Japan Unit Test

Question 1

Japanese worldview during edo period and Meiji period. How were they different. The same?

Answer 1

The edo period is different from meiji period because in edo they were isolated and did not accept new idea. They had to be loyal to the daimyo and the shogun. Whereas in the Meiji period they accepted new ideas and allowed foreigners in the country.They were the same as they had both wanted to keep their people safe from danger.

Question 2

Reasons for isolation

Answer 2

Ieyasu did not want colonies on Japan.
There were people who wants to convert the Japanese into Christianity

Question 3

Oligarchy

Answer 3

A small group of people having control of a country, organization, institution

Question 4

Democracy

Answer 4

A form of government in which the citizens have the power, exercised by them directly or their elected representatives

Question 5

Iwakura mission

Answer 5

To bring ideas from around the world and use them

Question 6

Advantages and disadvantages of foreign loans

Answer 6

Disadvantages
Creation of national debt
Call for payment could reduce Japan’s ability to remain independent
Advantages-
Less need to raise taxes.
Ability to develop business and technology at a more rapid rate

Question 7

Capitalism

Answer 7

It is where the society is solely based off of buying and selling items

Question 8

The Japanese Feudal system

Answer 8

The shogun and emperor then samurai, farmers, artisans and merchants, eta and finally non humans

Question 9

Centralized and Decentralized government

Answer 9

Centralized government: puts all power and responsibility in the hands of one person. This type of government works best in a small nation, where a small government would be more efficient
De-Centralized government: spreads the responsibility and power among people. This type of government works best in a large nation

Question 10

Creation of a constitution in the Meiji period. Why?

Answer 10

It is because every powerful country had one so that the most important values and beliefs would guide Japan’s future strong centralized government

Question 11

Military in Meiji period

Answer 11

The army was modeled after Germán army and the navy was modeled after the British navy. Military service was compulsory for men starting from age 18.

Question 12

Education in Japan in the Meiji period

Answer 12

Elementary was compulsory and was free. Primary and middle school was universal and the universities were modeled after those in the U.S. Schools were technical.

Question 13

Ideas borrowed from the West

Answer 13

They modeled the army after Germany and the navy after Britain. They had modeled University after the U.S. They had also modeled the conscription idea from France .

Question 14

Fukizawa Yukichi – What influence did he have? What did he support?

Answer 14

He was an influential author, educator and business entrepreneur. He had influenced the thinking of many politicians. He had supported women’s rights

Question 15

Class changing process – comparing Japan’s to Europe’s

Answer 15

Japan had abolished the feudal system and made it so that anyone could get rich. While in Europe the serfs were able to own land and working class men could vote

Question 16

How did the rulers change their ruling style from the Edo to Meiji period?

Answer 16

They changed from a hierarchical system ruled by the shogun to a oligarchy mixed with democracy

Question 17

Government promotion of social mobility – What was used to encourage social mobility?

Answer 17

The government had abolished the feudal system which had allowed people to be able to get better jobs and have a higher place in society

Question 18

What were the goals for the country when they were moving from the Edo to the Meiji period?

Answer 18

To renegotiate unequal treaties from the U.S

Question 19

First and second class European nations – What does it mean? What class did Japan want to be?

Answer 19

Second class meant that they were to defend themselves against an enemy attack and preserve their independence. First class meant that they would display the nations power, resorting to arms when necessary to execute national policy. Japan had wanted to become a First class European nation

Question 20

Reasons for coming out of isolation in the Meiji period

Answer 20

They were pressured by america to come out of isolation
The shogun was no longer able to subdue the ‘barbarians’
To compete with the west in order to meet foreign challenges and to keep Japan’s sovereignty .

Question 21

How Japanese belief system changed

Answer 21

It had changed from Japan only believing in buddhism, Confucianism and no other religion and loyalty to the shogun. They had also believed that isolation was a good idea during the edo period. While in the Meiji period they had a constitution that Japan created and were loyal to the emperor

Question 22

Compare and contrast the political, economics, and social systems of Edo Japan and Meiji Japan.

Answer 22

Edo- social: had a rigid social class structure. could not move out of your social class. The shogun had the most power but the emperor was technically the highest class . Social class is also inherited by their parents’ role in the feudal system.
Political: The commoners were loyal to the daimyo that had owned the land that hey were working on or lived on. The daimyo were loyal (they had to be) to the Shogun
Economic: Cities could not be self-sufficient so they became more intertwined with rural (farm) areas thus creating metropolis .The economies of cities and towns grew. All ships were banned in Japan except for Dutch,Chinese and Korean ships. The daimyo had to pay taxes for the land and they had to pay using a koku(175L of rice). This was based off of how much they had made.
Meiji- Social: the social structure was flexible which had allowed for social mobility allowing anyone to become a very powerful and rich person in the social system.
Political: The emperor didn’t have real power but he was the head of state and it was run by an oligarchy-democratic type of government.
Economic: There were industries such as munitions and gunpowder factories. Silk and textile industries and glass and chemical plants. All companies were started by the government and then they were sold to private business owners. Individuals had to pay taxes