JAPANESE RESPONSE TO IMPERIALISM

REVIEW Suez Canal: Shorter route from Europe to the East; Shortened trade routes; Easier access to colonies Panama Canal: Quicker access from Pacific to Caribbean & vice versa; Toll required for passage; Produced income for controlling country

ESSENTIAL QUESTION What effect did Japan’s rise to becoming a world power have on events in the future?

INTRODUCTION Japan remained an independent nation Japanese were still influenced by Western ideas Changed their form of government & industrialized

THE MEIJI RESTORATION A group of samurai warriors overthrew the Tokugawa shogunate, & returned the emperor to power in The samurai had grown impatient with Japan’s old ways, & wanted a government & social system more like those of the West Old system of social classes done away with All citizens free to choose what kind of work they did Required everyone to go to school – Almost wiped out illiteracy

1899 – New Japanese Constitution that gave people a say in the government Voting rights given to owners of large amount of property only Emperor given supreme power, but he didn’t use it Created 2 House national assembly called the Diet 1 house of elected representatives – Limited power 1 house of appointed officials – Held “real” power THE MEIJI RESTORATION

INDUSTRIALIZATION Bought factory machinery from West Encouraged private citizens to start businesses Sent students & leaders to West to learn about Western ideas Prince Ito Hirobumi Leader that was sent to United States Summarized Japan’s Goals: Strive for highest point of civilization; Adopted military, naval, scientific, & educational institutions; Knowledge shared through foreign commerce

By 1900 Japan was 1 st Asian country to industrialize Cities linked by railroads & telephone lines Factories produced goods to be sold throughout the country Textile Industry strong – Exported cotton cloth & silk Money from exports paid for imports: Iron Ore & Crude Oil Used raw materials to make steel & build ships INDUSTRIALIZATION

THE SINO-JAPANESE WAR Japan became imperialists to prevent other countries from coming in and trying to take power Korea, a Chinese colony, was Japan’s main interest Russia, France, & the U.S. all interested in Korea Japan did not want Western powers controlling territory so close to them

1894 – Rebellion begins in Korea Wanted freedom from China Japan & China sent forces to Korea Japan quickly defeated China’s larger army Victory due to more advanced modernization THE SINO-JAPANESE WAR

1895 – Treaty of Shimonoseki Ended Sino-Japanese War Korea granted independence Japan given Taiwan & right to trade with China This marked the beginning of Japan as a major world power THE SINO-JAPANESE WAR