What was the Meiji Restoration?

L/O – To identify the causes, events and significance of the Meiji Restoration 1868-1913

The Meiji Restoration• Before 1868, Japan was a feudal country, mainly

agricultural, militarily weak and lacked technological development.

• By 1912 when Emperor Meiji died, Japan had:

• A highly centralised, bureaucratic government;• A constitution establishing an elected parliament;• A well-developed transport and communications system;• A highly educated population, free of class restrictions• An established and growing industrial sector• A powerful army and navy with a growing overseas

empire.

1842 – British victory over China in Opium War worries Japan: could it happen to them?

1853 – US Commodore Matthew Perry sails into Edo, with letter from President Filmore

demanding Japan opens its ports to trade

1854 – Treaty of Kanagawa – Japan forced to open two ports and is humiliated –

followed by European powers

1867 – Domains of Satsuma & Choshu march on Kyoto, take

control of government

1868 – Meiji Restoration Declared, Bakufu abolished

1868 Chart

er Oath, New goals

of societ

y declar

ed

1871 – Members of government travel to West to gather ideas

1889 – Meiji Constitution ‘gifted’

1890s - Unequal treaties abolished

1894-5 – Sino-Japanese War, Japan gains Taiwan and Korea

becomes a Japanese protectorate

1904-5 – Russo-Japanese War, Japan beats Russia. First Asian

country to beat European nation!

Japan before the Meiji Restoration•Between 1460s-1600,

a period of civil war existed in Japan known as the ‘Sengoku-Jidai’.

•Rival domains, each led by a Daimyo (lord), who competed to extend their power and influence.

The Unification of Japan• In 1600 after the Battle of

Sekigahara, Tokugawa Ieyasu unified Japan and was declared ‘Shogun’, creating a stable government for this first time in hundreds of years.

• The new capital was based at Edo (Tokyo).

• He controlled the Daimyo by forcing them to live and keep their family in Edo every other year (Sankin Kotai).

1600 A.D. - The Battle of Sekigahara

The Tokugawa Bakufu• The new government was called

the Bakufu (military government) and the period of 1600-1868 is known as the ‘Tokugawa Bakufu’.

• The Tokugawa Bakufu centralised political power in Edo but didn’t change the Feudal structure of government drastically.

• Regional domains led by Daimyo were still largely independent.

Emperor

Shogun

Daimyo

Samurai

Japan before the Meiji Restoration• Society was still rigidly controlled by

a strict class system known as the ‘shi-no-ko-sho’ (four divisions of society).

• Class was determined by birth and people couldn’t change professions!

• The system was influenced by the Confucian ideals of piety, loyalty, and stoicism = each person had their place in society.

Samuari - shi

Farmers - no

Artisans - ko

Merchants - sho

Japan before the Meiji Restoration• Because of Shi-no-ko-sho there

was a lack of ‘social mobility’ in society which caused tensions to mount, especially between the samurai and merchants.

• Samurai resented the growing power and wealth of the merchants class whilst many resented the Samurai, who seemed to offer nothing to society whilst claiming food and stipends from their domains.

Japan at the time of Commodore Perry•When US Commodore Perry

arrived in Japan in 1853, the Tokugawa Bakufu system of government was facing problems.

• It had no centralised tax system, no national army and many domains still operated independently.

• It is no wonder that when Perry returned in 1854, Japan was forced to sign humiliating treaties.

Collapse of the Tokugawa Bakufu• The arrival of Perry therefore acted

as a catalyst in triggering a series of events and unleashing tensions already existing in Japan.

•Many Samuari, especially from distant domains such as Satsuma and Choshu began to loose faith in the Shogunate and called for ‘Sonno Joi’ – revere the emperor and repel the barbarians. They wanted a return of the emperor.

Collapse of the Tokugawa Bakufu• In 1866, Choshu and Satsuma agreed

a secret and illegal alliance. This angered the new Shogun, Tokugawa Yoshinobu, who launched a military campaign.

• The Bakufu army was defeated and forced into a humiliating retreat across Japan back to Edo.

• The Bakufu was shown to be military inadequate – losing legitimacy.

Collapse of the Tokugawa Bakufu• The Daimyo of Satsuma and Choshu

took advantage of this defeat and marched on Kyoto in Dec 1867.

• They occupied the city and took control of the imperial palace.

• They convinced the new Emperor Meiji to pronounce an imperial restoration, abolishing the bakufu by imperial decree in January 1868.

Aims of the Meiji Restoration• The new government to reverse the humiliations of

the Unequal Treaties by turning Japan into a ‘modern’ and ‘civilised’ country.

• The new government put absolute power in the hands of the emperor however in reality, decisions were made by a group of advisors known as the ‘genro’.

• These were ex-samurai advisors from Satsuma & Choshu who fought to restore the emperor.

The Charter Oath• In April

1868 the emperor issued the Charter Oath, listing five aims of the new government

1. Deliberative assemblies shall be widely established and all matters decided by public

discussion.

2. All classes, high and low, shall unite in vigorously carrying out the administration of affairs of state.

3. The common people, no less than the civil and military officials, shall each be allowed to pursue

his own calling so that there may be no discontent.

4. Evil customs of the past shall be broken off and everything based upon the just laws of Nature.

5. Knowledge shall be sought throughout the world so as to strengthen the foundations of

imperial rule.

The 1889 Constitution• In 1889 the Emperor ‘gifted’ a new constitution to

the Japanese people.

• This established a bicameral parliament (Diet), with an elected lower house and appointed upper house and rights for citizens.

• However debates range over whether the constitution was a strategic move by the Genro to prevent popular involvement in politics or was it a genuine attempt at reform?

Plenary1. Who unified Japan in 1600?

2. What is the period of 1600-1868 known as?3. What were the four divisions of society before the Meiji

restoration?4. Which two domains led a rebellion against Tokugawa

Yoshinobu?5. Describe at least two points from the Charter Oath6. What changes did the 1889 Constitution introduce?

7. Why was the Meiji Restoration such as significant change?

Did we meet our learning objective?L/O – To identify the causes, events and significance

of the Meiji Restoration 1868-1913