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

2. What geographic conditions have shaped Japanese identity?

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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”

8. 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

9. 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

14. 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)

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

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

19. 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

20. 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)

21. 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

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

23. 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?

25. 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

27. 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

29. Untitled, Washington Post, August 20, 1905

30. 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