Transcript Meiji Japan - Contact and Change

Meiji Japan - Contact and
Change
Meiji
In what ways does a society’s worldview affect it’s ability to
adapt to rapid change?
● Global Warming
● Economic Crisis
● Terrorism
● War / Natural Disasters
Contact
1853 Commodore Matthew Perry’s ships arrived in Uraga
Harbour. It wa the first Western Military force to enter
Japan. He brought:
● 2 steamships and 2 sailing vessels
● 1000 men
● 66 guns larger than the Japanese had seen before
Said he would return for them to answer his demands.
Shocking
One morning the residents of a small Japanese fishing
village awoke to a shocking sight.
● On the water were “black ships of evil mien (appearance)” puffing
smoke. These steamships were under the command of Commodore
Matthew Perry of the United States.
● Fishers pulled in their nets and rowed to shore. People ran into their
houses and hid. Temple bells rang. Japanese guard boats could not
keep up with the black ships as they proceeded toward Edo the
capital.
Japan’s view of Commodore Perry
● When the Americans came ashore, they felt they had been transported
back in time. Warriors with two swords, archers with long bows, cavalry,
and foot soldiers lined the shore, as did bronze cannons in the old
Portuguese style.
● The Japanese, too, were amazed by what they saw. Here on Japanese
soil, were giants of men with long noses, round eyes, and blond, red, or
brown hair. Why had they come? What did they want of the Japanese
people?
In the last chapter, you saw that many years of isolation led
to peace in Japan and pride in the Japanese identity.
Isolation had also prevented Japan from taking part in the
technological revolution that had been taking place in
countries like the United States.
Industrial Revolution in Europe and North America
Steam powered and many factories
Perry’s arrival and his demand that Japan open itself up to
international trade was about to have a huge impact on
Japanese life.
The Return of Perry 1854
Perry returned a year later with 8 black ships and more troops.
He and a representatives of the shogunate signed a TREATY of
KANAGAWA.
1.Opened two Japanese ports to American ships
2.Established and American consulate
3.Accepted demands regarding shipwrecked sailors and coal
● 1858 a commercial treaty was signed for trade. Japan made similar
treaties with England, France, Netherlands and Russia.
● Many Japanese unhappy with the terms of “unequal treaties” which
had been forced on them. They lost control of their trade.
Treaty of Kanagawa
“It is agreed that if at any future day the Government of
Japan shall grant to any other nation or nations privileges
and advantages which are not herein granted to the United
States and the citizens thereof, that these same privileges
and advantages shall be granted likewise to the United
States and to the citizens thereof, without any consultation
or delay.
Japanese Response to Perry
Japanese recognized the American weapons were far in
advance of their own.
They wanted to avoid being another China.
● (1839 Opium war between China and Britain. Happened because of
trade. Britain started to smuggle opium (heroin) from India (British
Colony) into China. Chinese tried to ban opium and so the British sent
troops to attack China. The British won and ended up signing a whole
bunch of “Unequal Treaties”. China ended up being carved up like a
melon between European countries.
Pressures From Within
As we have seen there has been many tensions and
stresses in Japanese society by the time that Perry and his
black ships arrived. There was a loss of respect for the
shogunate and an uprising against the inefficiency and
corruption of its officials.
● The pressures that the arrival of the Americans and
the treaties that the Japanese had been forced to
sign made the situation even worse.
Disorder and Civil War
Many people saw the treaties as proof that the shogun was
weak. The cracks in the foundation of Japanese society
had turned into major fault lines. It was as if it were
experiencing an earthquake or tidal wave.
Cont.
● Groups that disagreed with the shogun or each other
longer debated the differences in council chamber, but
instead took to rioting in the streets and acts of
violence.
● Daimyo who opposed the shogun were retired or put
under arrest. Their samurai imprisoned, exiled or
executed.
● Attacks on foreigners increased and at times, foreign
gunboats bombarded the Japanese shore in response.
Cont.
In 1868 the forces of the Tokugawa Shogunate were
defeated.
When Prince Mutsuhito was made Emperor of Japan he
was not much older than you are right now. 14 years old.
● Mutsuhito selected a new name during the first year of his
reign- Meiji which means “enlightened rule”.
Meiji Restoration
Three year period beginning in 1867
● Emperor was restored to his rightful place as the
head of Japan
● Spread education, wealth of merchant class,
● Increased commerce with foreign nations.
New Ideas about Government
The Samurai who led the defeat of the shogunate and
restored the Emperor now became his advisors.
● This oligarchy (small government made up of a
small powerful group) took control of the government
in the emperor's name and ruled the country.
● These advisors realized that Japan would have to
change in order to keep Japan independent from
Westerners.
Goals
The Meiji leaders began the program of reform by changing
the way Japan was governed. They had two goals:
1.To
create strong central government that could unite the country
and rule it effectively.
2.To
create a form of government closer to the democracies of the
west.
But how could they go about making these changes and keep the
support of the daimyo and the people of Japan?
Rallying Around the Emperor
The emperor had always been a powerful symbol and believed to be the
descendant of the sun goddess Amaterasu.The Meiji leaders began their
transformation of Japan by emphasizing allegiance to the emperor as a
foundation of a strong nation.
The next step was to move the imperial court from Kyoto to Tokyo, now the
new name for Edo, the capital. With the emperor and government in the same
location the connection to the people would be obvious.