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How Did The Meiji Restoration Modernize Japan?

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Triggered by the fear of imperialism, the Meiji Restoration was ignited in 1868. By the 1870s, Europe had the control of most of the world in their palm. Japan modernized immediately to avoid succumbing to European domination, unlike its neighboring countries. The Meiji Restoration was a time period, where Japan modernized in technology, government and economics. However, in order for the Meiji Restoration to begin, the ruling shogun would have to be unseated. In 1868, leading a revolt against the shogun, the daimyo and samurai, guided 15 year old Emperor Meiji to the throne. With Emperor Meiji in power, The Meiji Restoration lasted from 1868 to 1912 and turned Japan from a feudal empire to a modern empire. The goal of the reform group, consisting …show more content…

Although Japan had somewhat industrialized, they did not have enough money to cover the expenses for a commercial economy. Their agricultural production had grown, but they did not have enough money to pay for the costs. Unlike previous leaders, Meiji leaders made the economy its number one priority. They created a modern banking, telegraph and postal system, built railroads, and improved ports. By the 1890s, the industry in Japan was flourishing. Prior to being modernized, Japan isolated itself from all foreign countries and trade. Japanese people were forbidden to travel overseas. In modern Japan, trade was open, which allowed Japan to provide enough money for itself. In the 1890s, Japan was also strong enough to reverse the unequal treaties proposed by the Western powers. These modernizing tactics proved to be effective, as Japan began to imperialize other nations, creating their own empire. Japan was also able to defend and overpower the Western powers, unlike the other dominated countries. With Japan’s growing military strength, they fought nations, such as China and Russia. Japan was able to seize ports in China and the entire island of

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Before this industrialization in 1968, was the Boshin war, which was directly responsible for the Meiji Restoration, due to the fact that after the war, Japan wanted to have one central power, which resulted in Japan’s government wanting to become like an already successful government with one central power, America, however they did not want America’s culture, but merely the style of government, which resulted in Japan becoming much more western. Then after the war, the Meiji Restoration started, which was the new government taking over Japan, this started a westernization movement in Japan, and during this westernization, industrialization started, and then it settled all throughout Japan, building factories, and machines. Similar to this, Russia experienced the Crimean war, which was essentially a wake-up call for Russia to industrialize after it’s terrible loss to both Britain and France, to add to the losses, after that, Japan and Russia fought, and Russia lost horribly, which shocked the entire

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During the Meji Period, Japan began to imitate European powers as they modernized their military. Fear of ending up like China, the Meji Restoration abolishing the strict class system ultimately unleashing their potential to compete with European powers. While Japan began to prosper, they lost their feudal governing system and rich cultural history in the process. Nevertheless, Japan soon became a prominent imperial power, assisting European countries with the Boxer Rebellion and colonizing nearby countries like Korea. Japan became a disliked country in Asia due to their imperialist goals and establishment of diplomatic relationships with Great Powers.

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The growth of the cities made farming land smaller, resulting in the decline of the economy. The event led to the weakening of the Tokugawa shogunate, and two groups, the Choshu and Satsuma, took over power and a fourteen year old emperor took over, becoming the Meiji Emperor; thus, the Meiji Restoration, the “Enlightened period”, began. The events of the decline in the Tokugawa period laid the perfect ground for the Meiji Restoration to flourish. During the Meiji Restoration, Japan went through monumental political, economic, and social advances. The Meiji Restoration also built a new and improved army.

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