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Japan in the First Half of the 19th Century
Japan was unmodernized and had a medieval social structure with an old rigid class system. The samurai began as a military elite but had become gov officials, with their leader the shogun an autocratic head of gov. Farming, transport, and industry had changed little and the economy was largely based on bartering e.g taxes were paid in rice. Fearing the destructive impact of Christian missionaries Japan closed its borders in the 17th century also preventing its citizens from leaving. -
Russia fails to get trading rights with Japan
Japan resisted pressure from foreigners to trade in their country. -
Britain fails to get trading rights with Japan
Britain tried and failed to open up trade with Japan who did not welcome foreigners -
USA sends the USS Preble/ Why USA wanted to trade with Japan
In 1849 the USA sent a warship the USS Preble to Japan to rescue American sailors who were shuprw2recked of the Japanese coast. The Japanese were reluctant to let the Preble into port but after the threat of force, the Preble successfully retrieved the sailors. The USA was angered by the fact that the sailors were treated harshly by the Japanese. -
Reasosn USA wanted trding rights with Japan
American commercial interests were pressuring the US gov to open Japanese markets for their rapidly expanding industrial output. The American whaling fleet needed access to Japanese ports in order to take on vital supplies esp coal. Despite these reasons Japan was unwilling to open trade with the USA -
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Filmore and Perry/ The convention of Kangawa
USA sent a fleet of ships under the command of Commodore Perry and when the Japanese demanded the ships leave, Perry turned his guns towards the town of Uraga. He demanded permission to deliver a letter from President Filmore which demanded trading rights with Japan. When Japan refused to accept Filmore's wishes, Commodore Perry threatened violence, samurai swords were no match for the modern guns the USA had. In 1854 Japan signed a treaty allowing the USA trading access to 2 ports -
Treaty of Amity and Commerce/Harris Treaty
This was a further treaty after the convention of Kangawa between the USA and Japan granting foreigners access to more ports and designated cities within Japan. -
Japanese demand restoration of an emperor
Following the trade treaties with the USA, there was a risk of Japan facing the same fate as China as foreign merchants with military backing had seized large chunks of China and were imposing their own laws destroying the local culture. To avoid this Japanese people demanded the restoration of an emperor as head of gov instead of a military shogun -
The Meiji Restoration
Following demands from the Japanese the military shogun stepped down and Emperor Meiji and his gov set about modernizing Japan in order to resist the imperial powers. The Meiji's gov overarching objective was the preservation of Japan's security and independence in the face of accelerating Western/Russian imperialism. Meiji's grand strategy involved a domestic phase of institution-building and a foreign policy phase of wars to win an empire. -
Meiji Reforms- Establishing a Centralised Gov/New Constitution
The Meiji gov overturned the internal distribution of power by eliminating feudal domains that had long fragmented Japan, uniting the country under one gov in the one capital city. Whilst China had refused to change, Japan adopted Western ways to retain its independence. -
Meiji Economic Reforms- Industrialisation e.g Mitsubishi
Mines, iron foundries, factories, and shipyards were quickly developed. Some of these were established by the gov and handed over to private enterprises. Others were built by samurai-like Mitsubishi shipyards founded by Iwasaki Yataro. -
Meiji Social Reforms- Education
The Meji gov made elementary schooling mandatory as it recognized modernization required educated citizens. Children were taught to be patriotic and be totally loyal to the emperor. The old Shinto religion which viewed the emperor as a descendant from God was also revived to encourage obedience tot he emperor. -
Meiji Reforms- Bank of Japan/Legal issues
The bank of Japan was founded and the gov promulgated a Western criminal code. -
Meiji Legal Reforms- Creation of the Cabinet
The Meiji gov reformed political institutions by creating a cabinet subordinate to a prime minister. -
Meiji Reforms- Higher Education
In 1886 the gov founded Tokyo Imperial University to become the center of higher Westernised learning. -
Meiji Legal Reforms-Consitituiton
A new constitution based on the German model was created. -
Meiji Political Reforms- Diet/Legal systems change
In 1890 Japan convened its first diet. A diet is a formal deliberative assembly kind of like a parliament. In this year they also reorganized the judicial system and introduced a Westernised code of civil procedure -
Meiji Economic Reforms- Silk Production
In 1883 Japan exported 1,347 tons of silk but by 1893 Japan was importing 2,444 tons of silk -
Meiji Militarial Reforms- Conscription/Militarial developments
1/3 of the country's budget was spent on the army and navy, Military service became compulsory for all adult males, and by 1894 Japan possessed 28 modern warships. -
Meiji Economic Reforms- Size of Merchant Fleet
In 1873 the size of Japans merchant fleet was 169 but by 1894 the merchant fleet had grown to 169 -
The 1st Sino Japanese War
Japan had quickly developed from being a country threatened by imperialism to one capable of being an imperial power. Japan possessed limited resources and was reliant on imported coal and steel. China's disintegration provided an opportunity for Japan to test its new military and disputes over the ownership of Kore led to the 1st Sino-Japanese war, The modern Japanese army quickly overran Korea, Manchuria, and parts of China. When Peking, China capital came under threat, China surrendered. -
Treaty of Shimonoseki/Impact of 1st Sino Japanese War
This treaty ended the 1st Sino-Japanese war and under its terms, Chian was forced to make territorial concessions. This included the strategically important Port Arthur. Japan's speedy defeat of China was surprising to the major European powers and it posed a threat to their own imperial ambition in China and the far East. Russia resented that Japan controlled Port Arthur who desired the warm water port. -
Triple Intervention
Russia was angered by Japan's acquisition of Port Arthur and with the support of Fr and Ger, it forced Japan to relinquish its control over Port Arthur. Diplomatic pressure forced Japan to return Port Arthur to China and Russia quickly established control over the Port soon after. The situation showed that Japan was not yet able to pursue its foreign policies without international interference. Humiliated Japan decided to build more warships and wait for an opportunity to gain revenge. -
cause for the Anglo-Japanese Alliance- Russian Expansion in the Far East
By 1900 Russia occupied Manchuria, Port Arthur, and the Loading Peninsula. Jap feared that Russ wanted Korea which was under Japanese control. The loss of Korea would greatly impact the Jap economy and make Jap vulnerable to attack. -
Cause for Anglo-Japanese alliance- Britain moving from Splendid Isolation
Similar to Japan, Br felt its commercial interests were threatened and by the 20th century it was clear Br would have to abandon its policy of splendid isolation. This is because: It was becoming difficult to control its vast empire, Boer wars exposed a weakness in Br military capabilities, Ger had adopted a more aggressive foreign policy, Negative rxns from other Europeans after the Boer wars left Br feeling vulnerable and isolated, and Russian expansion in Asia. -
Anglo-Japanese Negotiations
The Br and Jap govs decided to adopt a common approach to the problems posed by Russ expansion in the Far East. Negotiations took place between Br Foreign Secretary Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice and the Japanese ambassador to London Hayashi Tadasu. These negotiations led to the signing of the Anglo Japanese Alliance -
Anglo-Japanese Alliance
Negotiations in 1901 led to the signing of the Anglo-Japanese alliance in which Br and Jap agreed to remain neutral if either country was involved in the war. However, if either Br or Jap faced war against 2 or more opponents the other would come to its aid. Br recognized Jap rights in Korea and Jap promised to protect Br interests in Asia. The treaty was greeted favourably in both countries. This was the first time Jap had been recognized as an equal by a major power. -
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Russo-Japanese War
Feeling stronger, Jap was prepared to recognize Russ rights in Manchuria in exchange for Jap rights in Korea but Russ was arrogant and refused instead invading Korea. Jap warships entered Port Arthur then took Manchuria, then Mukden. Russ last hope was the Baltic fleet but Russ's ships mistook Br fishing boats as warships and fired. The Br were outraged and prevented them from using the Suez Canal making their journey long and tiring. When they reached Jap was prepared and swiftly defeated them. -
Treaty of Portsmouth
Facing humiliation abroad and revolution at home, the Tsar was forced to surrender. in August 1905 negotiations took place in Portsmouth, USA with President Theodore Roosevelt overseeing the discussions. In the treaty, Russ had to give away Port Arthur and the Liaodong Peninsula, to evacuate Manchuria, to cede half of Sakhalin which it had annexed in 1975. Russ also had to recognise Jap rights in Korea -
Japan in the 20th century
Japan had developed into a modern, industrial country with the military capacity t defeat a major European power in less than 50 years. Japan entered the 20th century as an imperial nation perceived as the champion of Asia against the Western powers. Those Western powers, keen to protect and extend their own trading activities in the Far East grew concerned by Jap expansion. This concern was heightened by Japan's action in WW1 -
Japan enters WW1/ Role of Japan in WW1
Honoring its alliance with Br, Jap entered WW1 by declaring war on Ger. Its primary role was to secure the sea lanes of the South Pacific and the Indian Oceana against the Ger navy. -
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Japan in WW1
With Western powers were fully occupied in fighting the war Jap took advantage of their absence. Jap began to supply Asia with goods Europeans used to provide: export of cotton grew threefold and heavy industry in iron, steel, and chemicals grew. Jap was supplying the allies with shipping and other goods during the war, expanding the shipbuilding industry. Jap took Ger owned Shantung Province in China, enabling them to extend their own interests and influence without facing Western opposition. -
The 21 Demands
Jap presented China with 21 demands. They were designed to dramatically increase Jap political/ economic power and influence in China. China would cease to be an independent country. The Chinese initially refused to accept and Jap issued an ultimatum that threatened large-scale invasion. China finally agreed but under pressure from Br, USA, and other countries with interest in China, they reduced the demands to 15 removing group 5 that would essentially make China a Jap protectorate. -
Impact of 21 Demands
The revised demands still granted Jap with similar rights in China as those enjoyed by other great powers. Japs use of threats and bullying tactics agreed on the Chinese and added to the other powers growing suspicions of Japan. -
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Nishihara Loans
These were a series of loans given to Dan Qirui a warlord that increased its financial, commercial, and economic influence in China. Some of the concessions of these loans resembled the previously removed group 5 of the 21 demands. -
Japan by 1918
Br and USA were greatly concerned by Japs economic growth and attempts to extend its political and economic interests in the Far East. USA saw Japs attempts to exploit the weakness of China as a threat to the open door policy and its commercial interests in China. Br feared Jap wanted to take control of China and Jap seemed a threat to Br interests which it had promised to protect in the Anglo Jap alliance. There was little they could do about these concerns as Jap was a vital ally in WW1