The rise of japan

the Japanese faced western aggression In 1853 a fleet of US naval vessels Tokyo Bay U.S. Commodore Matthew Perry He demanded “normal” relations with US And the rest of the world. Japan had been historically reclusive

Japan In the 19th century Japan became an imperialist power It created its own East Asian empire Japan united and modernized It became an industrialized nation. It built a society that was both modern and distinctly Japanese

Japan between 1600 and 1850 Japan was governed by a military ruler A shogun -- from the Tokugawa family The shogun acted in the name of the emperor Emperor was idolized, but powerless The shogun’s main task was to keep the peace Japan’s 260 rival feudal lords – daimyo Each had an “army” of samurai warriors Shoguns rule gave Japan 250 years of internal peace

Japan was not politically unified Japan did not have a national army or uniform currency Central authority at the local level was weak Shogun rulers imposed a rigid hierarchy The samurai were at the top (2) Peasants, (3) artisans, and, (4) merchants. Shogun imposed rules governing the status of the 4 groups Occupation, residence, dress, hairstyles, and behavior

Peace and prosperity Peace made Japan’s very prosperous By 1750, Japan the world’s most urbanized country 10% of its population lived in towns or cities Edo – the capital city – a very large city It’s market economy linked urban and rural areas Japan had a high rate of literacy 40 % of men and 15% of women

Prosperity challenges tradition Prosperity made it nearly impossible for the Shogun to enforce hierarchies Samurai want to make money selling stuff Social elite borrow money from social inferiors. Merchants had money, but little status Samurai had status, but owed money to inferiors Peasants acted above their status moving to cities and wearing fancy clothing

Social change undermined ruling regime Corruption was widespread A famine hit Japan in the 1830s Rulers failure to deal successfully Erodes public confidence in the government Peasant uprisings and urban riots By 1830s a growing feeling rulers were losing control Then Commodore Perry arrived with his fleet . . .

Japan had limited contact with the west Since the early 17th century Foreign trade was limited to a single port Hirado Only the Dutch were allowed to trade. Other westerners were denied access to Japan Shipwrecked sailors or whalers? expelled, jailed, or executed.

Commodore Mathew Perry, 1853 Sent by the United States to insist that Japan . . . Give humane treatment to castaways Let American ships refuel and buy provisions Opening of ports for trade. US government authorized Perry to use force Japan agreed to a series of unequal treaties with various Western powers.

the Meiji Restoration, 1868 Humiliating triggered a brief civil war in Japan Ends the Tokugawa shogunate (1603–1867) Returns control of Japan to direct imperial rule Under Mutsuhito, the emperor Meiji. A major turning point in Japan’s history Leaders believe Japanese society had to change to save itself from foreign domination to create national unity in Japan

Westerners “Ignore” Japan Japan was of less interest to the West than China or the Ottoman Empire China – rich with huge potential market Ottoman Empire -- strategic location United States – distracted by internal problems Civil War, 1861-1865 This all meant less Western pressure on Japan.

Meiji rulers work to unify Japan Took away power and privileges from elite warlords (daimyo) and the samurai Almost all Japanese became legally equal as commoners Warlords lost political power Central state began to exercise more control Appointing Governors, collected taxes, raising a national army Men from all social classes were drafted to serve. Samurai lost their ancient role as the country’s warrior class . . . and with it their cherished right to carry swords. Namık Kemal (1840–1888) 

Japan fascinated by everything “western” Western science and technology Western political and constitutional arrangements Western legal and educational systems Western dances, clothing, and hairstyles

state-guided industrialization program The Japanese government established a number of enterprises Then sold them to private investors. The Japanese created a modern infrastructure railroads a postal system a national currency and banking system.

Japanese Industrialization By 1900 Exported of textiles Produced munitions Produced industrial goods Mass-circulation newspapers Movie theaters Electric lights Did it without a lot of outside help: Used their own economic resources Did NOT amass a huge foreign debt

Japan and the west Japan renegotiates treaties with western powers Early 20th century Japan now “civilized” and enlightened” West views Japan as an equal player West views Japan as “a Great Powers”

Japanese imperialism Japan set out to build an empire Motivated in part by it’s lack of natural resources Seizes Taiwan, Korea, and parts of China First Asian state to defeat a major European power The Russo-Japanese War, 1904 – 1905 Japans extends it’s influence after World War I The South Pacific and further into China