1. Feudalism A form of decentralized government
(source of power is from several areas)
Geography of Japan separated people and led to the development of mini governments

2. Tokugawa Shogunate
1600: defeated all his rival daimyos for the position of shogun.
He united the country & centralized the government

4. Foreign Influence & Isolation
Missionaries from Spain (Francis Xavier) began to convert the Japanese to Christianity
Shogun feared a takeover by Spain and the Christians would be loyal to the Pope (not the Shogun)
1638: Foreigners were banned
Japanese Christians were severely persecuted; killing thousands
Dutch were allowed 1-2 ships to trade/year
Xenophobia = Fear of foreigners
Tokugawa Shogunate = policy of isolation for 200 years!

5. End of isolation
Matthew Perry conducted an expedition to Japan to open trade with the US
The Japanese were impressed by battleships and cannons, technology and industrialization in the Western Civilizations.

6. Perry’s show of force demonstrated to the Japanese that their samurai military was obsolete & ineffective.
Japan forced to sign an “unequal treaty” w/
the US in 1854
Meiji emperor thought the best solution to Western Influence was to modernize.

7. Meiji Restoration = Modernization
Meiji Constitution:
Constitutional monarchy: Emperor had veto power
Imperial Diet: legislature that made laws
Overhaul of military
New technology & tactics from the West
Conscription at age 21 for 4yrs & 3 yrs reserves
Samurai class abolished (paid stipends)
Not allowed to wear sword in public
Many become bureaucrats in gov’t
Accelerated growth industry (railroads, telegraphs, ports)
Zaibatsu – family businesses with a monopoly in a certain sector. Examples: Mitsubishi, Fujita, Kawasaki, Nissan, Suzuki
Universal education

8. Sino-Japanese War 1895 Japan defeated China China gave Japan Taiwan
What point is made by this cartoon?

9. Russo-Japanese War
1904 Japan launched a surprise attack against Russian troops in Port Arthur.
1905 Russia surrendered, granting Japan Korea and Manchuria
First time a European nation is defeated by an Asian nation!
Shock to the world; still very ethnocentric.

10. TOKUGAWA VS MEIJI RESTORATION

11. Protect Japan from invaders
TOKUGAWA VS MEIJI RESTORATION
Military shogun rules
Isolated Japan 200 yrs
Kills foreigners
Rejects cultural diffusion
Enforces J. traditions
Strictly controlled daimyo & warrior classes= privileged nobility
Decreased foreign trade
Emperor rules with a bureaucracy
Seeks foreign knowledge/ expertise
Adopts Western technology & culture
Abandons traditional social structure
Abolished samurai class
Increased foreign trade
Centralized gov’t
Protect Japan from invaders
Shinto &
Buddhism