Japan Flashcards
Early Japan
Declining agriculture production; High taxation; Starvation; Samurai + Daimyo went into debt to merchant class; Peasant rebellions
Tokugawa bakufu
Military government / leader of Japan; Resigned office after dissent from unequal treaties → civil war
Tokugawa response to inner problems
Few reforms made by Mizuno Tadakuni - unsuccessful
Mizuno Tadakuni
Shogun’s chief advisor; Tried to stop social + economic decline + strengthen gov through reforms:
Canceled samurai + daimyo debt; Abolished merchant guilds; Encouraged peasants to return to farming
Tokugawa outlook on Europeans
Exclusion of Europeans + Americans
except for Dutch merchants in controlled trade in Nagasaki
Foreign influence to Tokugawa
British, French, US wanted to start relations; US wanted ports for merchants + whalers but Japanese gov refused; US invasion
What event marked the beginning of Japan’s opening to foreign trade?
US warships led by Commodore Matthew Perry demanded permission to trade with Japan + initiating diplomatic + commercial relations
Commodore Matthew Perry
American commander who forced Japan to open diplomatic and commercial relations with US through warships –> Ended Japan’s policy of isolation –> Forced signing of unequal treaties –> Discontent led to Meiji Restoration
Unequal treaties
Limited Japanese control over tariffs; Granted extraterritorial rights to foreigners - Similar to China
What was the impact of foreign pressure on the Tokugawa Shogunate?
Internal opposition from daimyo + samurai + emperor –> Overthrow of the Tokugawa Bakufu –> Meiji Restoration.
Mutsuhito / Meiji
Enlightened Rule
Meiji Restoration
Restored power to Emperor; Ended military governments; Aimed to modernize Japan politically, militarily, and economically to achieve equality with foreign powers
Conservative Coalition
Daimyo + imperial princes + court nobles + samurai; Goal of “rich country, strong army”
Inspirations for Meiji government
European + US industrialization; Sent students + officials to travel abroad; Hired foreign experts for economic development
Fukuzawa Yukichi
Travelled to US + Europe; Reported observations; Advocated for constitutional government + modern education systems + equality before law
Ito Hirobumi
Studied constitutions + administrative systems in Europe; Drafted the Meiji Constitution - inspired by German unification
Goal of the Meiji reforms
Centralize political powers - destruction of old social order; Economic stability - tax
How did the Meiji government centralize power?
Exchange daimyo lands for nobility (removed power) → Creating new prefectures + districts controlled by government; New governors to prevent old loyalties; Abolished samurai class (banning swords + topknots)
What reforms were made to Japan’s tax system under the Meiji government?
Replace grain tax to fixed money tax - ensure stable revenue; Tax on land - ensure landowners to maximize production
What was the structure of the government under the Meiji Constitution?
Diet - comprising a house of nobles + elected lower house (based on property qualifications); Emperor retained significant executive power
Diet
Constitutional monarchy with a legislature - Consist of a house of nobles + elected lower house; Limit authority of Diet; Power belong to the emperor
Power of emperor under Diet
Control over the military; Appoint prime minister + cabinet; Can dissolve parliament
Japan vs European parliament
Cabinet responsible to emperor rather than lower house; Power lay within emperor - parliament can advise but never control
Meji constitution
Individual rights - limited to the state; Property restrictions
Japan industrialization
Caused by economic reforms (telegraphs, railroads, steamship lines, remove restrictions on commerce + trade
Education
Government established universal primary + secondary education + universities; Supported industrialization
Zaibatsu
Financial group formed when Meiji government sold its enterprises to private investors; Contains large economic powers
How did industrialization affect Japanese peasants and workers?
Peasants faced heavy land taxes + poor working conditions in textile industry; Gov. hated labor unions + strikes; Suppressed uprisings
Government reaction to peasant + worker suffering
Did nothing to help them - Deployed military police + army; imprisoned + executed leaders of rebellions
What marked Japan’s emergence as a global power by the early 20th century?
End of extraterritoriality; Military alliance with Britain; Victories against China + Russia
Kukutai
National policy / National identity
Shinto
Japanese religious that believes Emperor is the descendant of the Sun Goddess; State Shinto → Reshape religion for political purpose / gave political legitimacy; Reason for absolute monarch; Root for Japanese nationalism
Townsend Harris
Diplomat that negotiates unequal treaty
