The aim was to restore imperial power under Mutsuhito, this was the decline of the Edo (Tokugawa) era 1603-1867 in Japanese history (the emperor Meiji). The Meiji Restoration also saw a dramatic increase in Westernisation, as Japan rapidly industrialised and adopted many Western technologies and ideas. They thought that without modernizing Japan, the country would be colonized. Those men were motivated by growing domestic problems and by the threat of foreign encroachment. After the shogunate's power had been removed, it was handed over to the Meiji Emperor to exact certain changes that the Japanese people were beginning to admire in the West. You know, like old cars polished and souped-up to look like new again. Modernization of the education system was one of the main goals of the new Meiji government. Schooling combined Western ideas with Japanese culture. Age of Marriage in Japan -Legal and average ages. Furthermore, their genuine interest in progress economically also boosted the country in terms of economic development. A quick skirmish led to other provinces breaking away from the shogunate and announcing their loyalty to the emperor alone. Japan was beaten by Russia in the Russo-Japanese War. If you need assistance with writing your essay, our professional essay writing service is here to help! Bunmei Kaika is a term used to describe a social change and phenomenon that occurred in the process of Japans modernization during Meiji Restoration. 430 Words; 2 Pages; Open Document. These enterprises developed into great banking companies and improved commercial businesses. All feudal class privileges were abolished as well. Then, the leaders of the restoration really went to work. The daimyo rule was later abolished by 1871. Effects of this event include the immense growth of the Japanese and expansion of the railroads during the period of 1840 to 1920. In 1875, an ordinance was promulgated, requiring all people to use surnames. It was presented as a gift from the emperor to the people, and it could be amended only upon imperial initiative. Countries that acted as partners were like the Great Britain. Eligible Japanese voters elected the members of the Diet. This revolution was a transformation from subsistence farming to commercial crops farming. This was commendable because it brought a lot of advancement not only in labor force but also in areas of research and creation of educational institutions. The Meiji Restoration was a coup dtat that resulted in the dissolution of Japans feudal system of government and the restoration of the imperial system. A military dictator, or shogun, ruled over everyone. Japan created an efficient rail system, improved communications technology, and started mechanizing industry. This overlapped into the Meijis era hence forming the big banking facilities that were seen during the Meijis era. A strong national army and navy became a main priority. It knew the main brainstems of the economy. Plus, get practice tests, quizzes, and personalized coaching to help you They saw that they needed to strengthen themselves to stand up to the Western powers - and with China humiliated, there was an opportunity to become the new big dog in Asia. The abolition of the chonmage was also an important policy showing that Japan was aiming to become a modern and civilized nation. -Reforms in other fields were far reaching: education was made compulsory, all restrictions were lifted on Japanese going abroad, Christianity was permitted, vaccinations, postal service, telegraphs, and steamships were introduced, torture was abolished, European dress was prescribed for officials (with the Emperor The forms of productions were iron smelting, shipyards and spinning meals that were sold to connected consumers of the products. Within a few decades of Perry's arrival, Japan created something akin to the Bill of Rights or Constitution, the Meiji Constitution, which was presented to the emperor by the Diet, an analog to America's Senate and House of Representatives, and this created a formal two-house parliament that voters selected. 160 -61Google Scholar, 'It has long been recognized that the Meiji Restoration was influenced and motivated by foreign relations beginning with the Opening of Japan. The change occurred in their dressing style which became more western in style. In order not to be misunderstood about the new Japan, the new Meiji government, which was aiming at westernization, called Japans indigenous customs and beliefs evil and old customs and adopted policies to enlighten the peoples lost mongrel In accordance with the policy of the new government, local governments took the initiative to eliminate traditional lifestyle culture and folk customs, and many folk customs have been reduced or discontinued due to the effects of the policy of civilization. I feel like its a lifeline. This issue eventually led to the creation of an opportunity for revolution in the labor force. Japan quickly instituted universal education, created a Western-style army and navy, and fell madly in love with something the American sailors were seen playing - baseball. There were countries which were segregated and repelled to an extent that they could not form partnerships with Japan. As a result, there were 20,000 schools nationwide. What were the causes of the Japanese industrial revolution? Secondly, there were countries that were grouped for trading. If your specific country is not listed, please select the UK version of the site, as this is best suited to international visitors. The Meiji Restoration was a time for change and life of women was changing. The reforms enacted during the Meiji emperors rule brought about the modernization and Westernization of the country and paved the way for Japan to become a major international power. Lots of things were modified in during. The Meiji Restoration turned a feudalistic Japan into an educated, technological, and expansionistic nation that was intent on conquering Asia. These views on the emperor helped to create a social change: the anger of the Japanese government and people about the. This political revolution "restored" the emperor to power, but he did not rule directly. In Japanese military history, the modernization of the Japanese army and navy during the Meiji period (1868-1912) and until the Mukden Incident (1931) was carried out by the newly founded national government, a military leadership that was only responsible to the Emperor, and with the help of France, Britain, and later Germany . Social mobility refers to the movement of individuals from one socio-economic strata to another, followed by a change in their social status. Those uprisings were repressed only with great difficulty by the newly formed army. As a result, the shoguns lost credit, and the Meiji leaders came to power. Our academic experts are ready and waiting to assist with any writing project you may have. The most affected government sectors were the social, political, economic oriented institutions. Another reform was in the area of education. The latter concern had its origins in the efforts by Western powers to open Japan, beginning in the 1850s after more than two centuries of near isolation, and the fear that Japan could be subjected to the same imperialist pressures that they observed happening in nearby China. Economic Effects of Meiji Restoration. Being a very clever lot, they embraced the issue of trade with other countries hence, they greatly improved. 205 lessons. What were the effects of the Meiji Restoration? Even today, there is a law controlling the possession of swords in Japan. This was seen in different sectors of the government. Parallel to this was the Land Tax Reform, or chisokaisei, which removed the feudal regions owned by the regional lords and placed them back in the hands of the people. Universal education and industrialization helped build an educated populace with better transportation and communication technology. These major transitions created a more clear foundation for exercising democracy in the Japanese government. But before Japan was a powerful Nation, it needed to modernize. Meiji Restoration, in Japanese history, the political revolution in 1868 that brought about the final demise of the Tokugawa shogunate (military government)thus ending the Edo (Tokugawa) period (16031867)and, at least nominally, returned control of the country to direct imperial rule under Mutsuhito (the emperor Meiji). A strong national army and navy became a main priority. The emperor was reinstated as sovereign, and he took the name Meiji. This therefore meant that the Japanese had the most powerful transformation which occurred within a single generation. In a wider context, however, the Meiji Restoration of 1868 came to be identified with the subsequent era of major political, economic, and social changethe Meiji period (18681912)that brought about the modernization and Westernization of the country. The Meiji Restoration (), also known as the Meiji Ishin, Revolution, or Renewal, was a chain of events that led to enormous changes in Japan 's political and social structure. Knowledge was to be sought in the West, the goodwill of which was essential for revising the unequal treaties that had been enacted and granted foreign countries judicial and economic privileges in Japan through extraterritoriality. First, they had to expand the boarders to allow other traders to interchange their goods with them. *You can also browse our support articles here >. No plagiarism, guaranteed! Moreover, Japan started to import raw materials which were manufactured into finished products and then were sold to other countries. What are social effects of the meiji restoration? In addition, the country had gained a higher level of literacy at the time the Meijis era was about to begin. [] One of the these was the virtually bloodless end of the aristocratic warrior class known as the samurai. Drinking milk People started drinking milk. Furthermore, the new Japanese education . World History 1600-1900: Lesson Plans & Resources, Psychological Research & Experimental Design, All Teacher Certification Test Prep Courses. It was led by young samurai who saw the need for change. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. The second major slogan was Fukoku Kohei, or enrich the country, strengthen the army. The feudal system was decaying, and factions were growing. Effects of Tokugawa's period Meiji period was characterized by rapid change and modernization. Read about the Meiji Restoration and its effects. The Meiji Restoration was a major revolution that brought an end to over 260 years of feudal government. They also began to copy the West's expanding imperialism. Therefore, it called for the former governor or leaders to step down and give way for the new leaders. This put an end to the policy of banning Christianity, which had been in place since the early Edo period. The factors that show that the Meiji era was a transformation to a new era points out the issue of constitutional promulgation, a highly developed communication and transport system, a well established industrial system that employed modern technology with a refurbished military system and lastly an established democratic government. They believed that the West depended on constitutionalism for national unity, on industrialization for material strength, and on a well-trained military for national security. What were three effects of the Meiji Restoration? Meiji period was characterized by rapid change and modernization. At the same time, a growing popular rights movement, encouraged by the introduction of liberal Western ideas, called for the creation of a constitutional government and wider participation through deliberative assemblies. However, the Western countries were still unwilling to accept Japan as a great power. They enforced a lot of new rules for government, education, society, military, and economy. All along, the Meiji Restoration used a combination of Japanese tradition and new Western ideas to transform the country. The Meiji Restoration was a coup d'tat that resulted in the dissolution of Japan's feudal system of government and the restoration of the imperial system. Japan thought that they had been left behind in terms of modernization. As the Japanese modernized and formed a national identity, the ideas of Bunmei Kaika (civilization and enlightenment) and Fukoku Kohei (enrich the country and protect the military) combined with the newly created Meiji Constitution to shape Japan into a strong, militaristic country. Its like a teacher waved a magic wand and did the work for me. Since the opening of Japan to the outside world, Japanese customs and practices have been reported from a curious perspective by foreigners who visited Japan. Nikita Khrushchev Career & Destalinization | Who was Nikita Khrushchev? Furthermore, many feudal lords or daimyo disagreed with the absolute rule of the bakufu or shogunate, and his retainers, as the bakufu continued to isolate Japan while adhering to a feudal caste system of merchants, peasants, samurai, daimyo, shogun, and emporer, ranked respectively from lowest to highest. Although Japan also had an emperor hanging around, the emperor had little to no power. First, the capital was moved from Kyoto to Edo, which became known as Tokyo. The Meiji government built Western-style buildings and used the media to promote them to the public. How did the Meiji Restoration change Japan? Get unlimited access to over 88,000 lessons. Examples of these companies are Toshiba, Noritake, Yamaha, Nippon Express, Hitachi, Shiseido and Nintendo. Japan made rapid strides to industrialize after the Meiji Restoration of 1868, boosting its transportation and communication networks and revolutionizing its light industry by the turn of the century. The Meiji Emperor represented a mixture of West and East. to modernize. In concert with a national identity devoted in service to the emperor, this created an educated working class that could match Western industry in only a few generations. During the Edo period, children in Japan learned to read, write, and use the abacus at schools called Terakoya (temple school). laws and a constitution. Japan utilized the weapons in war times that enabled them to secure their territory. The government played a huge role in social change by creating new laws and a constitution. Thus, the Meiji Restoration was a combination of Western ideals reconstituted with traditional Japanese mores. The Japanese mainly relied on imported ideals during restoration in order emulate Western nations who, in the Japanese eyes were advanced and powerful. Corrections? The Meiji Restoration stands as one of the turning points of Japanese history. Some even thought that telegrams were delivered through the power lines in the form of letters; thus, they waited at the nearby transmission tower all day for telegrams to arrive, bringing their lunch, laying out a mat, and sitting there. One of the most significant changes was the end of feudalism in Japan. The Meiji period that followed the Restoration was an era of major political, economic, and social change in Japan. Moreover, new government did not allow the Samurai males to carry along with them weapons that would act as a form of identification for them. Japanese Imperialism: Territorial Acquisitions & Wars, The Westernization of Japan During the Meiji Era. Therefore, they resorted to make a complete enlightenment to every aspect of governance that existed. Moreover, it is during this capital transformation that the emperor established for a more strengthened navy. During early industrialisation, women were worked in factories under poor conditions. Also in 1871 a national army was formed, which was further strengthened two years later by a universal conscription law. The new government was very tactical. They wanted to unite the country under a new, centralized government in order to strengthen their army to defend against foreign influence. Although there were emperors of Japan before the Meiji . Document #6: Overall Effects Based on the quotes and your new knowledge, what were the overall effects of the Meiji Restoration on Japan? The new governance was formed after the abolition of feudalism. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). [Obtain historical data] Grades 7-12: Assess the impact of Western ideas and the role of which began in 1868 and lasted until 1912. In 1866, the Tokugawa Shogun was overthrown by the feudal lords and samurai. However, this trade was nonexistent in the past or it only existed in a limited form (Ebrey 405). Copyright 2003 - 2023 - UKEssays is a trading name of Business Bliss Consultants FZE, a company registered in United Arab Emirates. The era resulted into the introduction of boarder line trading. Towards the end of the 19th century, Japan was copying the imperialism that it saw in other Western countries. The shogun was a member of the Tokugawa clan, so this time was known as the Tokugawa shogunate. Therefore, Meijis era was a revolution rather than a restoration. On the other hand, Japan had a different mindset that had been impacted by the revolution in the Meijis era. Over 100 years after the Meiji Era, the first McDonalds restaurant, first Starbucks store, and first Apple retail store in Japan were all in Ginza. Perry then ventured to Hong Kong and returned a year later, signing the Convention of Kanagawa with the Japanese, leading to many other treaties later signed with other Western powers. Their main slogan during the regime was Strengthen the military as a result of enriching the power. During the Meiji Period, which ended with the emperor's death in 1912, the country experienced significant social, political and economic change-including the abolition of the feudal system and. There were three main reasons for this war and the resulting changes: This minuscule period of a half-century began with a technologically stunted Japanese shogunate in the 1860s that quickly changed and grew into an imperialistic power that would later defeat the Russian Navy. The Meiji Restoration (, Meiji Ishin), referred to at the time as the Honorable Restoration (, Goisshin), and also known as the Meiji Renovation, Revolution, Regeneration, Reform, or Renewal, was a political event that restored practical imperial rule to Japan in 1868 under Emperor Meiji.Although there were ruling emperors before the Meiji Restoration, the events restored . This effort alternatively was reflected in the economy of the country. Most scholars, however, insisted that it was left to Japan to decide at the time of . The Gregorian calendar (solar calendar) was adopted and implemented from January 1, 1873. This was seen in different sectors of the government. Introduction. Meiji continued with reforms, cutting the samurai off from their exalted status by conscripting every male in Japan to the military for four years at age 21 in 1873. The arrival of American warships in 1853 destabilized Japan's political system and launched a transformation that made Japan into a major world power in less than 25 years. Erin has taught English and History. How Did the Meiji Restoration Change Japan? These advancements could only apply to a country that has improved. Tokugawa Shogunate History & Significance | What was the Tokugawa Shogunate? They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Decent Essays. Both the sources of these changes and the way in which they made Japan "modern" provide the material for one of human history's more dramatic stories. First, the army became more refurbished (Tipton 400). It explained for the success of the Meiji Modernization. However, the Meiji government believed that having a strong military was essential to be a nation like the U.S. or European countries. This rule was termed as the enlightened rule because it was to transform Japan from its nave nature to a more modernized society. The development of industries during the Togukawa period resulted into the subsequent growth of many industries during the Meiji era. Second, outside pressure from foreigners convinced the Japanese that they needed to modernize quickly. There are three factors that led to the smooth transformation of Meiji era. The Shogunate Before From 1603 to 1868 Japan was a feudal society with a hierarchy of lords, samurai, and peasants. Then, in 1904, Japan shocked the world by humiliating Russia in the Russo-Japanese War. It got rid of the feudal system and created the Meiji Constitution establishing a bureaucratic, centralized government. Consequently, Japan expanded the trade to even powerful countries. Japan expanded into the Ryukyu Islands and invaded Taiwan in the 1870s, which a very weak China did not repel. The collection includes accounts of daily life in Japan, material about missionary activities, and the writings of diplomats and long-term residents of Japan discussing the impact of Westerners on Japanese society, as well as the history of the foreign communities in Japan. Then, in 1853, United States commodore Matthew Perry sailed into Tokyo Bay with four war ships and massive guns. To provide some clarity as to how the Meiji Era occurred, one must know two things: one, the term Meiji is named after the Meiji Emperor, who lived from 1852 to 1912 C.E., and reigned over the modernization of Japan; and two, Japan had existed for hundreds of years in relative peace with little contact from the outside world thanks to the Tokugawa Shogunate, or the military leadership that had been in charge of Japan since the early 1600s. Although the actual events of 1868 constituted little more than a shift of power within the old ruling class, the larger process referred to as the Meiji Restoration brought an end to the ascendancy of the warrior class and replaced the decentralized structure of early modern feudalism with a central state under the . This gave the emperor more powers as he would preside over all state business proceedings in the entire area of Japan (Shimposha 289). Why is Japan called the Land of the Rising Sun? Therefore, a revolution was started that was geared to more of advancement and revolution. Therefore, it resolved to first settle on financial matters. copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. Major contributors to economic development were road construction networks that led to developments of central business district. The merchants who existed in the previous era gained financial and entrepreneual knowledge that would be used in the subsequent period which was the Meiji period. Their goal first included the formation of deliberative assemblies; secondly was reviewing the customs and replacing the old and evil customs with new ways. Economic Effects of Meiji Restoration. READ: What happens if the law is impossible to follow? They employed a sense of honor in their duties hence accomplished their work with diligence. After the Meiji Restoration, class restrictions vanished and allowed education to be open to all people. Disclaimer: This is an example of a student written essay.Click here for sample essays written by our professional writers. Consequently, western technology was greatly employed by domestic companies to produce highly sophisticated products. What were some effects of the Meiji Restoration? Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. These effects were brought about by the appreciation of modern technology. Members of the ruling samurai class had become concerned about the shogunates ability to protect the country as more Western countries attempted to open Japan after more than two hundred years of virtual isolation. Finally, the dual ideals of Bunmei Kaika or "Civilization and Enlightenment" and Fukoku Kohei or "Make the county rich and grow the military" combined Japanese aspirations for not only nationalism but also a forward-looking culture that espoused both technology and militarization. This involved the people and the physical objects. In today's world, social mobility is largely. The Chinese branded themselves with the notion of self superiority. To add to these, there was education for both boys and girls in the society. These included the Simutomo, Mitsui and Konoike family lines. It was later converted into a train transportation system. Japan's success in modernization has created great interest in why and how it was able to adopt Western political, social, and economic institutions in so short a time. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Adopting the slogan Enrich the country, strengthen the army (Fukoku kyhei), they sought to create a nation-state capable of standing equal among Western powers. This resulted to the promulgation of a new charter that was accomplished in 1968. The Meiji government did not intend to eliminate Buddhism itself. These businesses provided a lot of income that was used in purchasing most intensives used for development. Railroad In 1872, the railroad between Shimbashi and Yokohama was opened and steam locomotives began to operate. A recognition that Japan needed western technology to prevent itself from being colonized. While teaching materials in the early Meiji years were overwhelmingly translated from western sources, room was nonetheless made for the largely samurai staff to instruct their pupils in the traditional values they themselves had been brought up with. Japan had a transition that was nicknamed the enlightened era hence it was very prudent that members of the state act in a more intelligent way to allow modernization. These were the Russo-Japanese war and Sino-Japanese war. Creation of a well-developed communication system. At first, many supporters of the emperor were also very critical of Western influence. I would definitely recommend Study.com to my colleagues. Japans economic, political and social stability developed intensely during the Meijis era. The development resulted into Japan becoming a powerful industrial country. We're here to answer any questions you have about our services. For modernization to be effective, the government thought it was necessary to raise the peoples level of education. Rickshaw The jinrikisha is a vehicleinvented in Japan, based on the Western horse-drawn carriage. https://www.britannica.com/question/What-caused-the-Meiji-Restoration. Japan before the Meiji restoration In 1839 and 1856 Asian nations were shocked by Britain's crushing victories over China in the two Opium Wars. 'Restoration' sounds like you're going back, making things look how they used to look. Reinstating the emperor legitimized the movement by connecting it to an old tradition that encouraged everyone to unify. The Japanese emperors in that time knew well that for them to make it through the wars that were foreseen, they were to be well armed as the imperial superpowers. The constitution was presented as a gift from the emperor, and it created a two-house parliament called the Imperial Diet. These aspects were key elements in the characterization of a developed nation. The first was Bunmei Kaika, or civilization and enlightenment. This led to the loss of many Buddhist artifacts of historical and cultural value. The formation of a national army. To export a reference to this article please select a referencing stye below: If you are the original writer of this essay and no longer wish to have your work published on UKEssays.com then please: Our academic writing and marking services can help you! Finally, Japan allied with Britain against Russia, culminating in Japan's attack at Port Arthur and the destruction of an overconfident Russian fleet coming to save the city in the Battle of Tsushima. Omissions? The foresight by the Japanese to embrace modernizing was a great stepping stone into their winning strategies. The new leaders in Japan resorted to reform the work system of the major territories by daimyo (Shimposha 289). Members of the ruling samurai class had become concerned about the shogunates ability to protect the country as more Western countries attempted to open Japan after more than two hundred years of virtual isolation. The first Diet was convened the following year, in 1890.
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