Societies at Crossroads CHAPTER 32 OVERVIEW

Global Context Dramatic economic expansion of western Europe and the United States Ottoman Empire, Qing dynasty, Russian Empire, and Tokugawa shogunate had become isolated and backward. By 1900, all four had been challenged and changed profoundly.

Conservative Autocratic Regimes. Did not share the liberal ideals of the Enlightenment or the revolutionary era. Rulers were absolute Individuals had few rights Dissent was viewed as dangerous.

Military Unpreparedness Regimes failed to modernize Outgunned by western powers Humiliating defeats The loss of Egypt for the Ottomans The Opium War for China The Crimean War for Russia The unequal treaty forced on Japan by the United States. Restructuring of the military.

Weak Economies Lacked the basic elements for industrialization: capital, free workers, and infrastructure. China and Japan closed economies little contact with the outside world. The Ottoman and Russian empires agricultural societies large unskilled peasant populations.

Imperial Pressures Need to fight off the imperialistic encroachments Qing dynasty was the least successful lost control of its economy and much of its territorial sovereignty by end of 19th century Japan- most successful in competing economically and militarily with west.

Reform From the Top Down Change came at discretion of rulers Japan a written constitution would give credibility to their new state emperor "gave" a constitution to the people retained all power to the emperor. The Russian tsar granted, then rescinded, an elected legislature after the Revolution of 1905.

Assignment Read the section on the Ottoman Empire and answer the following questions in paragraph form. What factors led to the territorial decline of the Ottoman Empire over the course of the nineteenth century? What territories were lost? Compare the reforms of the Tanzimat era with the program of the Young Turks.