Chapter 13: New Global Patterns

Matt Mukake

Section 1: Japan Modernizes

Setting the Scene

In 1853, the United States displayed its new military.

Sent a naval force to make Japan open its ports to trade.

Japan wanted to keep their 215 year seclusion, but its leaders thought it’d be best to learn from the west.

Discontent in Tokugawa Japan After the Tokugawa shoguns gained

power in 1600, they reimposed centralized feudalism, closed Japan to foreigners, and forbade Japan to travel overseas.

The nations only window on the world was through Nagasaki, where the Dutch were allowed very little trade.

By the 1800s, the shoguns were corrupt.

Cont’d

Daimyo suffered financially. Money was needed in a commercial

economy, but a daimyo’s wealth was in land rather than cash.

Daimyo also had the heavy expense of maintaining households in both Edo and their own domains.

Opening up Japan

While the shogun faced troubles at home, bad news reached him that Britain won the Opium War over China.

In July 1853, a fleet of American ships commanded by Commodore Matthew Perry sailed into Tokyo Bay.

Perry held a letter from the president of the United States demanding that Japan open its ports to diplomatic and commercial trade.

Cont’d

Japan couldn’t defend themselves against the U.S. Navy.

In the Treaty of Kanagawa in 1854, the shogun agreed to open two Japanese ports to America but not for trade.

The U.S. soon won trading and other rights including the right of extraterritoriality and a “most favored nation” clause.

Meiji Restorations

Lasted from 1868 to 1912 and was a major turning point in Japanese history.

Meiji: enlightened rule. The Meiji reformers were determined

to strengthen Japan. New leaders set out to study western

ways and eventually beat them at their own game.

Reforms Under the Meiji

Government: Adapted to German style government. In 1889, the emperor issued the Meiji

Constitution. It set forth the principle that all citizens

were equal before the law. Japan eventually developed a western-

style bureaucracy with separate departments to supervise finance, the army, the navy, and education.

Cont’d

Economic Reforms Meiji leaders encouraged Japan’s

business class to adopt western methods.

The government set up banking system, built railroads, improved ports, and organized a telegraph and postal system

Zaibatsu: Powerful banking and industrial families.

Cont’d

Amazing Success: During Meiji period, Japan modernized

quickly. Japan became a homogeneous society.▪ It had a common culture and language that

gave it a strong sense of identity. The Japanese were determined to resist

foreign rule.

Growing Military Strength

Japan Gains Power: In 1894, competition between Japan and

China led to the Sino-Japanese War. China had better resources, but Japan

had benefit from modernization. Japan used the element of surprise and

won the war easily. Japan later challenges Russia in the

Russo-Japanese War.

Cont’d

Japans army defeated the Russian troops.

Their navy nearly destroyed an entire Russian fleet.

For the first time in modern history, an Asian power humbled a European nation.

Section 2: Southeast Asia and the Pacific

Europeans Colonize Southeast Asia

From the 1500s to 1700s, European merchants gained footholds on the region.

In the 1800s, the Dutch, British, and French colonized much of Southeast Asia.

Also in the 1800s, rulers of Burma(Myanmar) clashed with the British.

The Burmese suffered lost battles but still resisted British rule.

The British eventually annexed Burma in 1886.

Siam Survives

Kingdom of Siam: Stuck between British-ruled Burma and

French Indochina. Present day Thailand.

King Mongkut was the king at the time.

Ruled from 1851-1886 He didn’t underestimate western

power. He modernized his army, abolished

slavery, and gave women some choice in marriage.

Imperial Powers in the Pacific

In the 1800s, the industrial powers began to take an interest in the islands of the Pacific.

American, French, and British whaling and sealing ships looked for bases to take on supplies.

In 1878, the U.S. secured an unequal treaty from Samoa. Gaining rights such as extraterritoriality

and a naval station.

Cont’d

From the mid 1800s, American sugar growers pressed for power in Hawai’i. This was when Queen Liliuokalani tried

to reduce foreign influence.

Section 3: Self Rule for Canada, Australia, and New Zealand

Canada Achieves Self-Rule

Canada’s first European ruler was the French.

Then France lost Canada to Britain in 1763. French settlers still remained.

After the American Revolution, an estimated 30,000 colonist stayed loyal to Britain and fled to Canada.

The Two Canada's To ease ethnic tensions, Britain passed

the Canada act in 1791.

Cont’d

This created two provinces▪ 1. English speaking upper Canada.▪ 2. French speaking lower Canada.

Europeans in Australia

The Dutch were the first in Australia in the 1600s.

In 1770, Captain James Cook claimed Australia for Britain.

He also claimed New Zealand for Britain