Japan in the 19th century Flashcards
what is the OG capital of japan
edo
what are the three themes of japan during the 19th century
domestic changes, foreign imperialism, and modernization
who was the third and last shogunate
tokugawa shogunate
how was society under togugawa shogunate
structured
what was the class system before the tokugawa shogunate
1)samurai
2)farmers
3)artisans
4)merchants
how did people perceive merchants before the tokugawa shogunate
social parasites, people look down on them but in tokugawa period they were on top
describe the sankin kotai system (alternate attendance)
shogunate trusted allies
-send people from homebase (outskirts of Japan) every other year to come back to edo to prove their loyalty to govnt they would come back
daimyo
lords
where was shogun located and where was emperor located
emperor was in kyoto and shogun was in edo
what were strategies that came from the sankin kotai system
-make sure roads are good so money from rebellion is drained
-would have allied lords come separate years to prevent rebellion
-wives and family left behind in capital as hostages
what were some of the samurai and conspicuous consumption
-they wanted others to know the luxurious activities they engaged in
-samurai became indebted to merchants
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blurring of class lines in japan
-society is flexible so people are more open to different ideas beyond OG Confucianism
-so samurai sell their daughters to merchants so no class system is turned upside down
dutch studies in japan during 19th century
-new group into society so class lines were even more blurred
-only westerners allowed to stay in japan (nagasaki) for trade
-dutch started introducing western medicine, machinery, etc
what did commodore matthew perry say to japan
before going to japan he said that their refusal of trade = divine sin. if not he would attack. sent japan white flag to surrender
what was the era matthew perry and his black ships came to japan
manifest destiny and the California gold rush
what was purpose and approach of perrys letter
purpose = make japan open up.
approach at first = aggressive but he did not immediately attack japan
kanagawa treaty of friendship (1854)
first reaty: it was simple but US did not fully like it. Perry got two ports, keep consol in japan and right to house sick sailors, most favored nation status
townsend harris treaty (1858)
-consol US sent
-move ports
-aggressiv etariffs (exceedingly low)
-extraterritorality
-american missionaries could preach in japan
-no japanese territory was seeded to the US
what efforts were made during meji transformation
modernization
was the meji transformation long
yes took decades
what happened in beginning of meji transformation
-shi shi warriors and shogun were decimated
-one Japanese tried to learn western ways and was tried for treason
shi shi warriors
anti foreigners and believed emperor was divine
what happened later on into meji transformation
shi shi who were not killed assisted with and lead meji transformation to be just as powerful as the west
charcateristics of meji transformation leaders
young, determined, passionate, democratic and modern
role of the emperor and move to tokyo during meji transformation
teenage emperor moved from Kyoto to Tokyo, which is fully acknowledging the change in leadership. Emperor = divine. Whatever happens in the name of the emperor even though samurai were actually calling the shots
how and why were samurai incorporated into meji government
samurai were upset with end of the class system so to incorporate them un new government have them joined military control companies and were given bonds.
-with bonds samurai would want japan to succeed so they make money
charter oath of five articles came when
start of meji transformation
land reform in japan
land became nationalized.
-land was taken from lords and became nationally owned (sense of unity and cohesion)
what does infrastructure entail
transportation and communication
building of infrastructure in japan
built railroads/roads and bridges
-postal service
what was iwakura mission
sent mostly government officials as to chinese who sent young boys. these gov officials will stay loyal to japan and can make more immediate policy changes
compulsory elementary education
paid for by the commoners (mostly farmers) in taxes
japans new conscript army
-compulsory draft system
-if war happens service = 12 years
-did this because they wanted to build strong military
what did meji leaders want to build
strong military and rich nation
meji means
enkighted
japans naval building purpose
show US japan is capable like them
did new constitution come quickly during meji transformation
no, came 20 years into meji reformation - western nations have one so japan needed on too
role of emperor in meji constitution
divinity of emperor was written into constitution
government system under meji constitution
parliamentary
male suffrage under meji constitution
-only certain population could vote (must own property and pay taxes on it)
-limited suffrage
-property can be like bonds too
outcome and significance of meji constiution
more successful than CHina’s. so successful that Japan itself became an imperialistic power
