Describe the Meiji Period

I. Japan rulers followed the policy of isolation (expelled foreigners)

Shoguns: -strong, centralised government

-they controlled society, economy

Society: -rigid order

-samurai

-landlords

-artisans, craftsmen

-peasants

-merchants

Expansion of trade within Japan

-merchants became stronger

-questioned the privileges and the power of samurai

II. 1853: End of isolation

-US sent a fleet to Japan to start diplomatic negotiations

-US demanded:

-open the ports / the right to trade with Japan

-the insurance of the safety of Am citizens shipwrecked in Japanese water

-the right to take food, water and fuel for the Am ships in Japanese ports

III. 1854: Treaty of Kanagawa

-opened 2 Japanese ports

-agreed the other demands

1850s-1860s:

-several ‘unequal treaties” were made with US and European powers

ð fierce opposition in Japanese society to the shoguns

IV. 1868:

The last shogun resigned and the emperor moved the capital from Kyoto to Tokyo.

He took the name of ‘Meiji’ /enlightened/

1912: Meiji-period

ð Reforms:

-end of feudalism

-all classes were made equal before the law

-1872: Universal Military Service

ð end of samurai’s privileges

-1889: constitutional government

-2 houses of Parliament

-the Emperor still had the right to issue and veto laws and declare war

Economic policy: -modernisation

ð government sponsored new industries:

-shipbuilding

-gunpowder

-mining

-communication

-railways

-textile industry

ð private enterprises

ð By 1914 the combination of government and private enterprise made Japan a powerful industrial nation.