The Meiji Restoration

university of georgia The Meiji Period made lacquer big midterm examination Question 2 christian driver 10/23/2012 The Meiji overhaul in lacquer is kn let as the end of Japans isolationism, and its entrance into the solid ground as a global player. However, the Meiji restoration is principally responsible for the development and advancement of Japan as an eastern world power. Japans economy was greatly bolstered and untested philosophies and ideals from the western hemisphere flood in. These ideas opened minds to different ways of thought.The reason the Meiji restoration took place is pay fitting to the western powers and cultural and establishmental turmoil. When the black ships arrived in Japan, the Tokugawa shogun realized that they were technologically outclassed by the western nations, he agreed to treaties that put the west at an advantage, and Japan at a disadvantage. Many leaders were elicit by these treaties and feared that Japan would share the same fate as m any a(prenominal) other Asian countries. Thus, the Meiji emperor was restored to power, but he did not find directly.He was expected to accept the advice of the daimyo that had overthrown the shogun, and it was from this group that a small number of ambitious, able and patriotic young men from the lower ranks of the samurai emerged, to take control and launch the new governmental system. At first, their only strength was that the emperor sure their advice. In addition several powerful feudal domains provided military support. They go quickly, however to build their own military and economic control.By July 1869, the feudal professional had been requested to give up their domains, and in 1871 these domains were abolished and trans make into prefectures of a incorporated central state. The abolition of feudalism made tremendous social and political changes possible. Because of the Meiji reforms millions of people were suddenly dissolve to choose their occupation and move nigh without restrictions. By providing a new environment of political and financial security, the political relation made investments in new industries and technologies possible.The government led the way by building railways and shipping lines, telegraph and telephone systems three shipyards, ten mines, fin munitions works, and fifty three consumer industries (making sugar, glass, textiles. cement. chemicals, and other important products)Taira,85. This was very expensive, however and heavy government finances, so that in 1880 the government decided to sell approximately of these industries to private investors, encouraging such(prenominal) activity though subsidies and other incentives.Some of the daimyo and merchants who strengthened these industries launch major corporate conglomerates called zaibatsu, which controlled much of japans modern industrial sector. The government also introduced study educational systems and a constitution creating an elected sevens called the die t. They did this to provide a good environment for national growth, win the notice of the westerners, and build support for the modern state.In the Tokugawa period, popular education had spread rapidly, and by 1872 the government established a national system to educate the unblemished population. By the end of the Meiji period, almost everyone attended the free public schools for at least six years. The government closely controlled the schools making sure that in addition to the skills like mathematics and reading all students studied honorable training, which stressed the importance of their duty to the emperor, the coun canvass and their families Fridell, 823.Catching up on the military sector was a high priority for Japan in the era of European and American imperialism. To win the cite of the western powers and incline them to change the unequal treaties that Japan had been forced to sign in the 1850s, Japan changed its entire legal system, adopting a new criminal and civi l autograph modeled subsequently those of France and Germany. The western nations finally agreed to revise the treaties in 1894, acknowledging Japan as a equal in principle, although not as an international power.Universal conscription was introduced, a new modeled army after the Prussian force, and a navy modeled after the British was established which led to new conflicts of interest in Korea and Manchuria. This time between Russia and Japan , led to the Russo-Japanese contend in 1904-05. The Japanese army won this war, gaining land and finally some international paying attention. Japan further increased its sour on Korea and annexed it completely in 1910 parsons,23. In Japan, the success in war caused nationalism to increase ven more, and other Asian nations also started to develop national self confidence. The relatively quick success of the Japanese was not to be attributed mainly to external factors, such as the impact of the west on Japan, because other countries of comp arable experience or size reacted quite otherwise to external variants and pressures. The reasons should rather be sought in internal changes, such as the great homogeneity of the Japanese people and their strong self-identity. Their sentiency of the possibilities of learning abroad was also a distinct advantage.Even the social tensions of the belated Tokugawa times were an asset to a country facing great changes. And it should be remembered that, though Japan was preindustrial in economy and feudal in political pattern, its economic and political institutions were highly complex and sophisticated. The country had standards of bureaucratic tower that did not suffer by comparison with the west in honesty or efficiency. With perhaps 45 part of its men and 15 percent of its women literate, Japan also was not far behind the leading countries of the westerly in literacy levels.Another important factor was that the change could be justified by Japanese minds, not through newly lear ned foreign concepts, such as democracy or, later, communism, but by Japans own ancient system of imperial rule. The utilization of a native ideology undoubtedly smoothed an otherwise wrenching change and made it slightly less traumatic. Japan became a very robust nation with as much potential as any western country. The Meiji reforms helped create an industrial, capitalist state with a powerful economy and military.The government also introduced a constitution by creating an elected parliament called the diet to win the respect of westerns and to generate a good environment for national growth. Japan gained recognition by the West and stayed an independent country. The Meiji restoration was very significant and cardinal for Japanese economy and the recognition of the rest of the world. Millions of people were suddenly free to choose their occupation and move without trouble.The main effect of the Meiji restoration was that it formed a strong, unified and centralized government w hich regulated all the aspects of social club and in addition the government set up new universities and new school to teach people the modern technology. Work sited Cite your data here, this is an example of how to do it Straight copied and pasted from the jstor The Abdominal Skeleton of Tropidurid Lizards (Squamata Tropiduridae) Omar Torres-Carvajal Herpetologica , Vol. 60, zero(prenominal) 1 (Mar. , 2004), pp. 75-83 Published by Herpetologists League Article Stable uniform resource locator http//www. jstor. org. proxy-remote. galib. uga. du/ lasting/3893573 This is how you make out it Omar Torres-Carvajal,The Abdominal Skeleton of Tropidurid Lizards (Squamata Tropiduridae), Herpetologica , Vol. 60, No. 1 (Mar. , 2004), pp. 75-83,Herpetologists League, http//www. jstor. org. proxy-remote. galib. uga. edu/stable/3893573 Remember to catalogue multiple citations in alphabetical order and to indent every line after the first one. Take out special(a) words such as Published by, etc. and try to remove the hyperlinks Everything else is edited, but since I did not receive the citations you have to edit this yourself Good luck and see you tomorrow in class