Japan During The Age of Imperialism
Japan During The Age of Imperialism
Japan During The Age of Imperialism
Age of Imperialism
From Victim to Imperial
Power
Geographic Review
Japan is a
mountainous
archipelago-
chain of
islands in the
pacific ocean.
Located East
of Korea and
China
Setting the Stage
In the early 1600’s, Japan shut itself off
from the world (isolationism)
Under the rule of the Tokugawa
shoguns, Japan remained strictly
ordered by following a system of
feudalism (strict class distinctions
and land ownership)
Samurai warriors kept Japan
protected and fairly peaceful for two
centuries.
Demand for Trade
Other than occasional contact/trade
with Korea and China, Japan had
little to no contact with other nations
before the 1800’s.
By the early 1800’s, many western
nations tried to convince the Japanese
to open their ports to trade.
Much like ethnocentric and isolationist
neighbor China, Japan often refused to
receive these nations.
End to Isolation
In 1853, American
president Millard
Fillmore sent naval
Commodore Mathew
Perry to deliver a letter
to the Japanese
government
This letter urged Japan
to open up its ports to
western trade or be
destroyed in one years
time.
Treaty of Kanagawa-1854
The Japanese reply came in the form
of the Treaty of Kanagawa.
Fearing the military and
technological superiority of the
United States, Japan agreed to
open 2 ports for the U.S. to take
on supplies.
Once this door was opened, many
other European nations followed to
get a piece of the action.
Meiji Reform and Modernization
When unpopular Tokugawa Shogun
stepped down in 1867, the young
Emperor Mutsuhito brought a new
sense of national pride to Japan.
Mutsuhito felt that the best way to
counter Western influence in Japan was
to quickly modernize, industrialize,
and militarize.
This began the Meiji Era (1867-1913)
(Meiji = “enlightened rule” )
Little Nation, Big Power
Japan modeled their navy after
Great Britain, their government
and army after Germany, and
their educational system after the
United States.
In a matter of only 30 years, Japan
transformed from a weak isolated
nation to a powerful, industrial
nation!
Quick Acrostic/Mnemonic Device
M = Meiji
E = Ends
I = Isolation
J = Japan
I = Industrializes
From Nationalism to Imperialism
Feeling proud of their new strength,
Japan's feelings of Nationalism grew.
Japan looked to compete with Europe
and build their own imperial empire.
Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895)