Japan experienced major changes by the Meiji restoration. The Meiji restoration revolutionised Japan in 1868-1912 politically, economically and socially. Ending the Tokugawa shogun’s power and returning the emperor to a central position in Japanese politics and culture. Due to the Meiji government’s policies, Japan experienced major changes in their social structure. 1868 was the year japan changed forever, the Meiji Restoration was brought in and with them they brought many different revolutionary changes. Education was one of the main social systems that changed during this period, in previous periods high class people were only able to send their children to school. Although now that the Meiji government has come in all children must attend school. A ministry of education was then established in 1871, this ministry was intended to break down class identities and help raise …show more content…
The Meiji restoration politically revolutionised Japan and caused the fall of the Tokugawa shogunate and returned Emperor Meiji to a central position in Japanese politics. “When the Meiji emperor was restored as head of Japan in 1868, the nation was a militarily weak country” (Columbia University, 2009). This revolution caused the westernisation and modernisation of Japan. The restorations leaders where mostly young samurai who belonged to feudal domains from the tokugawa authority and where motivated by the threat of foreign encroachment and growing domestic problems. Which is where the slogan “wealthy country and strong arms” comes from, they aspired to create a nation which was able to stand equal with western powers. The first goal the new Meiji government had was the undoing of the old feudal regime. This was then accomplished by 1871 when they had officially abolished the domains and had replaced them with a prefecture system, all of the privileges the feudal class had were also