ipl-logo

How Did Japan Manage As A World Power

1314 Words6 Pages

Samantha Pankow
Professor Harrod
West in the Modern World
30 March 2015
Why Did Japan Emerge as a World Power and China Did Not? Isolated from the rest of the world, Japan went into the 19th century with little to no ties with other nations. This all changed in 1853 when the “American Commodore Matthew C. Perry steamed into Edo Harber” on a mission to pull Japan into a world going through a rapid modernization (Hansen and Curtis 547). Perry’s primary objective was to open up trade between Japan and the United States (along with other countries) and bring Pacific goods to the waiting world. Although reluctant at first, the Japanese succumbed to Perry’s request because they were fearful of the modern technology that could be used to destroy …show more content…

Japan almost simultaneously accepted the request of the United States to open up Japanese ports to foreign trade. In 1858, the “Tokugawa government signed an unequal treaty with the United States and five European powers granting access to treaty ports and rights of extraterritoriality” (Hansen and Curtis 548). This acceptance came as humiliating to many Japanese (would not hurt to explain WHY), which ironically led to an even stronger nation when the Tokugawa government was overthrown in 1867. Japan was no longer capable of following the traditional cultural and historical values, so the Meiji Restoration began (1867-1890). The restoration was essentially a “dramatic revolutions that restored national authority to the emperor and put the country on a path of political and economic reform” (Hansen and Curtis 548). This was the primary factor leading to the industrialization that turned Japan into a major world power. Japan adapted to the Western Industrialization by adapting all aspects of technology and even …show more content…

Fukazawa, a famous Japanese scholar who greatly influenced the Meiji Restoration, “was delighted to discover that the administration of the Meiji emperor was dominated by reformers who began to utterly transform Japan’s closed, conserved society” (Hansen and Curtis 548). The government had one sole ruler; however, unlike Empress Ci Xi, he was open to new ideas ant he desires of Japan as a whole. This eventually led to an era of Japanese Imperialism (1890-1910) as Japan showed off its new power in the Sino-Japanese War, where Japan forced China to accept its own treaties and rules. Shortly after, in 1905, the Japanese defeated the Russians in the Russo-Japanese War, caused by territorial disputes over Manchuria and Korea. This victory, specifically, proved that Japan had become a world power because it beat one of the Great Powers. At this time, Japan was looked upon with great respect and it joined the other world powers as one of the top nations of the

Show More
Related

Dbq Research Paper

220 Words | 1 Pages

In the 19th century china and japan were under pressure when the west opened up foreign trade and relations. The industrial revolution created a wide gap between them and the west and left them behind in technology and the military. They both signed unequal treaties that forced them to open their ports and cities to foreign merchants. Both country's reacted very differently and this will be the topic of this essay.

Read More

Westernization Of China Dbq Analysis

148 Words | 1 Pages

Japan didn’t open to foreigners until the mid-19th century. Japan quickly realized the situation and began to modernize and westernize as fast as possible. Japan wanted to be strong enough to resist domination of western imperialists who wanted Japan for their own. Japan also wanted to become the strongest Asian country. Japan’s tactics of rapid modernization succeeded, and kept the country and government independent of foreign control.

Read More

Dbq Essay On Japan

947 Words | 4 Pages

Japan’s economic development had been shaped in various ways, including Japanese internal forces, and external forces from other countries. Although during the Tokugawa era, the Japanese were very closed off from the world for 250 years, once Commodore Perry and the rest of America threatened Japan with war Japan was forced to open ports for trade. Due to the Japanese lack of weapons the trading environment was very biased on the side of America with unequal trade. The shogun was once a Samurai and is now almost in control of Japan.

Read More

Meiji Period Dbq Essay

327 Words | 2 Pages

The Meiji period played a important role in Japan. The Meiji period was an important part of Japan’s changing western ways. According to the book The Meiji Restoration was a period of pollical and social revolution in Japan. Japan chose to remake themselves through

Read More

How Did Japan Influence President Roosevelt's Extension Of Japan?

116 Words | 1 Pages

Japan had been attempting to agree Asia all through the 1930 's and 40 's. Through this time the United States had been giving supplies to Great Britain in its battle against the Nazi 's. Which likewise began to weight the Japanese armada to stop it 's extension all through Asia ( Remembering). The on developing extension of Japan influenced President Roosevelt to move the pacific armada from California to Hawaii. Because of the ban demonstration that the United States set on Japan they made a settlement with Germany and Italy (Pearl Harbor Attack). There was one and only objective that the Japanese was attempting to accomplish and that was to assume control over the Philippines and the American

Read More

What Is The Theme Of The Rape Of Nannking By Iris Chang

1595 Words | 7 Pages

However, on numerous occasions they had been humiliated and shown that they were not the greatest nation in the world, which they truly believed themselves to be. Commander Matthew Perry is an example of a man who has caused the Japanese great humiliation. Perry not only forced Japan to open up trade with the United States, but he showed them their actual rank compared to other countries around the world. This event, among others, caused the Japanese to implement a plan to expand Asia and eventually conquer the entire world. It has been noted in many history books that the Japanese government was so confident in their ability to conquer and expand that they could do it is as little as three

Read More

Why Did Pearl Harbor Happen

410 Words | 2 Pages

Japan, at this time, relied on fossil fuels from The United States. However, The United States cut off trades with Japan due to Japan’s obsession with becoming rich (Doerr, Paul Walker). Japan tried to cripple The United States by targeting its Navy. The United States and its Navy had the power to block Japan’s expansion in Asia (Doerr, Paul Walker).

Read More

Pearl Harbor Research Paper

1839 Words | 8 Pages

The United States initiated its resistance to Japanese expansion by freezing Japan’s assets on July 26, 1941. Britain and the Dutch East Indies also froze Japan’s access to resources. The result for Japan was a devastating loss of 75 percent of its overseas trade and 88 percent of its oil. Japan’s economy could not continue without access to these key imports. Japan was to prideful to withdraw their forces in East Asia and hope for the US to withdraw its embargos.

Read More

Breaking Open Japan Analysis

1435 Words | 6 Pages

At first glance, the end of Japanese isolation in 1853 seems straightforward. The Americans, under the leadership of Commodore Matthew Perry sailed to Japan with their fleet of black ships. They were the ones to convince Japan to open its ports to foreign trade. However, a closer inspection of events complicates that narrative. Commodore Perry’s arrival is a historical event that has been written about in a variety of ways.

Read More

Why Do You Think Japan Drops A Surprise Attack On Pearl Harbor

460 Words | 2 Pages

Japan expanding its territory gives them more power to take over. During the time of WWII Japan becomes eager to become powerful and solve their economic and demographic problems. During 1941 “the Soviets on the track of defeat by the Axis powers,” Japan feels they are able to seize oil from Southeast Asia. Japan, forced to disengage from China, they became mad and power hungry. In addition to the United States forcing Japan to retreat from China, the U.S will also create trade

Read More

How Did Ww2 Affect The Relationship Between Japan And America

1365 Words | 6 Pages

The effects of the treaties proved beneficial, as Japan skyrocketed its power in Asia. Japan utilized its new opportunities to rise the ranks and create powerful alliances. Following the Treaty of Kanagawa, the country underwent constant changes, as its waves of influence began to grow. The Treaty of Kanagawa, while initially addressing immediate concerns, ultimately paved the way for profound and lasting transformations in international relations, trade dynamics, and Japan's trajectory as a global power. Continuing on the track of change, the treaty caused one of the greatest changes in Japanese as evident by this quote, “This treaty put in motion a series of events which led to a civil war (the Boshin War) and the overthrow of Japan's military rulers, the Tokugawa shogunate” (“Japan”).

Read More

Pearl Harbor Research Paper

932 Words | 4 Pages

The strained relations between Japan and the United States can be traced back to their first meeting, and the events that followed. On July 8, 1853, Commodore Matthew Perry fired upon Japan thus opening them to American merchants and missionaries. Mortified by their defeat, Japan modernized

Read More

Ottoman Empire Compare And Contrast Essay

647 Words | 3 Pages

Japan was an isolated nation that had seen little technological innovation from the outside world, and was going through a period of economic downturn as well. It quickly transitioned into a modernized nation through its own reformation, called the Meiji Era. Similar to the Tanzimat and the Self Strengthening Movement, this saw a decrease in corruption, an increase in industrialization, and the incorporation of Western ideas into the system. Japan quickly came in par with all the other modern countries and proved to be a competent independent nation in the global economic

Read More

Export Control Act Of 1940 Essay

557 Words | 3 Pages

In the 1930’s the Japanese government began initiatives to expand it’s land and influence throughout the Pacific that would ultimately bring it into direct confrontation with the United States and European powers. Japan began it’s war of conquest by invading China in July 1937, this conflict would last until the end of World War II. In 1938, President Roosevelt asked Congress for additional funds (500 million) to expand the military, and modernize the United States current inventory of weapons and armament. While this build up was directly related to the growing threat of war in the European theatre, but was seen by the Japanese as a direct threat to the expansion of their empire. (1) Politically, the “Export Control Act” of 1940 was directly aimed at choking off Imperial Japan’s ability to continue its war in China and it’s eventual expansion into the greater Pacific region by restricting shipments of oil and materials.

Read More

Tokugawa Shogunate: The Role Of Imperialism In Japan

1403 Words | 6 Pages

Imperialism in Japan Background: Japan prior to the Meiji restoration was ruled in a hierarchy very similar to other European countries. The hierarchy was that of lords, samurai and then peasants. The Japanese equivalent to a king at the time was a military dictator called a shogun. During this time the capital was Kyoto and the shogun was part of the Tokugawa clan. That is why this period is referred to as the Tokugawa Shogunate.

Read More

More about How Did Japan Manage As A World Power

Related Topics

Open Document