W11L2: The Sino-Japanese and Russo- Japanese Wars and Taishō Democracy Flashcards
Sino-Japanese War
Importance of Korea to Japanese National Policies
Korea was the “stage” for a series of rivalries between world powers
Anglo-Japanese Treaties of 1894
Immensely popular amongst the masses
Fear of a Korea open to Western imperialist encroachment since Korea
was one of Japan’s biggest trade “partners”
1890s: “independence of Korea” meant a Korea free from Chinese Rule and
firmly under Japanese influence
Japan now a “western” power
Russo-Japanese War
Japan was “advised” to relinquish her new rights over the Liaotung peninsula
Russia, Germany, and France forced this
It dealt a serious blow to
Japanese pride — it was obvious that Russia kept Japan out so they could get in.
War declared in Feb 1904, after negotiations reached an impasse
Japan won decisive land (and sea) victories to bring Russia to the table.
Establishment of Japan as key power
Theodore Roosevelt as broker for peace negotiations
Treaty of Portsmouth
* Southern half of Sakhalin,
* Leasehold on Liaotung Province (Kwantung Peninsula)
* South Manchurian Railway line.
* Russia recognized Japan’s economic interests in Korea
Expansionism / Imperialism
(and their relation to
internal consolidation)
many senses, nation building, empire, and expansionist tendencies were multiple sides of the same dice.
Not a sudden transition from internal consolidation to external expansion.
1870s – revolved around the question of defining Japan’s boundaries
Annexation of Hokkaido and Ryukyus
1880~1895: establish colonial enclaves and spheres of dominance over Korea, Taiwan, and parts of
China
Context of increased Western aggressiveness in the 1880s.
Asia gradually being carved out — heightening sense of urgency in the Japanese
Expansionism / Imperialism — Hatten
Hatten (expansion/development)
Popular Imperialism
(Meiji Period)
Popular support for imperialism reinforced by Social Darwinist ideas
Development of Japanese “Mass Society”
Overseas expansion via emigration, colonization, came to be advocated.
General population more imperialistic than their
leaders.
Individual Japanese travel to other places in E. Asia as “activists” for Japanese control/rights
Taishō Democracy
period of relative freedom and democracy
A period of Crisis
Party Politics – the main form of politics
Visible flowering of Modern Life
New Middle Class
Generally, Taishō democracy lasted from 1905- 1932
Mass suffrage for males only from 1925
Taishō Political Crisis
Mass unease and instability with the death of Emperor Meiji in 1912 and the enthronement of the sickly Taishō emperor
Major political battle unfolded between parliamentary politics and military forces
caused by refusal to increase military spending
Ministers of Army and Navy resigned
Political battle between two major camps in the house of representatives
Major riots in 1913 occurred due to vote of no-confidence with one particular prime minister; crowds asking for the resignation of Katsura Tarō
crowds of Tokyoites took violent steps to air their grievances; eight
occasions between 1905 and 1918, and similar riots took place in other cities
Frequent (but temporary) alliance between members of the Diet and these rioters
Frequent suppression of left-wing politics, particularly communism after the Russian Revolution
Rise of feminist voices, radical political voices, minority voices (like Burakumin), etc.
Taishō Political Crisis — Politics of Compromise
Constant alliance with “Friends of the Constitutional Government Party” (Rikken Seiyūkai), a new party
established by Itō Hirobumi (1841-1909) who was the prime minister of Japan for three terms from 1885 to 1898. Itō was also the first genrō (elder).
Seiyūkai becoming an increasingly cohesive force in the House of Representatives
From 1901-1912, all prime ministers ruled by making alliance with Seiyūkai
Secretary General of Seiyūkai: Hara Kei (1856-1921) — master of compromise
Hara traded political support for governmental budget for either cabinet positions for party members or say in major public spending projects in member districts.
Great Kantō Earthquake
75% of dwellings
destroyed by the quake
or the fires after
Korean/Chinese Massacre
Kanto earthquake Massacre
* Rumors
* Encouraged by Authorities
* Forced passers-by to speak
Japanese
* Mass media adding to hysteria
* Police/military troops joined in
* Death toll between 3000 to 6000
Treaty of Shimonoseki
Sino-Japanese
China dispatch troops to curb the Tonghak rising; Japan
responded
1894: Japanese troops seized the Korean king and forced him to sign an agreement authorizing the Japanese to expel the Chinese
— August 1 (1894), war was formally declared
Treaty of Shimonoseki, signed April 1895, recognized the
following:
* Independence of Korea
* Ceding of Taiwan and the Pescadores Islands to Japan
* Liaotung province came under Japanese control
* Indemnity of 364 million yen
* Commercial treaty that gave Japan additional extraterritorial rights and most favored status that the
European powers enjoyed
Post Sino-Japanese War
“Triple intervention” by Russia (backed by) Germany
and France) — ”Carving out China”
Relinquish rights over Liaotung Province
Russia signing of 99-year lease
Strong anti-Russian sentiments in the 1890s
Multiple books about the commonality of Chinese
and Japanese origins — “Asian Uniqueness”
Army contingency changed from China as “target
enemy” to Russia as “target enemy”
Korean “Independence”
Rival with Russia
Japanese control over Korea becoming more autocratic — backlash from the conservative currents in society
Russo-Japanese War: Context
Russians agreed to recognize the paramount economic interest of Japan in Korea
For Oligarchs, less concerned with economic privileges than with securing their strategic “line of advantage.”
Boxer Rebellion (1899-1900): Russians sent a huge army into Manchuria and eventually pressed the Chinese to make Manchuria a Russian protectorate.
Original plans: “Trading Manchuria for Korea”
Army contingency changed from China as “target enemy” to Russia as “target enemy”
Imperialism and Industrialization
Imperialism as Paradigm
Anglo-Japanese treaty signed in 1902 (the British
were the main diplomatic rivals to the Russians)
Post Russo-Japanese War
Western powers gave full recognition to Japan’s
new international position
Disparity between popular chauvinism and official
caution evident with public criticism of the Treaty
of Portsmouth (1905)
Imperialistic War
“Imperialistic War” not produced by economic
necessity but by sentiment that it was the only alternative for the country to remain a viable
entity as a modern power
Korea and interests in China increasingly seen as a
“lifeline” to be protected.
Immense Cost – Extensive Borrowing
Japan’s natural mission is to harmonize (transcend) the “east” with “west” and “protect” backward Asia
Fruits of Modernity
Further advances in public transportation, communication, higher education, publishing, and journalism were among the factors that contributed to the widening of opportunities, especially for middle-class urban dwellers, to participate in a new kind of up-to-date “cultural life.”
Truly Mass/Popular Culture
Advances in public transportation/infrastructure, communication, publishing, education, journalism
“Westernization” reaches the masses
Internationalization: Sports, Hollywood Movies, Jazz, etc.
Departmental Stores
Publishing industry — mass circulation magazines as well as books and newspapers, celebrated the modern lives of middle-class women and men.
New terminology for gender specific identities: “new woman,” “moga,” “Ryōsai Kenbo,” “Koshi-ben” (lit.
waist-bento), “salaryman”, “new middle class”, “brain worker”
Taisho Economic Problems
World War 1 Boom
Post-War Recession
Stock Market Plunged in
1920
Silk Market Crashed
Value of Key industries
fell by 40%
Mass dismissal of employees
Kantō Earthquake (1923)
1927 Banking Crisis
