Japan: The New Imperialism

Introduction Early 1600s Japan isolates itself for almost 200 years. Commodore Matthew Perry US Navy. Demands: opening of trade; refueling stations and safety for shipwrecked sailors 1854 Treaty of Kanagawa Japanese angry with shoguns

Japan’s Response: End of Tokugawa Rule The sudden intrusion of foreign powers in Japan resulted in the collapse of the Tokugawa and the restoration of imperial rule The dissident slogan was “Revere the emperor, expel the barbarians.” On Jan 3, 1868, the boy emperor Mutsuhito took power He later became known as Meiji (“Enlightened Rule”)

The Meiji Period 1867 - 1912 Intense modernization and Industrialization. 15 year old Emperor Mutsuhito Oppose Western Imperialism need new ways Borrows and adapts western ways (selective borrowing) Study European Governments German gov’t/ US education system/British navy Hire western experts

Governmental Reforms Copy German Model Strong centralized government Diet: parliament: 2 houses Model constitution Shoguns lose power

Economic Reforms Banking system Build extensive rail system Improved ports Telegraph and postal service Gov’t supported businesses Large family owned businesses: Zaibatsu

Social reform Set up schools and universities

Japanese Imperialism Grows Why? Need for raw materials and security Island location few raw materials Defeats China in the Sino Japanese War, gaining its 1st colonies: Taiwan Japan wins the Russo Japanese War and gains control of Korea 1st Asian nation to defeat a western nation Brutal treatment of Korea WWI Allied side`

Japan’s Response: Sino-Japanese War From 1894-1895 Japan defeated China in a war over Korea showed how modern and powerful Japan had become and how weakened China had become The Japanese victory alarmed European powers, especially Russia, who shared interests with Japan in Korea and Manchuria

The Rise of Japanese Imperialism: Russo-Japanese War When Russia refused to withdraw its troops from Manchuria after the Boxer Rebellion, Japan attacked and defeated the Russian Far Eastern Fleet anchored at Port Arthur It was the first time in modern history an Asian military force had soundly whipped the army and navy of a major western imperial power With the victory, Japan gained recognition as a major imperial power President Theodore Roosevelt meets with Japanese and Russian envoys to discuss peace at the end of the Russo-Japanese War.