EQ: How was Japan’s imperialist experience unique?

In 1854, Commodore Matthew Perry and four U. S In 1854, Commodore Matthew Perry and four U.S. warships arrived in previously isolated Japan.  Commodore Matthew Perry

Perry forced open Japan, and started trade between Japan and the West, ending Japanese isolation. Isolationism: Policy where a country does not trade with any other countries

What Did the U. S. Want?? 1. Coaling stations. 2. More trading partners. 3. A haven for ship- wrecked sailors.

The Meiji Revolt - 1868 A powerful group of samurai overthrow the Shogun. Sakamoto Ryoma, the hero. -------------- He helped Japan emerge from feudalism into a unified modern state.

Overthrown Tokugawa shogunate In response, the Japanese restored Emperor Meiji to power, bringing change to Japan. Overthrown Tokugawa shogunate Emperor Meiji 

This period was called the Meiji Restoration, which was a movement toward modernization.

Prompted in part because Japan feared being colonized by the West.

To modernize Japan, leaders of the Meiji government studied Western institutions and technology.

Japanese women became obsessed with western styles

The Meiji Restoration resulted in the modernization of industry and military, which led to the rise of Japan as an imperialistic nation.

Human Rights and Religious Freedoms Emperor Worship Intensified Abolition of the Feudal System Land Redistribution Westernize the School System (Fr. & Ger.) Modernize the Army (Prussians) Modern Banking System Meiji Reforms Build a Modern Navy (British) Written Constitution (Germans) Human Rights and Religious Freedoms Emperor Worship Intensified

The Samurai Samurai – lived by Bushido, the “way of the warrior” (chivalric code) Ronin – those samurai without masters Ninja – a warrior trained to use unorthodox fighting methods (assassination, espionage, martial arts Shogun Daimyo Samurai Peasants, merchants, etc.

The Samurai As servants of the daimyos, or great lords, the samurai backed up the authority of the shogun and gave him power over the emperor. Despite being deprived of their traditional privileges, many of the samurai entered the elite ranks of politics and industry in modern Japan. More importantly, the traditional samurai code of honor, discipline and morality was revived and made the basic code of conduct for much of Japanese society.