Social 8: Chapter 15A Changing Order

Section:5By: Nikita, Alyssa, Akiela, Hana.

A Changing OrderMutsuhito selected a new name during the

first year of his reign. Meiji meaning “enlightened rule”. Emperors had been in the background during

the years of Tokugawa shogunate. They lived secluded lives in the imperial palace in Kyoto hidden away from people.

The Emperor was the supreme ruler of Japan, but the shogun had all the power.

The three year period beginning in 1867 when the young emperor came to the throne is known as the Meiji Restoration.

A Changing Order Cont’d

The government emphasized the importance of the emperor. He had been restored to his rightful place.

Emperor Meiji’s reign lasted until his death in 1912; this is known as the Meiji period.

The spread of education, wealth of the merchant class, and the increase in commerce during the last century of the Edo era has set the scene for change in Japanese society.

New Ideas About GovernmentThe samurai who had led the fight to defeat the

shogunate and restore the emperor now became his advisors.

This oligarchy(unelected group of powerful leaders) took control of the government and ruled the country.

The advisors then realized that Japan would have to change, in order to keep westerners from taking over Japan as they had done to China.

Japan needed economic, and military power that could take its place proudly in the modern world.

New Ideas About Gov’t Cont’d

The Meiji leaders had 2 goals:To create a strong central government that could

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

democracies of the west.Rallying around the emperor:The emperor had always been a powerful symbol

to the Japanese people. He was traditionally believed to be the

descendent of the sun goddess Amaterasu.

New Ideas About Gov’t Cont’dThe Meiji leaders began their transformation by

ensuring the importance of their emperor of a strong nation.

Their first step was to move the imperial court from Kyoto to Tokyo(the new name for Edo), the capital.

The Meiji leaders believed that with the emperor and the government in the same place, the connection between the two would be obvious to the people.

Losing PowerIn order to increase the power of the emperor and

the government, the Meiji leaders encouraged the daimyo to turn over their lands to the state.

The daimyo were given pensions as compensation , the Meiji leaders pointed out that the land had actually always been the property of the government.

The samurai system was abolished by the government.

Losing Power Cont’d

The Samurai were given a tax-free income, but this did not last long.

It was clear the samurai had to get jobs. The feudal system in Japan had now come to an

end. In the future, only the government would have

the right to collect taxes.

Opportunities For The Common People

Commoners were given new rights after the Charter Oath.

They were allowed to choose where they would live and the occupation they would pursue.

For centuries they were known only by their given names and the work they did, they were given names and work, they were now allowed to have a family surname.

Opportunities For The Common People Cont’d

The old rules about dress were no longer enforced.

Peasants were made the outright owners of their land.

Legislation was passed to end discrimination against the outcasts.

Education ReformThe Meiji leaders wanted to reform the

Japanese education system to bring it close to those of the west.

It was modeled on the American and the French Systems.

In the early 1880’s, the leaders decided that education needed to be based on traditional values and centred on developing respect for the emperor.

Educated Individuals would make rich and strong country.

Education Reform Cont’dJapan stayed the same, despite the Charter Oath. Traditional family patterns did not change. Fathers continued to have legal authority for

their families. This made family decisions about education,

marriage, jobs, and property.Family members who defied father’s authority

became a nonentity(non-person). Class distinctions remained. Common people still

looked up to their superior. Old upper classes still held prejudices about common people.

Education Reformed Cont’dRural peasant’s lives remained the same. Land

taxes were very high, a lot of the country ended up in the hands of money lenders or landowners.

Peasant framers ended up renting or sharecropping land owned by others and had to pay rent even when crops failed.

Many could not afford to send their children, especially their daughters to school.

In rural areas, many remained illiterate until the end of the Meiji period.

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1. Emperors had been in the background during the years of...a. Tokugawa Shogunate ab. Shogunc. Edo periodd. Mutsuhito 2. Although the emperor was the supreme leader of Japan ________ held all the

power.a. Mutsuhito bb. Shogunc. Governmentd. Shogunate3. Emperor Meiji’s death was known as… a. The Meiji restorationb. The Meiji period c. The Meiji years bd. The Meiji era4. The three year period when the young Emperor Meiji came to the throne is known

as…a. The Meiji periodb. The Meiji reign c. The Meiji restorationd. The Meiji era c

Social Chapter15A Changing Order Test

5. In order to increase power of the emperor and the government, the Meiji leaders encouraged the daimyo to...a. Turn over their lands b. Find new houses ac. Get jobs d. All of the above 6. Meiji leader had two goals:a. Create a strong central government.b. Unite the country. d c. Create a form of government closer to the democracies of the west.d. All of the above 7. They were given new rights after the charter oath.a. Commoners b. Merchants ac. Peasantsd. Outcast8. This system had come to an end.a. Feudal b. Democratic ac. Edod. None of the above

9.This was passed to end discrimination against outcast.a. Legislation ab. Lawc. Billd. Both A&B10. The Emperor had always been a powerful symbol the Japanese people. a. Trueb. False11. Peasant Farmers ended up renting or sharecropping land.a. True ab. False12. In rural areas many remained illiterate.a. True ab. False13.Class destinations remained.a. True ab. False14. Traditional family patterns changed, fathers didn’t have legal authority.a. True bb. False

15. Define oligarchy.a. A small group of people who have all the power.b. Enlightened rule. cc. Unelected group of powerful leader d. A group of people16. A nonentity was....a. A non-person db. An unimportant personc. Authorityd. Both A&B 17. The samurai system was abolished by the government, abolished meaning...a. Changed db. Destroyedc. Ended•Both A&C

18. The Emperors had lived secluded lives, secluded meaning....a. Place not seen by manyb. Place that isn’t visited by manyc. Lonelyd. Both A&B d19. The old rules about dress were no longer enforced, enforced meaning...a. Applicableb. Necessaryc. Executedd. All of the above d