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Ways of the World Chapter 19
how was japan able to resist imperialism and join the western powers by becoming an imperialist country? (the tokugawa background)
the tokugawa background allowed japan to stabilize the country, allowing japan to reorganize its social status, bureaucratic administrative classes, economy (which led to economic growth, commercialization, and urban growth), and education system
tokugawa japan
a time of internal peace in japan (1600-1850) that prevented civil war but did not unify japan; led by military rulers, the shogun, from the tokugawa family, who established a ‘closed door‘ policy in response to european powers
meiji restoration
a transformative point in time for japan; a political restoration of japan in 1868 by a group of young samurai from southern japan; restored power to young emperor, meiji. the new government was committed to saving japan from foreign domination by transforming japanese society
how was japan able to resist imperialism and join the western powers by becoming an imperialist country? (effects of peace)
the peaceful tokugawa background allowed japan to innovate and stabilize their economy; agriculture flourished, allowing the peasant population to increase and thrive
how was japan able to resist imperialism and join the western powers by becoming an imperialist country? (urbanization)
urbanization allowed many citizens to live in cities and work together to build well-functioning networks of exchange and trade. education percentages grew, with 40% of men and 15% of women able to read and write
how was japan able to resist imperialism and join the western powers by becoming an imperialist country? (foreign trade treaties)
the acceptance of a series of unequal treaties regarding trade for Westerners eroded support for the shogunate and triggered a civil war. this war, known as the meiji restoration, let to the beginning of the rule of a young emperor, only 15 years old, known as meiji. this uprising allowed japan’s government to have a fresh new start
how was japan able to resist imperialism and join the western powers by becoming an imperialist country? (foreign interest in japan)
the west, especially america, didn’t have as much interest in japan as it did china (because of its market potential and vast riches) or the ottoman empire (because of its good location and huge population), and along with the american civil war, western pressures were reduced on japan
how was japan able to resist imperialism and join the western powers by becoming an imperialist country? (japanese modernization)
japan modernized, japanese-style, defensive modernizing efforts; established genuine national unity, removing power and privileges of daimyo and samurai, all japanese citizens became legally equal, loosened limitations on travel, growing fascination with western culture and knowledge (especially in its science and tech) - resulting in its own enlightenment movement
how was japan able to resist imperialism and join the western powers by becoming an imperialist country? (japanese integration)
japan borrowed selectively with other countries and combined foreign and japanese elements in distinctive ways, allowing it to adapt to the modern world more effectively than completely blocking out foreign powers
how was japan able to resist imperialism and join the western powers by becoming an imperialist country? (state-guided industrialization program)
through the state-initiated industrialization program, japan’s government built private investors, created modern infrastructure (built railroads, developed a post office and banking system, and established national currency), and relied on work force (‘labor intensive workforce‘). the effects of these industrialization efforts include becoming a major exporter of textiles, importing necessary goods, being able to produce its own industrial goods, and major cities enjoying circulating newspapers, movie theaters, and electric lights! this was accomplished without foreign debt, unlike in the ottoman empire 😭😭
what were the effects of the modernization program? (poverty)
heavily taxed peasant families created widespread poverty, sometimes peaking into violent protests (1883-1884); effects include infanticide, the sale of daughters, and starvation
what were the effects of the modernization program? (female labor)
the government paid families a sum of money in exchange for female workers, saying that the girls could pay off the money from their wage labor. wages were miniscule and conditions were terrible. suicide, rebellion, and strikes were the effects
how was japan able to resist imperialism and join the western powers by becoming an imperialist country? (acknowledgement of japan)
western powers began to see japan’s modernization and revised the old trade treaties, acknowledging japan as an equal player among the great powers of the world
how was japan able to resist imperialism and join the western powers by becoming an imperialist country? (colonial entanglements)
japan launched its own empire-building enterprise in china, taiwan, korea, manchuria, and micronesian islands
