Week 7 - Japanese Power - historyhistory history history history history history history history history PDF

Preview

Summary

historyhistory history history history history history history history history history history history...

Description

ATS1320> Japan: The Meiji State Week 7 The Tokugawa Regime (ca. 1600-1868) • A purposely divided country" • Tokugawa Shogunate" • Dominant political power in Japan" Emperor" • • Largely ceremonial" • Political control achieved through the distribution of domains" • Daimyo - equivalent of feudal lords" • Process of alternate attendance" Regulated Population • Strictly controlled peasantry" • Regimented social structures" • Became increasingly obsolete throughout the Tokugawa period " • Isolationist policy" • Over 200 years of almost complete international isolation" • Small Dutch presence at Nagasaki " International Pressures • Arrival of US Commodore Matthew Perry (1853)" • Pressure to open up Japan" • Series of unequal treaties" • Open ports for trade" • Right for residence for foreigners in Osaka and Edo" • Low tariffs" • Extra-territoriality " • Japan on the verge of becoming a colonised country" The Charter Oath (1868) • Aim to regain sovereignty and unify Japan" 1. That an assembly would be established, and that matters of state were to be discussed by the public." 2. That all classes unite to promote the nation’s economy and welfare" 3. That all classes were to be allowed to fulfil their just aspirations to avoid discontent" 4. Discontinuance of former base customs and all actions to conform to the principles of international justice" 5. Knowledge to be sought throughout the world to strengthen the foundations of imperial rule. "

• ‘Rich Nation, Strong Military’" The Meiji State • ‘Meiji’ is the name of that particular Emperor" • Meiji means ‘Enlightened rule’" Meiji Era Reforms • Abolition of domains (1871)" • Transformation into prefectures" • Taxation reforms" • Land tax (1873)" • Paid in money" • Attracted resistance " • Old elites sought to protect old privileges " Leaning from the West • Iwakura Mission (1871-1873)" • Travelled throughout Europe and North America" Attempted to revise the unequal treaties" • • Gain international recognition for the new imperial dynasty"

• Learn Western techniques" • Able to pick and choose, not a complete import of Western ideas and values" Creating National Subjects • Abolition of classes (1870)" • Commoners" • Samurai " • Conscription introduced in 1873" • Education" • Elementary (primary school) education compulsory for all children" Ideologies of patriotism, loyalty, but also self-improvement." • 1889 Constitution • Key drafters: Ito Hirobumi & Nakae Chomin" • Debate over degree of democracy " • Ito: Limit democracy, give power to the Emperor " • Nakae: Give power to the people" • End result was a constitution modelled on German principles" • Limited franchise" • Weak parliament (Diet) " Japan: Now a World Power? • Rejecting the East, mistrusting the West" • 1894-1895 Sino-Japanese War" • Revision of unequal treaties" • New alliance with Britain " • Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905)" • Another Japanese victory" • Acquire Korea as colony (1907)" Yet still perceived as a latecomer to world affairs" • What else was happening in the world? 1850-1870 • 1851-1860s - Victorian Gold Rush" • 1853-1856 - Crimean War between France, Great Britain and Russia" • 1857 - Indian Rebellion against British rule" • 1863 - Formation of the International Red Crosss" • 1869 - Suez Canal opens, linking the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea...