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Rise Of Imperial Japan Essay

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Before the rise of Imperial Japan, there had to be a change of government once again. The shogun ‘replaced’ the emperor in the Tokugawa period based on the family of the military rulers from 1600s to the 1880s. Japan became restricted by harsh laws that isolated them locally and internationally. Soon, the Tokugawa government began to face a crisis. Countries such as Russia, Britain, and United States showed up on their doorstep demanding trade. The Tokugawa turned them down, however in 1853, Matthew Perry from the United States arrived with a message “Agree to trade in peace or suffer the consequences in war.” In 1854, Perry and his fleet returned back for an answer. The Treaty of Kanagawa allowed the United States to stop at the ports in Shimoda and Hakodate, and to have a consul in Shimoda, then the terms was extended to the European powers. With more unequal treaties signed, eight ports were opened for trade and the Japanese government had no power over the tariffs on exported and imported goods. The Samurai’s began to have less trust in the government and the insurgencies. With the support of Meiji, the Samurai’s overthrew the government and restored Meiji as Emperor. After the power went back into the hands of the Emperor during the Meiji restoration, nationalism grew and justified the expansion of Imperial Japan. …show more content…

The samurai, who were “the members of the elite of the old regime”, attacked “the old order.” Unlike other Asian countries, “Japan’s leaders embraced the new age frontally, driving their land toward modernity and world power status in a half a century.” The Meiji leaders adopted two slogans: “kuni no tame, “for the good of the country,” and fukoku kyohei, “rich country, strong

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