Japan as Imperialist By Mrs. Cullen The Age of Imperialism Japan as Imperialist By Mrs. Cullen

What geographic conditions have shaped Japanese identity?

Tokugawa Shogunate 1603-1868 Characteristics: A form of centralized feudalism Emperor divine but shogun in charge Illegal (punishable by death) for Japanese to leave Japan and return Foreigners killed – suspicious of outside ideas Developed internal trade Sankin-kotai – system in which daimyo families were kept at court to prevent rebellion

1853 – Commodore Perry’s Visit Commodore Matthew Perry – American naval officer Purpose: Sent by US President Millard Fillmore to open Japan’s ports to American trade and make Japan treat American sailors fairly

Showed up in Japan in 1853 with 4 warships Called the “Black Ships” by Japan Japan’s Reaction: amazed by fire power of US warships; were against American demands but realized American technology was more powerful; decided to cooperate and learn US technology

Results of Perry’s Visit: Treaty of Kanagawa 1854 Japan agreed to allow US ships to refuel and resupply in Japanese ports Japan agreed to aid shipwrecked sailors (instead of killing them!) Japan agree to trade with US in two ports

Results of Perry’s Visit: Treaty of Kanagawa 1854 Many Japanese saw Tokugawa shogun as weak because he agreed to US terms Other countries like Britain, Netherlands, and Russia signed similar agreements with Japan Americans got right of extraterritoriality Known as the “unequal treaties”

Results of Perry’s Visit: Treaty of Kanagawa 1854 Japan wanted to avoid being carved up into spheres of influence like China – so they adapted quickly to the new technology

Sadahide The Observer: Yokohama Harbor Sadahide (sa-dah-hee-day) was one of the few artists who drew Yokohama from direct observation Foreigners in Treaty-Port 1859-1872

1868 – Meiji Restoration Daimyo overthrew Tokugawa Shogun due to his weakness Motto: “Revere the emperor and expel the barbarians!” Restored 15-year old Emperor Matsuhito to power Ended 700 year rule of shogunate Moved capital from Kyoto to Edo (Tokyo)

The Meiji Restoration 1868-1912 “Meiji” = “peace and enlightenment” 100 daimyo ruled in name of the emperor and used Western technology to modernize Japan Plan: borrow Western inventions, technology, and institutions that would enable Japan to take its place among the world’s great powers

Meiji Restoration Abolished feudalism Divided daimyo land into prefectures ruled by governors; paid daimyo for the land Goal: “a rich nation, a strong army” Ended samurai’s official status as warrior class by requiring peasants to serve in military on equal basis

1877 – Saigo Takamori led an army of 40,000 samurai to overthrow Meiji government 9 months of bloody fighting – rebellion was finally crushed and Saigo committed seppuku

New land tax based on land ownership and paid in cash New monetary system based on the yen Modern banking system

Created a postal system Created a telegraph system Built railroad lines connecting key cities and ports Improved harbors to help shipping and trade Built factories and mills to industrialize Japan Brought in experts and engineers from Western nations to teach them Set up technical schools

Meiji Restoration Opened up weapons factories and naval shipyards to build up Japan’s military power Built a modern army and navy Zaibatsu – family business monopolies that worked with Japanese government to build economy (ex. Mitsubishi)

Meiji Restoration Visited Western nations to learn from businesspeople, industrialists, government officials and military leaders Created a national system of public education to train Japan to be a modern society

Meiji Restoration Created a Constitution Established a legislature called a Diet Emperor technically in charge First Asian nation to adopt a parliamentary government

Japan’s March of Aggression Real plan: Modernize and create the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere Become the greatest power in Asia, subordinate other Asian nations to Japan Asian nations would provide Japan with raw materials and markets and Japan would sell them manufactured goods and provide protection SOUND FAMILIAR?

Sino-Japanese War 1894-1895 Japan v. China Over Korea (“buffer zone”) Japan overran Korea and entered Manchuria Destroyed Chinese fleet Treaty of Shimonoseki: Japan got Formosa (Taiwan) and a piece of Manchuria from China

Russo-Japanese War 1904-1905 Japan v. Russia Russia took their spot in Manchuria and seized control of naval base at Port Arthur 1904 – launched surprise attack on Russian fleet at Port Arthur, sinking part of the Russian fleet – destroyed whole fleet (38 ships) by 1905 Treaty of Portsmouth – arranged by Teddy Roosevelt; Japan back in Manchuria and took Korea

Untitled, Washington Post, August 20, 1905

Japan and World War I Joined Britain and the Allies Gave Japan an excuse to expand influence in Asia At Treaty of Versailles – received Germany’s holdings in the Pacific Joined League of Nations Threatened China with 21 Demands in 1915