1853

How the Emperor Got New

Clothes:

Empire of Japan 1868-1945

The Meiji Restoration?

OR

The Meiji Reformation?

OR

The Meiji Revolution?

OR

Something else?!

Treaty of Kanagawa, 1854

DAIMYO“Revere the emperor

and expel the

barbarians!”

•Goal: nationalism &

modernization

First Moves of United

Daimyo• End of Tokugawa class system

– Why little resistance? --> "bail-out" of

daimyos

• Focus on Emperor: mottos and slogans• "Revere the Emperor, expel the Barbarians!"

– Call for national service and sacrifice

in face of Western threat

Promotion of what is

Japanese• Shintoism and Emperor

“…in this land called Japan there is

one called the Emperor, who is

descended from the Sun Deity. This

has not changed a bit from long ago

and just like the Sun being up in the

heavens He is the Master.”

Promotion of Japanese Identity

Compulsory Education 1872 loyal citizens

Conscript Army 1873 loyal citizens and

Westernization

1877

Promotion of Japanese Identity

Satsuma Rebellion,

1877

Importing

technology• Promoting Japanese unity through:

– mass-literacy

– mass-communication networks

– mass-transportation networks

• Pattern of Selective borrowing– Use of foreign advisors

Sino-Japanese War, 1894-95

Russo-Japanese War, 1904-05