito became emperor at the age of 16 in 1868 Emperor adopted the title of “Meiji”, meaning “enlightened one” Emperor took over the Shogun palace in the city of Edo, now renamed Tokyo
Emperor Mutsuhito
Modernizing the Economy Old feudal system was abolished Men from all social classes were drafted into the military
The Japanese government financed the growth of new industries…
Modernizing Government New constitution adopted in 1889 Emperor was head of state, but Parliament ran the country Voting was limited to about 1% of the total population
Expansion New patriotism created by economic and military reforms led to imperial expansion Japan, like the Europeans and Americans, believed they needed foreign markets and raw materials Successful wars against Russia and China turned Japan into a world power
JAPANESE BATTLESHIPS WIN A SEA BATTLE IN THE SINO-JAPANESE WAR (1894)
Japanese depiction of the fighting in the Russo-Japanese War of 1905