CONTACT AND CHANGE IN MEIJI JAPAN:• THE END OF ISOLATION• A CHANGING ORDER• INDUSTRIALIZATION IN JAPAN

THE END OF ISOLATION• On July 14, 1853, Commodore Matthew Perry

sailed into Uraga Harbour with 2 steamships, 2 sailing vessels, 977 men, and 66 gun

• He presented a letter from US President Millard Filmore

• It requested trade as well as protection for shipwrecked American soldiers and the right to buy coal for ships

• In 1854, Perry returned with eight black ships and more troops

• This time he signed a trade agreement with representatives of the Shogunate called the Treaty of Kanagawa

THE END OF ISOLATION• Conditions of the treaty

– Opened two Japanese ports to American trade– Established an American consulate in Japan– Accepted demands regarding shipwrecked sailors

and coal• In 1858 a commercial treaty expanding US trading

rights was signed• That same year similar treaties were signed with

England, France, the Netherlands and Russia• Many Japanese were unhappy with what they felt

were unequal treaties• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BON9nkpbg5w&

THE END OF ISOLATION• The US felt it was entitled to make demands on Japan

due to their policy of Manifest Destiny• It was a belief that the United States had a mission to

spread its territory and its ideas about democracy and economics westward across North America and beyond

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RphZP6Qmdo

THE END OF ISOLATION• Japan had resisted opening of trade for years, but

Perry’s show of military strength worked• The Japanese also wanted to avoid the fate of

China during the Opium War era• In 1839, there was a war between China and

Britain • To balance trade with China Britain began to

support the smuggling of opium from its Indian colonies into China

• When the Chinese tried to ban the sale of opium, Britain attacked and won the war

• China was forced to file sign a series of treaties with European countries that opened it up to trade

PRESSURES FROM WITHIN• There were three different positions that

developed to deal with the foreign intrusionMOTTO IDEAS SOLUTIONS

Honour the emperor; expel the barbarians

• Japan is a divine land; the Japanese are superior to the Westerners

• War against the westerners

• Continued isolation

Eastern ethics and Western science

• Adopt Western technology, particularly military equipment, but keep Japanese values and morals

• Adopt some elements of western civilization

No motto • Overseas trade is necessary to increase wealth in Japan; change is inevitable

• Welcome the Americans and the Europeans and trade with them

DISORDER AND CIVIL WAR• Many people saw the treaties as proof the Shogun

was weak• The cracks in the foundation of Japanese society

had turned into major fault lines– Groups that disagreed with the shogun or each other no

longer debated their differences in council chambers, but instead took to rioting in the street and other violence

– Daimyo who opposed the shogun were retired or put under arrest. The samurai were imprisoned, exiled or executed

– Attacks on foreigners increased and at times, foreign gunboats bombarded the Japanese shore in response

• In 1868, the Shogun resigned, but he petitioned the emperor to take over power

DISORDER AND CIVIL WAR• Civil war broke out between those

who wanted to restore the shogunate and those who favoured rule by emperor

• In the end 30,000 troops supporting the emperor blasted a shogunate stronghold for two weeks and then set it on fire

• A new era of Japanese history was beginning

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vHvmAVSyUI&

A CHANGING ORDER• Prince Mutsuhito was made Emperor of Japan

when he was years old• Mutsuhito selected the name “Meiji” enlightened

rule” • The three year period beginning in 1867 when the

young Emperor came to the throne is referred to as the Meiji Restoration

• Emperor Meiji rule lasted until his death in 1912 and is known as the Meiji period

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9lhsdPJWHM&feature=related&

A CHANGING ORDER• The Samurai who had led the fight to defeat the

shogunate and restore the emperor became influential advisors

• This oligarchy, unelected group of powerful leaders, took control of the government and ruled in the emperor’s name

• These leaders began their program of reform by changing the way Japan was governed: they had two goals– To create a strong central government that could

unite the country and rule it effectively– To create a form of government closer to the

democracies of the west

A CHANGING ORDER• The imperial court was moved from Kyoto to

Tokyo, renamed from Edo• The emperor and the government where now in

the same location• To solidify power, the daimyo to turn over their

lands to the state• The daimyo were given pensions as compensation• The samurai system was abolished by the

government• For a short time the samurai were given a tax-free

income, but this did not last long• Moving forward only the government would have

the right to collect taxes

THE REAL LAST SAMURAI• A 2003 Hollywood movie

called the Last Samurai depicts an American who travels to Japan to train the Emperor's Meiji army and ends up in the middle of a civil war

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6m7WLmAUeY

• The movie was fiction, but the war and resistance to the samurai was based on fact

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5BeJ7j1Fj4&

THE REAL LAST SAMURAI• A great warrior Saigo Takamori ,led troops in the

revolution against the shogun in 1868• Saigo became concerned about the rapid changes

in Japan• Korea insulted the Japanese by accusing them of

turning into western-style barbarians, Saigo argued that Japan should invade Korea as a point of honour

• In 1877 the Satsuma Rebellion was led by Saigo• Eventually defeated and severely wounded Saigo

committed ritual suicide• After his death Saigo received a pardon and is

now regarded as a hero

OPPORTUNITITES FOR COMMONERS• The Imperial Council spelled out the aims of the new

Japanese society in the Five Charter Oath1. Deliberative assembly shall be widely established

and all matters decided by public discussion2. All classes, high and low, shall unite vigourously

carrying out the administration of the affairs of the state

3. The common people, no less than the civil and military officials, shall each be allowed to pursue his own calling so that there may be no disconnect

4. Evil customs of the past shall be broken off and everything based upon the just laws of nature

5. Knowledge shall be sought throughout the world so as to strengthen the foundations of imperial rule

OPPORTUNITITES FOR COMMONERS• Commoners were given new rights after the

Charter Oath– They were allowed to choose were they would

live– They were allowed to choose what occupation

they would pursue– They were allowed to have a family surname– Peasants were made the owners of their land– Legislation was passed to end discrimination

against outcasts

OPPORTUNITITES FOR COMMONERS• Commoners did not notice immediate change in

some aspects where change was more gradual– Traditional family patterns did not change with

fathers maintaining legal authority – Class distinctions remained. The old upper

classes still held prejudices about common people

– Rural peasant life remained largely unchanged– Many people could not afford to send their

children, particularly their daughters to school. Illiteracy was high.

INDUSTRIALIZATION IN JAPAN• In Europe and North America, their Industrial

revolutions had taken over 100 years• In Japan, this process was much more rapid due

to their late start• When the Americans arrived, they were

impressed by lacquer work, porcelain and fine silk fabrics that the Japanese had created

• Factories had been set up in weaving, iron and brewing

• “ Although Dutch studies was mainly concerned with medicine, there were soon translations of Western works on physics, chemistry, astronomy, mathematics, geography, metallurgy, navigation, ballistics and military tactics”

IMPORTANT INVENTIONS OF THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION

YEAR INVENTIONS

1762 steam engine to drive factory machinery1787 power loom for weaving1793 Cotton gin, machine to clean raw cotton1807 Steamboat1830 First regular commercial railway service1834 Mechanical reaper1837 Electric telegraph1837 SS Great Western, first ocean going steamship1853 Kerosene lamps

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Efq-aNBkvc&feature=related&

INDUSTRIALIZATION IN JAPAN• The government hired experts and advisors to

assist in installing factory machinery imported from the West

• The Japanese would ask the outside experts to leave once Japanese workers had been trained to replace them

• Industry leaders were sent to Europe and the US to learn about Western culture

• They studied ship building, military science, factory construction, and medicine

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LvSNLW-MYU&feature=related&