Chapter 5: What Factors Influenced Change in Meiji Japan? Flashcards
1
Q
What was the influence of Russia?
A
- The czar gave the company the authority to trade with the Ainu and to gain control of the new territories.
- Russia in wars with Europe gave Japan some time before they had to face Russia
- They warned the shogun that the Bakufu were too concerned with internal affairs and should be more prepared for trouble that could come from the outside world.
2
Q
What was the crisis with Russia?
A
- The Bakufu learned that Russian settlers had reached the third Kuril Island and were introducing the Ainu to Russian culture and to Christianity.
- 1801 Not wanting to lose these islands, a team of Japanese claimed the island for Japan and drove the Russians from it.
- 1804 A Russian envoy landed at Nagasaki with a letter from Czar Alexander I asking to establish trade relations with Japan. The Bakufu did not respond for six months and than the Japanese government was not interested in trade with foreign countries.
- 1805 Angered at having been made to sit in Nagasaki for so long waiting for an answer, the ship’s captain authorized nuisance attacks on Japanese settlements. Thought Japan would respond to force and change mind about trading with Russia.
- 1811 The Japanese government became more determined to maintain its isolation policy and also to keep control of its territory. To demonstrate its strength, the commander of a Russian ship was captured and kept in Nagasaki for two years before releasing him to the Dutch
3
Q
Who were the Ainu people an who were they treated?
A
- Considered to be descendants of Japan’s first Indigenous people
- who anthropologists and archaeologists say came from Russia over 25 000 years ago
- look different than Japanese
- have own language
- under Tokugawa shoguns the Ainu had to allow Japanese people to fish on their lands and could no longer have their own trade agreements
- forced to stay separate from Japanese Society
- With Japan worried about the Russian forces the Ainu people were forced to assimilate with the Japanese, The Ainu language was forbidden and their customs as well.
4
Q
What was the influence of Europe?
A
- Dutch decided to hire ships from other countries to carry on its trade in Asia.
- Eventually Japanese officials thought it was important for them to learn about the West
- Some thought that the European Language was just one cause of the way they wrote so they thought that since all languages and fashions were very similar there must be one superpower in Europe
5
Q
What was the Japan’s Response to the European’s by making a Don’t Think Twice edict?
A
- Bakufu expel all foreigners
- Takahashi thought it time to be even more isolated cause ships of foreigners were gathering around Japan like flied to a bowl of rice
6
Q
What was the influence of China?
A
- China lost much of it power over its seaports when Britain won war with them
- China forced to sign a treaty that gave Britain special privileges.
- These included the right to land at specific ports, having low fixed tariffs on goods coming into and leaving China, and not having Chinese law applied to Westerners on Chinese soil.
- Treaty was unfair towards the Chinese, by signing the treaty Japan saw China as weak and losing its power
7
Q
What was the Japan’s response to the U.S.A named the Retreat and Ignore?
A
- Bakufu finally realized how strong the English forces were
- Seeing how China lost its power they rethought the Don’t-think-twice edict, they abandoned it because they were afraid of the British and Western countries to invade
- King Willem II of the Netherlands sent a letter to the Bakufu recommending that they open Japan’s doors willingly to the West, but by the time that the Bakufu replied with “that’s impossible” foreign ships had already reached the Japan’s harbours
8
Q
What was the Dutch East India Company?
A
- small independent Dutch companies combined formed the Company
- Became largest and most impressive
- first to sell stocks
- government of dutch granted it a monopoly on dutch trade from South Africa to india and all the way to Japan.
- During the 18th century it suffered major loss as the sugar market collapsed due to oversupply, loses so great it ended up closing
9
Q
What was Commodore Perry’s main objectives when he entered the harbour of Edo for the first time?
A
- To get supplies and coal from Japan
- to protect sailors and American ships that might need help
- to enter into an official trade agreement with Japan
10
Q
What was the crisis with America?
A
- 1845 The American government sent a representative to Japan with the hope of discussing trade and establishing a coal station. But landed in Edo so he had to go back to China
- 1853 Commodore Matthew Perry entered the harbour at Edo with four war ships.
- 1854 Commodore Perry returned with an even stronger squadron. Instead of declaring war on Perry, the Bakufu signed the Treaty of Kanazawa.
- 1856 Townsend Harris, an American consul, was appointed to organize a more complex trade agreement. The shogun sought support for the treaty from the emperor, but did not receive it.
- 1858 After long negotiations, the Harris Treaty was finally signed. The treaty allowed Americans to live in Edo and Osaka under the protection of American law.
- 1863 Five ports were now open to the US, allowing goods to enter and leave Japan. The US also negotiated an agreement to supply Japan with ships, arms, and technicians.
11
Q
The Treaty of Kanazawa involved which 2 of Perry’s objectives?
A
- Two ports were to be opened to US ships and coal and supplies would be available there for American ships.
- Shipwrecked sailors along the Japanese coastline would be helped.
12
Q
What was Japan’s Respond to the treaty signed with U.S?
A
- Eventually, Japan was also pressured to sign treaties with Russia, Britain, France, and the Netherlands. These treaties were also considered to be unequal.
- Many felt that the shogun was no longer in control and had been humiliated
- Isolation was no longer possible
13
Q
Who was Commodore Perry>
A
- Joined the navy at age 15 using older brother name
- became known as the father of the steam navy
- than promoted to commodore
- Perry proposed a plan for diplomatic missions to Japan and three years later, left for Japan to negotiate a Japanese trade treaty.
- he was instrumental for the end of Japan’s isolation
14
Q
Who were Sakuma and Yoshida?
A
- Sakuma and Yoshida were both inspirational samurai teachers who were interested in Western technology and also thought that war against the West was inevitable.
- They valued and taught the Confucian teachings of loyalty, dedication to society, and combining knowledge with action.
15
Q
What did Sakuma and Yoshida do before they disagreed?
A
- Sakuma and Yoshida watched Commodore Perry’s warships, the black ships, sail into the Edo harbour
- When studied the technology they knew that in order for Japan to win they would have to learn more about Western technologies
- Eventually Sakuma and Yoshida did not agree on what Japan should do
