2.  Since the early 1600s, Japan was led by Shoguns  Military dictators  The Tokugawa Family became the leaders of Japan  Closed off Japan to the rest of the world  Japan still developed into a strong agricultural country  Economy was not the greatest  Feudal system  Over time people were unhappy with Shoguns  Reform happened and Shoguns lost power

3.  News of the British victory over China reached Japanese officials  Worried that Western powers would soon reach Japan  United States sent troops over to force Japan to trade  Japan had no choice but to agree  European powers soon followed  Japan was following the same path as China  People rebelled and overthrew the Shoguns and went back to having an Emperor  15 year old Meiji

4.  Meiji Restoration  Lasted from 1868-1912  Strengthened Japan  Studied Western ways and combined hem with Japanese traditions  Did not want to give in to their power  Brought in Western leaders and sent Japanese leaders to the West

5.  First change came in government  Created a strong central government  Emperor had absolute power  Also had a legislature and bureaucracy  Voting rights were limited  Industrialization  Adopted Western ideas on industry  Economy flourished  Determined to resist Foreign rule

6.  As economy grew, need for Imperialism grew as well  Japan lacked many resources need for industrialization  Focus turned to Korea  Was also isolated from all other countries  Forced them to open trading ports to Japan only  Conflict with China  Led to Sino-Japanese War  Japan won easily

7.  After expanding into China, Japan wanted more  Entered into Russo-Japanese War  Japan defeated Russian troops and destroyed a Russian fleet  First time an Asian power defeated a European power  Eventually absorbed Korea  Koreans unhappy- resisted  Japan put down rebellion and maintained strength in Asia