Aim: Explain why Japan ended its isolation

Japan Ends Its Isolation Early 17th Century, Japan isolated itself from foreigners Early 19th Century, Westerners tried to convince the Japanese to open their ports to trade 1853: US Commodore Matthew Perry took 4 ships into Tokyo Harbor Massive ships and canons astounded the Japanese Perry asked Shogun to allow free trade between United States & Japan 1854, Treaty of Kanagawa: Japan opened 2 ports at which US Ships could take on supplies Japanese angry with Shogun & forced him to step down For next 45 years, Japan under Meiji era 2

The Meiji Era The Meiji emperor realized that the best way to counter Western influence was to modernize Sent diplomats to Europe & North America to study Western ways Japanese chose what they believed to be the best that Western civilization had to offer and adapt it Attempted to imitate European powers as they modernized their military Adopted the American system of public education & required all children attend school Emperor supported following Western Industrialization Early 20th Century, Japan’s economy modernized Country built first railroad line in 1872 3

Imperial Japan 1890: Japan had several dozen warships and 500,000 well-trained soldiers Japan had gained military, political, & economic strength Sought to eliminate the extraterritorial rights of foreigners & show the world that they were a powerful nation 1876, Japan forced Korea to open 3 ports to Japanese trade 1885, Japan & China signed agreement that pledged that both countries wouldn’t send their armies into Korea June 1894, China broke that agreement which led to the Sino-Japanese War (Japan Won) Russia and Japan went to war over Manchuria Ruso-Japanese War- Japan drove Russian troops out of Korea and captured most of their fleet 4