Japanese Imperialism

Japan During the Age

of Imperialism

From Victim to Imperial

and Military Power

Japan and Isolationaism

• 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.

• Samurai warriors kept Japan protected

and fairly peaceful for two centuries.

Multiple Choice

What does isolationism mean?

• to be open to trading

• a form of economic protectionism.

• a strategy of military defense.

• to be shut off from the world

Demand for Trade

• Japan had little to no contact with other

nations before the 1800’s except with
China and Korea.

• 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.

Weaknesses of Tokugawa

Japan

After the Tokugawa shoguns
gained power in 1600, the
reimposed centralized
feudalism, closed Japan to
foreigners and forbade
Japanese to travel overseas.

5

The Japanese had limited
trade with the Dutch in the
port of Nagasaki.

By the 1800’s:
•Shoguns were no longer strong leaders
•Daimyo suffered financial hardship
•Samurai were no longer fighters
•Merchants had no political power
•Peasants suffered under heavy taxes

Open Ended

Name a problem that was happening in Japan

End to Isolation

• In 1853, American president

Millard Fillmore sent naval
Commodore Matthew 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 year’s
time.

Multiple Choice

Who was sent to Japan to make them open up to western trading?

• Millard Filmore

• Commodore Matthew Perry

• Thomas Jefferson

• Abraham Lincoln

What Did the U. S. Want??

❖Coaling stations.

❖ More trading

partners.

❖ A haven for

ship-wrecked
sailors.

Treaty of Kanagawa:

• Perry returned in February of 1854 with

eight ships.

• The Treaty of Kanagawa:

–Opened two ports for provisioning

American ships, Shimoda and Hakodate.

–Provided for humane treatment

shipwrecked sailors.

–Established counselor but not

commercial relations.

Multiple Choice

What did the Treaty of Kanagawa NOT do?

• Open two ports for provisioning American ships

• Provide humane treatment for shipwrecked sailors

• Allow China to invade Japan

How Japanese Viewed American Actions

❖Highly idealistic samurai who felt that the

arrival of Westerners was an attack on the
traditional values of Japan.

❖ They believed that:

▪ Japan was sacred ground.

▪ The emperor, now a figurehead in
Kyoto, was a God.

❖ Were furious at the Shogun for signing treaties

with the West without the Emperor’s consent.

❖ Their slogan 🡪 Revere the Emperor, Expel

the Barbarians!

Multiple Choice

The Japanese embraced Amerian presence in Japan

• True

• False

Japan Learns a Lesson!

In 1862, just before the start of the Meiji period,
Tokugawa sent officials and scholars to China to
study the situation there. A Japanese recorded in his
diary from Shanghai…

“The Chinese have become servants to the foreigners.
Sovereignty may belong to China but it's no
more than a colony of Great Britain and France.”

Japan’s Response: End of Tokugawa

Rule

• The sudden intrusion of foreign

powers in Japan resulted in the
collapse of the Tokugawa and the
restoration of imperial rule

• The dissident slogan was “Revere

the emperor, expel the
barbarians.”

• On Jan 3, 1868, the boy emperor

Mutsuhito took power
– He later became known as

Meiji (“Enlightened Rule”)

Satsuma Rebellion

● The Satsuma Rebellion or (Seinan War) was the last effort of

loyalist Japanese to combat the Imperialization of Japan

● Lasted from Jan 29 - Sep 24, 1877
● Saigo Takamori lead the Rebellion as the Leader of the Last

Shogunate of Japan

● The U.S helped arm, support, and train Meiji’s Army as well

as lead them

● 227,000 Imperials vs 25,000 Loyalists
● The Loyalists fought to the death, suffered 21,000 casualties

and the rest Surrendering though Saigo died on the
battlefield

Multiple Choice

Who won the Satsuma Rebellion?

• The Loyalists

• The Imperialists

Japan’s Response: Meiji Reforms

• The Meiji government strived to gain parity with

foreign powers behind the motto “rich country,
strong army”

• Test Question: It looked to the industrial lands of

the United States and Europe to obtain knowledge
and expertise to strengthen Japan and win revisions
of the unequal treaties
– The Meiji sent many students and officials abroad

to learn everything from technology to
construction and hired foreign experts to
facilitate economic development and indigenous
expertise

Meiji

Reforms

Abolition

of the
feudal
system

Land

Redistribution

Human
Rights

& Religious

Freedom

Build a
Modern

Navy

(British)

Westernize
the School

System

(American.)

Modernize
the Army
(German)

Emperor
Worship

Intensified

Written

Constitution

(German)

Modern
Banking
System

Open Ended

Name one of the Meiji Reforms

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!

• Feeling proud of their new strength, Japan's feelings

of Nationalism grew.

• Japan looked to compete with Europe and build

their own imperial empire.

Imperial Japan: As a small island nation, Japan had few

resources essential to industrial growth.

Spurred by nationalism and imperialism, Japan built an empire

Sino-Japanese
War

Russo-Japanese
War

Annexation of
Korea

Causes?

Japan wanted
imperial control of
Korea; so did
China

Russians wanted
control of Korea
and Manchuria

Japan wanted
total control over
Korea

What happened?
Who won?

Japan

Japan

Japan

Results?

Japan gets first
colonies; Japan
gets imperial
control of
Manchuria

Russia forced out
of Manchuria and
Korea

Japan takes total
control over Korea