1. Japanese Imperialism

7. Feudal Japan
Isolated from the rest of the world – refused to trade with most European countries
Had a feudal system similar to Medieval Europe
Ruled by a military leader (shogun)

8. Contact with the West
1853: four American warships sailed to Japan demanding trade
Japan reluctantly signed a treaty with the U.S., then with other European countries
The treaties were unfair to Japan

9. The Meiji Restoration
People were unhappy with the treaties and overthrew their shogun
The people put a new Meiji (“Enlightened”) emperor on the throne
Their new goal was to industrialize and make Japan a world power

10. And rejecting what is bad,
Meiji Japan
Rapid industrialization
Strengthened military
Adoption of Western customs
Imperialist expansion into China and Korea
“May our country,
Taking what is good,
And rejecting what is bad,
Be not inferior
To any other”