Western-style clothing The first Japanese to wear clothes were the imperial family and the military personnel. This drastic change in Japanese society and economics led to its role in WWII and its modern place in the world today. The government forced people to change their hairstyle because the chonmage was seen as a barbaric custom in the eyes of Westerners. The growth in trade consequently led to the creation of modern communication lines and railway line. Japan's goal of achieving fukoku kyohei, "rich country; strong military", fuelled major political, economic and social changes during the Meiji Restoration. copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. The arrival of American warships in 1853 destabilized Japan's political system and launched a transformation that made Japan into a major world power in less than 25 years. They saw that they needed to strengthen themselves to stand up to the Western powers - and with China humiliated, there was an opportunity to become the new big dog in Asia. In the event to counteract the issue, there arose a very powerful regime that resulted into a more of enlightened governance. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). What were the causes and effects of the Meiji Restoration? At the same time, universal education was introduced to Japan. He graduated with a Masters in English from Mississippi College and has a JLPT N1 pass. The early goals of the new government were expressed in the Charter Oath (April 1868), which committed the government to establishing deliberative assemblies and public discussion, to a worldwide search for knowledge, to the abrogation of past customs, and to the pursuit by all Japanese of their individual callings. Great collaboration with the government and passion for development were the main contributors of the improved economy (Tipton 456). This aspect was going to be very crucial but the leaders were dedicated to bring change in Japan. She has a bachelor's degree in History, and a master's degree in International Relations. In areas such as Ginza, gas lamps were installed on both sides of the roads, and lamps became popular in private homes. They were constantly exploited and denied any freedom. Those uprisings were repressed only with great difficulty by the newly formed army. But rather, they were the victims of a violent outburst of a feeling of imperialist entitlement by a country that had created a narrative about its own role in Asia, which its Chinese neighbors resolutely did not share. The Origin of Japan's Modernization: - Government of Japan The result of these changes was a drafted constitution in 1989 that transformed Japan to be turned into a constitutional monarchy. Japan then expanded its operations into the First Sino-Japanese War, invading Korea and neighboring Chinese areas in the 1890s, which quickly developed into their invasion of Manchuria, where it would remain a Japanese possession for 50 years. This emulated the western form of governance hence a modernized government. Drinking milk People started drinking milk. For modernization to be effective, the government thought it was necessary to raise the peoples level of education. The Meiji Restoration In addition, the Japanese went to an extent of winning a war against Russia a super powerful country. The Gregorian calendar (solar calendar) was adopted and implemented from January 1, 1873. These industrial towns created a need for lodging areas, food reserves and goods that could provide travelers or tourists with accommodation services. Japan's Meiji Restoration of 1868 had many effects on Japan and the world from 1840 to 1920. The result for these radical steps was the rise of a very powerful Asian country from a very humble beginning. What were some political effects of the Meiji Restoration? The leaders of the restoration were mostly young samurai from feudal domains (hans) historically hostile to Tokugawa authority, notably Chsh, in far western Honshu, and Satsuma, in southern Kyushu. [Formulate historical questions] Grades 5-12: Analyze the goals and policies of the Meiji state and their impact on Japan's modernization. Finally, in 1889, the Meiji Constitution was officially promulgated. In addition, most small towns developed in bigger urban areas. On the other hand, Japan had a different mindset that had been impacted by the revolution in the Meijis era. When the Meiji era began, many changes occurred which affected Japan's social structure and foreign relationships. Reinstating the emperor legitimized the movement by connecting it to an old tradition that encouraged everyone to unify. Nikita Khrushchev Career & Destalinization | Who was Nikita Khrushchev? The Meiji Restoration had far-reaching effects on Japanese society. Communism in China Factors & Rise | How Did China Become Communist? Therefore, it resolved to first settle on financial matters. Japan was so powerful that it ended up being transformed from a mere island nation to an imperial power by its own right and might. Responding to those pressures, the government issued a statement in 1881 promising a constitution by 1890. This made the Japanese government look a little bit like a Western-style government. Out with the old, in with the new? Exploring differences in elite The Meiji Restoration stands as one of the turning points of Japanese history. This led to production and manufacturing of more sophisticated goods that fitted in the modern revolution. But before Japan was a powerful Nation, it needed to modernize. The British Role in the Meiji Restoration: A Re-interpretive Note There were many causes for the Meiji Restoration, including rice inflation (samurai paid in rice), a decaying bureaucracy, increasing interactions with foreign technology. By the end, Japan had become a strong new nation with its own kokutai and aspirations to become a world imperial power. In 1871, the Meiji government issued an order to cut the topknot, urging people to stop wearing the chonmage. In a wider context, however, the Meiji Restoration of 1868 came to be identified with the subsequent era of major political, economic, and social changethe Meiji period (18681912)that brought about the modernization and Westernization of the country. The system spread nationwide in 1872. Social Change - Meiji Period Then, in 1904, Japan shocked the world by humiliating Russia in the Russo-Japanese War. This led to the Boshin War. Document #6: Overall Effects Based on the quotes and your new knowledge, what were the overall effects of the Meiji Restoration on Japan? Japan's Industrial Revolution | Nippon.com The basis for education was to make the citizens learned and also to counter the rapid changes that occurred in the modern world. Corrections? Japan through Western Eyes A collection of diaries, journals and letters of Western visitors and residents in Japan. Meiji Restoration was a political revolutionthat was marked by the Boshin War that brought an end to Tokugawaimperial rule. It was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. They wanted to unite the country under a new, centralized government in order to strengthen their army to defend against foreign influence. This focus led to Japan having one of the most highly educated populations in the world. Perry then ventured to Hong Kong and returned a year later, signing the Convention of Kanagawa with the Japanese, leading to many other treaties later signed with other Western powers. Also, Japan sent ad hoc ambassadors to the West, like Yukichi Fukuzawa, to analyze, write about, and ultimately mimic the Industrial Revolution powering the West. Causes of the Meiji Restoration. laws and a constitution. The school attendance rate was 80% and the literacy rate was 90%, making Japan the most academically advanced country in the world. This put an end to the policy of banning Christianity, which had been in place since the early Edo period. The merchants who existed in the previous era gained financial and entrepreneual knowledge that would be used in the subsequent period which was the Meiji period. They comprised part of the military, teaching staff, makers of guns and government officials. READ: What happens if the law is impossible to follow? Under the emperor as a symbol of ancient Japanese authority, the people came together, and they began to think of Japan as a great and powerful nation that would be the most powerful country in Asia. The development resulted into Japan becoming a powerful industrial country. In some ways, the worship of Western civilization created a sense that Japanese traditional culture was inferior, consisting of old habits. This period had been a form of generation that was more enlightened compared to the former era. The government played a huge role in social change by creating new. However, this triggered a movement to abolish Buddhism, which led to the destruction of temples and Buddhist objects. Grades 5-12: Analyze the internal and external causes of the Meiji Restoration. The Meiji era was the first half of the Empire of Japan, when the Japanese people moved from being an isolated feudal society at risk of colonization by Western powers to the new paradigm of a modern, industrialized nation state . Education brought a smooth transition to the growth and transition into the Meijis period. This was very tactful as it was significant for a new revolution. First, they had to expand the boarders to allow other traders to interchange their goods with them. There are three factors that led to the smooth transformation of Meiji era. An isolated, feudalistic island state in 1850, Japan had become a powerful colonial power with the most modern of institutions when Meiji's son, the Taisho emperor, took the throne in 1912. Omissions? This led to a powerful military rise in the year 1905. In addition, advancement in technology impacted the following areas; the military, political system and lastly the social aspect. This allowed Japan to maintain a connection to its past while aggressively looking toward the future. Following world war two, the emperors in Japan resolved to form a new rule that was democratic in stature. It explained for the success of the Meiji Modernization. Read about the Meiji Restoration and its effects. Plus, get practice tests, quizzes, and personalized coaching to help you During the Edo period, children in Japan learned to read, write, and use the abacus at schools called Terakoya (temple school).