The first action, taken in 1868 while the country was still unsettled, was to relocate the imperial capital from Kyto to the shogunal capital of Edo, which was renamed Tokyo (Eastern Capital). The Meiji Restoration turned a feudalistic Japan into an educated, technological, and expansionistic nation that was intent on conquering Asia. It was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Japan watched China get pummeled and humiliated by the British for trying to prevent the Brits from selling opium. Another reform was in the area of education. Major changes occurred in the roles of the Emperor, Samurai and Peasants during the Meiji period and the modernisation also assisted in fundamental changes such as diet, clothing and education. If you need assistance with writing your essay, our professional essay writing service is here to help! The Meiji Emperor represented a mixture of West and East. 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. They comprised part of the military, teaching staff, makers of guns and government officials. Creation of a well-developed communication system. They wanted to unite the country under a new, centralized government in order to strengthen their army to defend against foreign influence. Erin has taught English and History. The Meiji Restoration had far-reaching effects on Japanese society. These people were better placed in the economic grounds than any other group because of their rich cultural heritage. Looking for a flexible role? 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. An error occurred trying to load this video. 430 Words; 2 Pages; Open Document. Additionally, the feudal system increasingly weakened, England and other western countries were engaging with China, which also affected Japan, and many in Japan were tired of the class system. During early industrialisation, women were worked in factories under poor conditions. which began in 1868 and lasted until 1912. Finally, the Japanese began to democratize its people, leading to a nationalistic fervor that combined them into a people and not simply servants of their daimyo. However, this trade was nonexistent in the past or it only existed in a limited form (Ebrey 405). The school attendance rate was 80% and the literacy rate was 90%, making Japan the most academically advanced country in the world. There were some negatives effects of Meiji Restoration as Japan abolished many traditional things which would be loved by the people in the 21st century. This overlapped into the Meijis era hence forming the big banking facilities that were seen during the Meijis era. In 1875, an ordinance was promulgated, requiring all people to use surnames. During the Edo Period, mixed bathing in public baths was common. The enacting of a constitution and formalization of a parliamentary system of government. First, the capital was moved from Kyoto to Edo, which became known as Tokyo. The shogun was a member of the Tokugawa clan, so this time was known as the Tokugawa shogunate. This led to production and manufacturing of more sophisticated goods that fitted in the modern revolution. Why did the Meiji reformers want to modernize Japan? Because Japan had been a closed country since the 1600s, excluding one island in Nagasaki exclusively used by the Dutch, the shogunate reacted by declaring death to anyone who aided foreigners. This involved the people and the physical objects. Decent Essays. Thus, the Meiji Restoration was a combination of Western ideals reconstituted with traditional Japanese mores. Japan increased the number of steamships from 26 in 1873 to 1,514 in 1913 and 18 miles of train track in 1872 to over 7,000 in 1914. READ: What happens if the law is impossible to follow? Therefore, it resolved to first settle on financial matters. Economic Effects of Meiji Restoration. They thought that without modernizing Japan, the country would be colonized. It is often described as the time when Japan took 'its first step to the modernization through reformation of the fundamental systems of the nation based on interactions with other countries'. "Social changes" during the Meiji Restoration are expressed through a special and generic term in Japan: "Bunmei Kaika." Its literal translation is "blooming of civilization" but it was actually coined by Fukuzawa Yukichi as the translation of the English word "civilization." Draw students' attention to clothing, architecture, utilities, transportation, and other details. The leaders of the restoration were mostly young samurai from feudal domains (hans) historically hostile to Tokugawa authority, notably Chsh, in far western Honshu, and Satsuma, in southern Kyushu. *You can also browse our support articles here >. The industrial sector was also transformed to modern manufacturing industry like those that only appeared in the West. After the Meiji Restoration, class restrictions vanished and allowed education to be open to all people. What were some political effects of the Meiji Restoration? 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. The rule that existed in the Meijis period wanted a collaboration of views that would integrate both western ways to traditional values. https://www.britannica.com/event/Meiji-Restoration, Asia for Educators - The Meiji Restoration and Modernization, The abolition of the feudal system and all feudal class privileges, The construction of transport and communication systems. The reason why Meiji reformers wanted to modernize Japan was because they wanted to become equivalent to the Western countries instead of being considered inferior and barbaric. However, the Western countries were still unwilling to accept Japan as a great power. These effects were brought about by the appreciation of modern technology. Horse-drawn carriage (street car) Railroad cars pulled by horses traveled over the railroad tracks. We've received widespread press coverage since 2003, Your UKEssays purchase is secure and we're rated 4.4/5 on reviews.co.uk. Secondly, there were countries that were grouped for trading. Then, the leaders of the restoration really went to work. The Tokugawa warlord system progressively transformed samurai into what a historian calls "civil servants." The Meiji period saw incredible social transformation. This meant that Japan was controlled by the Genro a part of the Oligarchy. The enacting of a constitution and formalization of a parliamentary system of government. Disgruntled samurai participated in several rebellions against the government, the most famous being led by the former restoration hero Saig Takamori of Satsuma. The Meiji government built Western-style buildings and used the media to promote them to the public. Lastly, there were those countries that acted in partnership with Japan in terms of trade. Japan was able to walk a fine line between Western ideas and influences and traditional Japanese ideas to create a unique Japanese national identity. Create your account. Meiji Restoration Dbq Essay. The new emperor eliminated the government and reestablished the imperial throne, but the emperor did not have any political power and was seen as a political symbol. Tomioka Silk Mill (started operation in 1872) To promote modernization, the Meiji government also focused on the construction of Western-style factories. 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. This sounds like an urban legend, but these stories were recorded. confiscation. There were many causes for the Meiji Restoration, including rice inflation (samurai paid in rice), a decaying bureaucracy, increasing interactions with foreign technology. They adopted the school education system of Europe and the U.S. The modernization resulted into Japan being rated as the most developed in the whole of Eastern Asia. Most of the change occurred during the Meiji period which began in 1868 and lasted until 1912. 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. copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. Its like a teacher waved a magic wand and did the work for me. Japan replaced its feudalistic government, led by the Tokugawa Shogunate, with representative government; they copied Western ideas, including those of the nation-state and technology, with amazing successes and unified into a cohesive, educated, and aggressively expanding country. ChristianityIn 1873, the government removed the ban on Christianity. It occurred during a three-year period from 1866 to 1869 that traversed the end of the Edo period (often called Late Tokugawa shogunate) and beginning of the Meiji Era. I feel like its a lifeline. 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. The national army was created in 1871, and universal conscription meant that every Japanese man needed to serve in the military. Japan utilized the weapons in war times that enabled them to secure their territory. 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. 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. Bunmei Kaika is a term used to describe a social change and phenomenon that occurred in the process of Japans modernization during Meiji Restoration. The Meiji period that followed the Restoration was an era of major political, economic, and social change in Japan. One more major purpose for the formation of new government was to search for international knowledge that would be helpful in strengthening the rule of imperialism. The second major slogan was Fukoku Kohei, or enrich the country, strengthen the army. The government played a huge role in social change by creating new. This led to a powerful military rise in the year 1905. Here you can choose which regional hub you wish to view, providing you with the most relevant information we have for your specific region. 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. 2. The revolutionary changes carried out by restoration leaders, who acted in the name of the emperor, faced increasing opposition by the mid-1870s. In addition, the new government carried out policies to unify the monetary and tax systems, with the agricultural tax reform of 1873 providing its primary source of revenue. This led to the loss of many Buddhist artifacts of historical and cultural value. This was the negative effects of social changes during Meiji Restoration. Drinking milk People started drinking milk. Establishment of a rapidly growing industrial sector based on the latest technology. The Meijis restoration brought about a fundamental aspect of the society which was industrial growth. The origin of the entrepreneurs was the Sumarais. Led by Saigo Takamori, Kido Takayoshi, and other great leaders, the Satsuma-Choshu Alliance saw light. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. There was another reason why the Meiji era became successful prior to the Togukawas era. While many of these industrial ideals were Western, they were implemented in a Japanese way, with Japanese traditions taking precedence over everything. Japanese people readily accepted such drastic social changes. The adoption of universal education. So all of a sudden, Japan had a highly educated population with more social mobility. 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. Following are the social changes brought about during the period of the Meiji Restoration. Wholesale land reform has costs and inequities that make righting South Africa's central injustice through such a process inappropriate. Also, Japan sent ad hoc ambassadors to the West, like Yukichi Fukuzawa, to analyze, write about, and ultimately mimic the Industrial Revolution powering the West. This therefore contributed greatly to Japans revolution which was a transition from the feudal government. Abolishing the immobile class system. 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. It got rid of the feudal system and created the Meiji Constitution establishing a bureaucratic, centralized government. In addition, the country had gained a higher level of literacy at the time the Meijis era was about to begin. 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. Therefore, between 1894 and 1895, Japan was in a great position to defend itself against any external attacks by any external military forces. However, the Meiji government believed that having a strong military was essential to be a nation like the U.S. or European countries. This gave the emperor more powers as he would preside over all state business proceedings in the entire area of Japan (Shimposha 289). 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. In areas such as Ginza, gas lamps were installed on both sides of the roads, and lamps became popular in private homes. This was very tactful as it was significant for a new revolution. 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. It got rid of the feudal system and created the Meiji Constitution establishing a bureaucratic, centralized government. In 1882, the first horse-drawn carriage railroad opened in Tokyo. Effects of this event include the immense growth of the Japanese and expansion of the railroads during the period of 1840 to 1920. On the other hand, Japan had a different mindset that had been impacted by the revolution in the Meijis era. When they heard that messages traveled through the wires, some people thought that the telegrams were delivered physically through the wires. Consequently, catching up with the newest forms of technology according to that era would have been a great challenge incase a former leader retained the office. Consequently, Japan expanded the trade to even powerful countries. 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. You know, like old cars polished and souped-up to look like new again. The result of these changes was a drafted constitution in 1989 that transformed Japan to be turned into a constitutional monarchy. The new national army put down early challenges from peasants and samurai rebelling in the countryside. Some critics argue that the strict binary gender differences, which are characteristics of modern society, were not present before the Meiji period in Japan (Sogojyoseishi Kenkyukai, 1993: 118-21; Yokota, 1995: 364). Second, outside pressure from foreigners convinced the Japanese that they needed to modernize quickly. It signed treaties with America, Russia, Canada and many countries in Europe. 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. The whole of Japan became interested in Western culture and began actively adopting it. On the other hand, the samurai still held their heads high since they still remained the most educated of all in the society (More 55). The feudal system was decaying, and factions were growing. The Meiji era was the first half of the Empire of Japan, when the Japanese people moved from being an isolated feudal society at risk of colonization by Western powers to the new paradigm of a modern, industrialized nation state . What were the causes and effects of the Meiji Restoration? There were many causes for the Meiji Restoration, including rice inflation (samurai paid in rice), a decaying bureaucracy, increasing interactions with foreign technology. Besides, these aims were greatly achieved by carrying out reforms. This drastic change in Japanese society and economics led to its role in WWII and its modern place in the world today. Tokugawa Shogunate History & Significance | What was the Tokugawa Shogunate? The cause for the first reinvention, also known as the Meiji restoration, was foreign influence let into the country by the shoguns. There were radical changes that took place during the Meiji transformation. The new governance was formed after the abolition of feudalism. This issue eventually led to the creation of an opportunity for revolution in the labor force. The growth in trade consequently led to the creation of modern communication lines and railway line. Most scholars, however, insisted that it was left to Japan to decide at the time of . To maintain the firm economic foundation, the Japanese had to form institutions that could be used to harness knowledge that would assist in continuity of knowledge gained during the Togukawas era. The government played a huge role in social change by creating new laws and a constitution. Great collaboration with the government and passion for development were the main contributors of the improved economy (Tipton 456). Their goal first included the formation of deliberative assemblies; secondly was reviewing the customs and replacing the old and evil customs with new ways. These businesses provided a lot of income that was used in purchasing most intensives used for development. This strong nature led to the rule and discrimination of traditional monarchies that surrendered at the end. These included educational achievements, rapid economic development and common cultural and social background. 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.
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