Why did Japan emerge as a world power and what was the impact on international relations? #3

Question 1

When and what was the Russo-Japanese war?

Answer 1

fought during 1904 and 1905 over rival imperial ambitions in Manchuria and the Korean Empire.

Question 2

Outcome of Russo-Japanese war on Japan

Answer 2

• only major power with significant influence in Korea
• takes over Russian lease of Liaodong peninsula
• controls railway from Liaodong to Harbin (South Manchurian Railway)

-Russia no longer capable of expanding influence Eastward

Question 3

How was Japan able to defeat Russia?

Answer 3

• Initial agreement to “unequal treaties” to
  keep from drawing the ire of western
  nations
• Rapid military and financial build-up
• Cultural norm of subjects of the
  Emperor “offer[ing] themselves
  courageously to the state”
• Anglo-Japanese Treaty

Question 4

What were the main reasons for change? + why the revolution was wanted?

Answer 4

• isolation is threatened by western expansion
• The unequal treaties
• The Meiji restoration
• Better standard of living (from the “lower class”)

Question 5

What was the Meiji Restoration?

Answer 5

• 1868
• was a political event that restored practical imperial rule to Japan in 1868 under Emperor Meiji.

Question 5

What were the unequal treaties? + Privileges for foreigners

Answer 5

• Treaties made between western powers and China
• Japan lost its own tariff autonomy

Privileges for foreigners:
- Free access to ports
- Extra-territoriality
- Consular Courts
- Very low tariffs

Question 6

Outcomes of the Meiji Restoration

Answer 6

• New army
• 3 year universal conscription (unpopular at first)
• By 1883, wartime strength=200,000
• New Navy
• By 1894:
• 28 warships and 24 torpedo
  boats
• Modernization in industry
• Textile industry modernized (steam
  powered factories)

Question 7

Black Dragon Society

Answer 7

A prominent paramilitary, ultranationalist group in Japan

Question 8

Why did Japan want to change from being isolated?

Answer 8

• Isolation is threatened by Western expansion
• The Unequal Treaties
• Meiji Restoration

Question 9

When was the Sino-Japanese War?

Answer 9

• 1894-1895
• Japan defeats China at Pyongyang in North Korea

Question 10

Response to treaty of Shimonoseki by western powers

Answer 10

• France, Russia, and Germany unite to force Japan to return Liaodong Peninsula to China
• This is humiliating, and demonstrates Japan is not yet powerful enough to hold its own on the world stage

Question 11

Anglo-Japanese treaty of 1902

Answer 11

Alliance that bound Britain and Japan to assist one another in safeguarding their respective interests in China and Korea.