East Meets West - Japan & Commodore Perry
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Transcript of East Meets West - Japan & Commodore Perry
East Meets West
Tokugawa Foreign Policy• Tokugawa fought a number of wars against western Christian Lords in
1600s - grew to distrust foreign missionaries• Expelled missionaries but allowed Dutch merchants a concession at
Nagasaki• 200 year period of isolation
Decline of Tokugawa Shogunate – early 1800s
Declining agricultural productivity
Harsh taxes on peasants – rebellions
Periodic crop
failures, famine,
inflation and starvation
Samurai and Daiymo in
debt to merchants
Rise of commerce & city life –
undermined social
hierarchy
Intellectual changes:
Shinto and the Emperor
Rangaku
Failure of reforms- Tempo
Fascination vs fear of
Westerners
Situation in USA• USA won 1847 war with Mexico expanded to Pacific• New industrial power seeking markets• Economic interests• Trade with China• Whaling• British and French monopolies on coal stations• Shipwrecked sailors would be jailed or executed
• Spread Christianity and benefits of Western civilization to backward peoples
Perry’s mission• Matthew Perry was a successful officer in the War
of 1812 and Mexican-American war and ‘father of the steam navy’• Sent on presidential mission to Japan• Arrived at Edo in 1853 – refused to leave - fired
blank shot• Shogun was ill and was indecisive – Pres.
Filmore’s letter was accepted• Poll is taken of the Daiymo’s views• Returned in 1854 - Convention of Kanagawa
signed – all demands agreed to
Extract from the letter of President Fillmore delivered by Commodore Perry to the Emperor of Japan in 1853.
“We know that the ancient laws of your imperial majesty’s government do not allow of foreign trade… but as the state of the world changes it seems to be wise, from time to time, to make new laws. …[The American people] think that if your imperial majesty were so far to change the ancient laws as to allow free trade between the two countries, it would be extremely beneficial to both.It sometimes happens, in stormy weather, that one of our ships is wrecked on your imperial majesty’s shores. In all such cases we ask, and expect, that our unfortunate people should be treated with kindness… until we can send a vessel and bring them away.… we understand that there is an abundance of coal and other provisions in the Empire of Japan. Our steamships, in crossing the great ocean, burn a great deal of coal, and it is not convenient to bring it all the way from American. We wish that our steamships and other vessels should be allowed to stop in Japan and supply themselves with coal, provisions, and water. ”
1853 Poll of Daiymoin favor of accepting the American demandsopposed to the Amer-ican demandsvague response express-ing concern of possible waradvise making tem-porary concessionsagree to go along with whatever is decided
Different perspectives…
Why did the Tokugawa Shogunate fall?
Perry forces opening of Japan
Bakufu showed weakness in
handling
Effects of opening ports
Political, social economic changes
Lessons learnt from the West
Failure of expulsion policy – awakening
of western clans
Failure of bakufu to lead
Sonno-joi movement
developed into anti-baku-fu movement
Failure of kobu-gattai, rise of
imperial court influence
Lacked able leaders – assasinations
Uprising of Western Clans: Satsuma,
Choshu etc.
Anti-bakufu alliance –Victorious in
Boshin War
How did Meiji change Japan?
Political & social reforms modelled on West but keeping Japanese values
New Constitution: Emperor is head of state, advised by Council and elected Diet
Replaced feudal system with modern prefectures
Abolished class distinctions
Promoted Shinto as unifying state religion
Mandatory public education
Industrial and military reforms drawing on Western experts
Draftees replace Samurai
Adopts latest military technologies
Railways, mining, modern agriculture
Government departments coordinate and funds industry
Why was Japan able to industrialise so quickly?
Stable government
High levels of education
Entrepreneurs came from all
classes
Removal of tariffs and duties
encouraged trade
Rise of Zaibatsu
No colonial exploitation
Access to best experts
Repression of unions