japan modernizes
TRANSCRIPT
- 1. Japan Modernizes
2. Japan Before Modernization
Before the late 17th century Japan had virtually no contact with
industrialized nations.
They traded with China, Korea, and some Dutch traders from
Indonesia, but otherwise they were shut off from the rest of the
world.
Japan was under the rule of Tokugawa shoguns, and they had a
strictly ordered society.
Shoguns distributed land to landlords.Peasants worked for the
landlords and were protected by them and their samurai.
Women were very restricted, their duty was to remain in the home
and raise sons.
Japanese society was very restrictive, but they were prosperous and
had a peaceful life.
3. 4. Demands of Foreign Trade
Like China in the early 19th centuries western countries were
trying to convince Japan to open their ports and trade.
Unlike China, Japan completely refused to trade with anyone.
In 1853 Commodore Matthew Perry of the US navy showed up in one of
Japans harbors with four ships.
The Japanese were awed by these ships and realized their samurai
and methods of defense were completely outdated.
5. The Letter
Commodore Perry came to Japan to bring a letter from President
Fillmore, politely asking Japan to begin trading.
Perry said he would return in a year, with an even larger fleet to
receive Japans reply.
This led to Japan signing the Treaty of Kanagawa in 1854 which
opened two ports, and let the US set up an embassy in Japan.
This led to extraterritorial rights and more foreigners in the
country by the 1860s.
6. Japan Reforms
The Japanese people were angry that their country had been given
over to foreigners demands.
People began to put their support in Emperor Mutsuhito, because he
appealed to peoples pride and nationalism.
In 1867 the Tokugawa shogun stepped down, and this allowed
Mutsuhito to create a new government.
Mutsuhito named his new government Meiji which means enlightened
rule.
Mutsuhito was 15 when he took over.He ruled from 1867 1912 and this
was known as the Meiji Era.
7. Meiji Era
The emperor realized that the best way to oppose western ways was
to modernize.
All land was given to the emperor, and owned by him.
Representatives were sent to foreign countries to study their
ways.The Japanese chose what they believed were the best societies
and militaries and modeled themselves based off that.
8. Foreign Ideas
Germany the Japanese liked the way Germany had a strong centralized
government where a small group of men had political power.They also
liked how strong Germanys army was, so they modeled these aspects
of their country after the Germans.
Britain the Japanese admired the British navy greatly, and they
attempted to create a similar one.
United States they admired the American school system, and created
free public schools and required all the children to go in order to
be more educated citizens.They included foreign experts and often
encouraged people to study abroad.
9. Industrialization
The emperor realized it was also important for Japan to
industrialize.
By 1872 Japan had built their first railroad.
By 1914 Japan had more than 7000 miles of rails.
Coal production greatly increased.The state supported other means
of production and those increased greatly as well.
Japan continued to produce commodity products like tea, and silk
for trade.
They also began weapon/military development.