Essential Questions: How did Japan change its ancient and tradition-based culture in response to Western Imperialism? Why were the Japanese able to reform and industrialize their nation so quickly?
I. Japanese response to Imperialism
A. The Meiji Restoration
1. In 1868, a group of samurai overthrew the Tokugawa shogunate (Meiji
Restoration)
a. They returned the emperor to power
b. They designed a government and social system like the West
2. One of the most important changes was doing away with the old class
system
a. Now all Japanese were free to choose their occupations
b. The government also required everyone to go to school
-This virtually wiped out literacy
3. In 1899, the Japanese incorporated a new constitution
a. This gave the people more say in government affairs
-Voting rights for those with property
-Gave the emperor supreme power
B. Industrialization
1. The government bought new factory machinery from Western countries
2. They sent students to the Western countries
a. They wanted to learn as much as possible about Western ideas
3. They also encouraged private citizens to start new businesses
4. By 1900, Japan had become the first country in Asia to industrialize
a. Japanese cities were linked together by rail and phone
b. Factories were making goods that could be sold to other
countries
c. The textile industry was particularly strong
C. The Sino-Japanese War
1. Although Japan had modernized, it feared the imperialists in Asia
a. This fear led the Japanese to become imperialists themselves
b. The area that most interested Japan was Korea (a colony of
China)
-Japan was concerned that other Western countries would
gain a foothold in Korea
2. In 1894, a rebellion broke out in Korea
a. The rebels wanted to be free of China rule
b. Both China and Japan sent armed forces to Korea
-The situation exploded into the Sino-Japanese War
-In surprisingly short time, Japan defeated China
c. In 1895, the Treaty of Shimonoseki ended the war
-China was forced to give Korea independence
-Japan gained control of Taiwan
-Japan won the right to trade in china
d. The Sino-Japanese War marked the beginning of Japanese world
power