Early Meiji Japan

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The Tokugawa Shogunate Tokugawa family ruled Japan from 1603 until 1868 – also known as the Edo period 1635 – foreign trade limited to China, Korea, and Netherlands at Nagasaki a few times per year Emperor (mikado) ruled in name only – Actual power held by the shogun 3

Japanese Feudalism Shogun Daimyo Samurai – lived by Bushido, the “way of the warrior” (chivalric code) Samurai Peasants, Merchants, etc. Ronin – those samurai without masters Ninja – a warrior trained to use unorthodox fighting methods (assassination, espionage, martial arts) 4

Japanese Culture and Economy  Religion  Mixture of native Shintoism (living spirits in all things) and Chinese Confucianism (based on the teachings of Confucius)  Economy  Growing internal trade during the Edo period  Merchants began to surpass the samurai in wealth  Rigid social stratification  But these limits were being tested by the end of the Tokugawa shogunate 5

Social Unrest in Tokugawa Japan Emperor was held only as a figurehead leader Shogun was being attacked to reduce his power Daimyo needed money Samurai had become inactive, intellectuals, needed money, resented the loss of prestige Peasants resented heavy taxes Merchants resented restrictions on trade 6

Tokugawa Seclusion Edict

Perry Presents Letter To Emperor 8

Treaty of Kanagawa – 1854 The first of many unequal treaties that opened Japan and Japanese ports 9

Japanese Reaction ProsCons “Dutch Learning” (Western knowledge) became very popular among many doctors, scholars, and scientists Western knowledge went against many traditional Japanese beliefs Japanese entrepreneurs, merchants, and budding industrialists stood to profit from increased trade Traditional holders of prestige and power (daimyos and samurai) did not tend to profit from increased trade Resentment Extraterritorial rights of Americans and Europeans Anti-foreign uprisings ( ) Japanese ports in turn bombarded by foreign ships Solution “If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em” Japanese could benefit from knowledge of what happened to China Japanese felt that they would be in a better position to renegotiate the trade treaties, and be less likely to be imposed upon, if they adopted Western ways (democracy, imperialism, industrialization, militarization, and modernization) – westernization 10

Meiji Restoration: Lead-up Choshu incident 1863 – Choshu tries to sink Western ships – Choshu marches against Kyoto to capture Emperor but fails Tokugawa fails to punish Choshu 11

Meiji Restoration: Lead-up 1864: Ships from England, France, Holland and the US all attack the Choshu – Choshu leaders recognize futility of resistance – for now – Map out new response including modernization/Westernization Young Choshu leaders visit London 1860s 12

Meiji Restoration 1868 Choshu and Satsuma draw up alliance Plot revolution Young Samurai decide to reform Japan March on Kyoto and seize new young Emperor Meiji Satsuma/Choshu Plotters 13

Meiji Restoration 1868 Declare Restoration of the Emperor to his rightful place – Liberate the Emperor from Tokugawa’s rule – Emperor to rule directly Emperor issues decree ending the rule of the Tokugawa Shoguns Young Emperor Meiji 14

Meiji Restoration Tokugawa Shogunate counter attacks Satsuma/Choshu alliance wins Meiji Emperor assumes leadership with Satsuma and Choshu based committee of advisors – New Government made up of young Samurai with a smattering of nobles 15

Meiji Restoration Why Satsuma and Choshu? Two richest Han Choshu: years of illegal, secret investment in commercial enterprises – They were secretly running a merchant trade Satsuma: Profitable sugar monopoly Both: Secretly and illegally traded with Western nations for technology and military equipment  Satsuma Choshu  16

Meiji Leadership Collective leadership with the Emperor young leaders – Mostly samurai – Mostly from Satsuma or Choshu – Includes some reformers among the royal court Known as the Meiji Oligarchy 17

Imperial Role?? Note: Emperor Meiji is still the heir to the Yamato clan dynasty – His ancestors had reigned 300 CE – Since the beginning of the Kamakura period, Shoguns ruled while the emperor reigned Meiji Restoration: Still the Yamato heir is relevant. – Does he rule or reign? 18

Meiji Oligarchy: Ruling Platform To survive Japan must modernize… “Enrich the country; Strengthen the military” - Fukoku Kyohei Japan must learn from the West Japan must Adapt to a Western-dominated world By learning and adapting, Japan can become modern By becoming modern they can become rich By becoming rich they can build a strong army With a strong army they can become truly independent Fukoku Kyohei! 19

Meiji Oligarchy Ruling Platform Iwakura Mission: - Prince Ito Hirobumi Japan sends diplomatic mission to Western nations San Francisco  across the US London  Continental Europe Goals: Build relationships: earn Western respect Gain knowledge: patterns of business, science, and government 20

Meiji Restoration: Rapid Westernization / modernization Japan launches wholesale Westernization drive Wholesale rejection of all things Japanese 21

Why was Japan able to modernize so quickly? 1)Cultural and linguistic uniformity 2)Adopted and modified outside models to fit Japan 3)Studied abroad and brought teachers back 4)Hard-working, industrious, skilled people 5)Large educated group of people 6)Willing to sacrifice for the future and good of Japan 7)Loyalty to the emperor 8)Modernized at the expense of the government, which then turned businesses over to wealthy families  Zaibatsu 22

Meiji Oligarchy: Successful Late Developing State Dramatic Economic take-off Motivated by feelings of insecurity Driven by need to achieve equality with West (fear of Western imperialism and loss of sovereignty were the prime motivators) Spurred by desire to become powerful and thus independent Fukoku Kyohei!! 23

Meiji Constitution – a gift from the Emperor Imperial Sovereignty All equal before the law Transcendental cabinet – doesn’t answer to parliament (Diet) Independent military – Answers only to the Emperor – Strong position in Cabinet Elite Bureaucracy – Well educated – Powerful, professional, prestigious – Insulated from electoral pressure 24

Bureaucracy in Japan Difficult Civil Service Exam Political appointments minimal Elite educational requirements – Tokyo National University, Dept. of Law Extraordinary policy-making authority – Patterned after Kaiser Wilhelm's Germany – Similar to France – elite education 25

Legislature in Meiji Constitution Diet – Two Houses * House of Representatives * House of Peers – Little power except BUDGET * On budget, if impasse occurs, last year’s budget automatically rolls over * This power surprisingly became the source of an expanded legislative role 26

Cabinet in Meiji Constitution Transcendental – Doesn’t answer to Diet – Only to Emperor Special Military Ministers In later periods military ministers had to be active duty officers Cabinet was incomplete without military ministers Gave military extraordinary power to drive government 27

Japanese Imperialism Sino-Japanese War ( ) - Treaty of Shimonoseki Russo-Japanese War ( ) - Treaty of Portsmouth Annexation of Korea (1910) 28

Sino-Japanese War Key Events Japan install puppet government in Korea Japan sinks British ship carrying Chinese soldiers Japan attacks Korea, Liaodong Peninsula (Port Arthur), Pescadores Islands, and Taiwan Results Treaty of Shimonoseki - China recognizes Korean independence - China cedes to Japan 1) Liaodong Peninsula (Port Arthur) 2) Pescadores Island 3) Taiwan Russia, Germany & France force Japan to give back Port Arthur 29

Russo-Japanese War Key Events Japanese navy attacks Russian fleet in Port Arthur and Korea Battle of Yalu River (Land battle) Battle of Yellow Sea – 1 st major battle between modern battleships – over Port Arthur Battle of Mukden (Manchuria) – land battle Battle of Tsushima Strait – major naval battle To the Western world’s surprise, Japan wins all of these battles Results Treaty of Portsmouth – negotiated by Pres. Teddy Roosevelt (Nobel Peace Prize) 1) Russia to not obstruct Japan in Korea 2) Japan is given Port Arthur, Liaodong Peninsula, and South Sakhalin Islands 3) Controls part of Manchuria Japan is recognized as a world naval power 30

Annexation of Korea 1910 Key Events 1905 – With Treaty of Portsmouth, Korea becomes a protectorate of Japan 8/27/1910 – Korean Prime Minister signs the Japan- Korea Annexation Treaty Results Korea becomes part of Japan Japan modernizes Korea to benefit its industrial and agricultural needs Japanese rule Korea harshly giving rise to Korean nationalism Japan crushes all nationalistic efforts 31

- Lead up to Pearl Harbor Meiji Constitution 32