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Meiji Restoration
Cause: There was social and economic unrest in Japan, but what sparked the Meiji restoration was Commodore Matthew C. Perry forcing open Japanese ports for trade, which the Japanese complied to but also pushed them to further develop a military. Effect: Japan adopted a lot of Western ways of thinking like becoming a constitutionalized government and reforming their education system. They also adopted Western military methods. -
Meiji Restoration (Continued)
Significance: After the Meiji restoration, Japan started to make efforts in developing a stronger military and interacting with more foreign countries. They were becoming more and more similar to the Western imperialist powers. They now sought to take advantage of other countries instead of staying as a closed country. In result, Korea, a nearby state to Japan, later became a victim of Japan’s imperialism. -
Treaty of Kanghwa
Cause: Japan wanted to open up Korea for trade and "help" them build a better economic infrastructure. Effect: Japan was granted extraterritorial rights in Korea which led to the Japanese taking advantage of Korean territory by allowing trade/economy raise for Japan. -
Treaty of Kangwha (continued)
Significance: Japan, once granted rights into Korea, pretended to improve transportation and agriculture for Korea’s benefit, but Japan’s real intentions were to use the resources and arable land that Korea was in rich supply compared to them for their own gain. This was Japan's first step in taking over the country. -
Tonghak Rebellion (Continued)
SIgnificance: The Tonghak rebellion was the first glimpse of Korean nationality and the spark of the Sino Japanese War. -
Tonghak Rebellion
Cause: The peasants were protesting against the political fault of local government. Yangbans became obsessed with court politics, they spent little time managing their estates and peasantry which led them to poverty and loss of their status. They wanted to make Korea open for trade. They also made the government raise tax for peasants and later decided to rebel. Effect: The revolution itself failed, but it sparked the start of the Sino-Japanese war. -
Sino Japanese War
Cause: Yamagato Aritami and the rest of Japan was fully aware of the military progress they had had made and wanted to “modernize” Korea. This meant Japan wanted to seize Korea before any other country had the chance. Effect: Once China was defeated, Japan made Korea independent but kept them as a protectorate of their empire. The war marked the end of a dominating Chinese power in Eastern Asia and the presence of a new one: Japan. -
Sino Japanese War (Continued)
Significance: Once the war started, China had Japan’s military outnumbered, but Japan managed to defeat China. Japan was able to gain many benefits including open ports in China for trade helping them create an even stronger empire. The most important reward was being able to take China's place in controlling Korea. -
Russo Japanese War
Cause: The war sparked from rivalry between Russia and Japan for control over Manchuria and Korea. Effect: Japan defeated Russia in a series of battles and eventually won the war, becoming the first Asian power to beat an European power. -
Russo Japanese War (continued)
Significance: Japan, after having defeated Russia, a formidable foe, was established as a major naval force. They also became the new imperialist superpower in Eastern Asia meaning that Korea now had no escaping the annexation of Japan now. It also meant Japan would no longer be hesistant in occupying another country to meet their own needs.
