“Bakumatsu”

The Fall of The Tokugawa Shogunate

1853-1867

The Arrival of Cmdr

Perry

July 1853Designed to Intimidate

Black ShipsWestern TechnologyCuriosity on both sides

Delivered president Fillmore’s Letter

Return of Cmdr Perry

Signed Treaty of Kanagawa

Trade

Diplomacy

Aid to Victims of Shipwreck

Treaties with the Dutch, French and Britain followed

Yoshida Shoin

Famous Teacher

Tried to learn the secrets of Western Superiority

Mentor to Ito Hirobumi

Led Choshu rebellion

Executed by the Bakufu in 1859

Revered as one of the fathers of Modern Japan

Sonno Joi!

Many Japanese were Xenophobic and resented Western PresenceMany Clans began to lose faith in the Bakufu and its ability to stand up to the more powerful West

Extra-TerritorialityThey instead put their faith in the EmperorBegan a new movement- “Revere The Emperor, Expel The Barbarian” – “Sonno Joi”

Emperor Komei

Extra-Territoriality

Extra-territoriality was a problem for many Japanese

Extra-territoriality meant that Foreigners could not be tried under Japanese law.

Many Clans such as the Satsuma and Choshu Clans ignored extra-territoriality to their Peril.

Rebellions

In 1863 the Emperor issued an “Order to expel the Barbarians”Many Disgruntled Samurai began killing westernersThey also began to defy the authority of the Shogunate

The Richardson Affair/Namagumi Incident

Charles Lennox Richardson was a British TraderIn September 1862 he refused to bow to a local Satsuma DaimyoSamurai attacked and killed himLed to the bombardment of Kagoshima

The Bombardment of Shimonoseki

June 1863 Choshu fired on US shipsClosed the narrow Shimonoseki Strait for over a yearSeptember 1864 British, French and Dutch Warships and Ground forces retaliated and Decimated the Town of Shimonoseki

Choshu/Satsuma Alliance

1864 clashes with westerners convinced Choshu and Satsuma clans of the need to modernise.1866, Satcho AllianceBetween two staunch imperial loyalist ClansAt first, secret.Later, Overt.

Intelligence gatheringThe Bakufu sent abroad many representatives to learn the ways of the west.Many representatives of Choshu and Satsuma also travelled to Europe and America.They studied western systems of Government, Military, Law and Education.

Pressure on Shogun

1860-1865 the Bakufu struggled to control the DaimyoIn 1866 it launched a military campaign to crush resistanceIt was denied success by the Satcho AllianceThe shogunate became increasingly impotent

In December 1867, Emporer Komei died and was succeeded by his 16 year old son (Meiji)The new Emperor was heavily influenced by the Satcho alliance

1867 Shogun Cedes Power

In 1867 the Satcho alliance began to attack the Shogunate Forces in EdoSatcho also moved on Kyoto and directly pressured the Emperor to strip the Tokugawa Shogunate of powerIn late 1867 the Tokugawa gave up power for the sake of Stability

Main Points to Remember:

“Bakumatsu” is the name given to the period 1853-1867The arrival of westerners in 1853 brought instability“Sonno Joi” - “Revere the Emperor, Expel the Barbarian” became a catchcry for those who resented Tokugawa ruleViolence aimed at westerners (Richardson Affair) led to severe consequences such as the bombardments of Kagoshima and Shimonoseki

Such defeats led to the realisation of the need to moderniseIntelligence gathering missions were sent to western countriesSatsuma and Choshu clans formed the Satcho allianceSatcho alliance forced the Tokugawa shogunate to cede power in late 1867

Bibliography

Fewster, Stuart & Gorton, Tony. “Japan: From Shogun to Superstate” Brooks Waterloo, Victoria,1988.www.wikipedia.orghttp://www.jref.com/http://ocw.mit.edu/ans7870/21f/21f.027j/menu/index.html

Questions for Test

What is the name given to the period 1853-1867?What does “Sonno Joi” mean?Name some of the catalysts for the Bombardments of Shimonoseki and Kagoshima.What was the Satcho Alliance?Why were missions sent to western countries?When did the Tokugawa Shogunate cede power and to whom?

Subjects to cover

Boshin War

Military Reforms

Education Reforms

Genro

Satsuma Rebellion

Sino-Japanese War 1894

Zaibatsu

Russo-Japanese War

WW1

Taisho Democracy

Tokyo Earthquake 1923