Japanese Modernization How Japan turned their country from FEUDALISM to FORCEFUL POWER in 20 years! Japanese Modernization

Tokugawa Japan 1603: centralized feudalism, closed Japan to foreigners, and forbade Japanese people to travel overseas (Dutch ONLY allowed at Nagasaki for TRADE ONLY) By 1800s, most Japanese were unhappy: shogun had lost power, daimyo’s wealth declining, and peasants paid heavy taxes!

Commodore Perry’s Fleet 1853: U.S. Commodore Matthew Perry arrives with “Great White Fleet” After what Opium War did to China, Japan was very nervous that the same would happen to them Forced to sign unequal treaties 1867: New Emperor Mutsuhito takes over, moves capital to Edo (renamed TOKYO) Begins MEIJI Restoration

Meiji Restoration 1868-1912: Turning point in Japanese history! “rich country, strong military” Study and adopt Western ways to avoid becoming what China had become Reforms? Modern government based on Western democracy Industrialization Some educational reforms

Results? MASSIVE transformation of Japanese society! Desire to “show off” new military Sino-Japanese War 1894 Russo-Japanese War 1905 Japan annexes Korea in 1910: harsh rule just like the West had done in Africa and Asia! Koreans resist in 1919, but are brutally crushed!  March First Movement