To what extent did the Meiji leaders intend to create a functioning democracy for Japan by 1912?

Emilio Solomon #000307 178

Internal Assessment

IB History HL

February 4, 2012

1,647 words

Solomon 000307 178

A. Plan of Investigation

The investigation assesses the extent to which the Meiji leaders intended to create a

functioning democracy by 1912. To evaluate this, the investigation focuses on Japan’s political

reforms introduced during the Meiji Restoration. During the Meiji Restoration, political,

economic, and social reforms were made to promote egalitarianism. The investigation will

examine events from circa 1870 to circa 1910.

Primary and secondary sources are used to evaluate the extent to which the Meiji

Restoration created a functioning democracy for Japan. The two main sources used are From

Bondage To Liberation: East Asia 1860-1952 by Nigel Cameron, and A Modern History Japan by

James L. McClain. These sources are then evaluated for their origins, purposes, values and

limitations.

Word Count: 116

B. Summary of Evidence

Following the end of the Tokugawa shogunate, Japan went through a period of

modernization called the “Meiji Restoration.” Japan adopted many reforms, including political,

social, and economic reforms. The Meiji leaders promised to change Japan’s form of government,

in replacement of the decentralized system of the Tokugawa shogunate (Cameron 132). In 1868,

the Charter Oath was issued. The Charter Oath consisted of five articles. The fives articles

promised the creation of “deliberative councils” and the determination of policies on the basis of

“general opinion,” the co-operation of all classes in carrying out the administration of affairs of

state, full opportunity for commoners as well as for officials, and the abolition of “evil customs of

the past.” (Jansen 195).

Feudal society was abolished and the political and economic power of the daimyo was to

be removed. Samurai leaders persuaded their daimyo to give up control of their lands. Thus, the

1

Solomon 000307 178

leaders of Choshu, Satsuma, Tosa, and Hizen surrendered their lands as well (Cameron 134).

Japanese people were given the opportunity to “fulfill their aspirations”, regardless of their

position in life (McClain 156). The abolition of feudal society also led to the reduction and

commutation of samurai stipends (Schirokauer 456).

The Meiji leaders continued to experiment in various ways with more democratic

institutions. The left and right chambers of the Meiji government were abolished and replaced by a

Supreme Court and a Chamber of Elders (Cameron 139). Leaders from the Supreme Court and the

Chamber of Elders were asked to prepare for a National Assembly, which failed. In 1874, Itagaki

Taisuke, a member of the Supreme Court demanded the immediate creation of a national assembly

“chosen by the people” (McClain 187). However, it was not put into practice once again. After

disputes with Okuma Shinegobu, a former shi-shi from Hizen, the Meiji leaders declared that a

national assembly would be implemented by 1890 (McClain 191),

In 1889, the Meiji leaders issued a constitution for Japan. The 1889 constitution promised

freedom of speech and assembly and freedom from arbitrary search for the emperors and the

Japanese people (Cameron 142). A diet or law making body was to be composed of two chambers:

the House of Peers, which consisted of members of the imperial family, nobles, and deputies

nominated by the emperor and the House of Representatives (Cameron 142). Through the

establishment of a diet, officials agreed to share their power (Caiger 280). However, the chambers

had little power. Power was mostly in the hands of the cabinet. Also, the genro advised the

emperor and controlled most of the ministries (Cameron 142). By 1890, Japan made a penal code

on French lines and a commercial code on the German model. The western powers promised to

relinquish extraterritoriality in 1899 (Cameron 144).

In order to adopt the western-style industry, Japan accelerated through industrial

development. The Meiji leaders established pilot industries, including cotton and woolen mills,

cement paper, glass and clothing factories as a model for industrialists to follow (Cameron 146)..

2

Solomon 000307 178

The Meiji leaders gave subsidies to industrialists to establish new private enterprises (Cameron

146). Eventually by the 1880s, industrialists were able to buy government-established industries

from the Meiji government. This reflected the formation of zaibatsus, or family-owned industries.

Word Count: 533

C. Evaluation of Sources

Cameron. Nigel. From Bondage To Liberation: East Asia 1860-1952. Oxford University Press,

1975. Print.

From Bondage To Liberation: East Asia 1860-1952, written by an American freelance

writer Nigel Cameron is a secondary source, published in 1975. The source’s purpose is to explain

the Meiji leaders’ intent to create a functioning democracy by 1912. Since the source was

published years after 1912, the author probably has the ability of hindsight. The source is valuable

because the source outlines different events that contributed to Japan’s functioning democracy

chronologically. The source is also valuable because the source takes into account the views of

other historians who study modern Japanese history as shown from the “works consulted” section

of the source. However, there are limitations because the source was published years ago from

now, where the availability of sources may have been limited.

McClain, James L. A Modern History Japan. W.W. Norton & Company, Inc, 2002. Print.

A Modern History Japan, written by American historian, James McClain, is a secondary

source, published in 2002. The source’s purpose is to explain that the Meiji leaders did not solely

intend to create a functioning democracy for Japan. The source is valuable because the source is

written by a professor who has taught modern Japanese history for a quarter of a century. Both

suggest that the author has an understanding of the topic. Furthermore, the source is valuable

because the source takes into account other essential themes of Japanese history, including art and

3

Solomon 000307 178

women, which allows readers to understand events in its historical context (French). Also, the

source is valuable because it is written from a Japanese perspective, which allows the history to

standout and be convincing (Maclean). However, there are limitations because the source’s

narrative is inconsistent (Sabine).

Word Count: 264

D. Analysis

While there are differing perspectives regarding the intention of the Meiji leaders in

creating a functioning democracy, some historians believe that the Meiji leaders intended to create

a functioning democracy. According to historian Nigel Cameron, the Meiji leaders wanted to

create a modern central government and carry out great social reforms (Cameron 131). The

Charter Oath was issued by the Meiji leaders, which initiated social reforms, and thus created a

central government for Japan. In general, the Charter Oath promised the creation of “deliberative

councils” and the determination of policies on the basis of “general opinion,” the co-operation of

all classes in carrying out the administration of affairs of state, full opportunity for commoners as

well as for officials, and the abolition of “evil customs of the past.” (Jansen 195). The power of the

daimyo’s was removed and Japanese people were able to attain egalitarianism (Cameron 134).

Furthermore, the Charter Oath promised a sound financial government (Schirokauer 456).

Cameron believes that the Charter Oath was by no means, a declaration of a democratic

government (Cameron 139). In 1889, the Meiji leaders issued a constitution for Japan. The 1889

constitution promised rights for the emperors and Japanese people. These rights included the

freedom of speech and assembly and freedom from arbitrary search (Cameron 142). Also, the

1889 constitution, lead to the formation of a diet or law making body, where both chambers; the

House of Representatives and the House of Peers would share equal power (Cameron 142).

Cameron believes that the 1889 constitution was also a declaration of a democratic government.

4

Solomon 000307 178

R.H.P Mason and J.G. Caiger agree that the Meiji leaders intended to create a functioning

democracy. The ruling officials in effect agreed to share their untrammeled powers as a result of a

Diet (Mason and Caiger 280). However, Mason and Caiger believe that the Meiji leaders wanted

democracy in order attain equal status with the west. (Mason and Caiger 281). Overall, some

believe that the Meiji leaders intentions were not democratic, or perhaps that the Meiji leaders

wanted economic development for Japan.

Another perspective is that the Meiji leaders did not intend to create a functioning

democracy. James L. McClain argues that the Meiji leaders did not create a functioning

democracy. During the crisis of 1881, Okuma Shigenobu criticized the proposals drafted by the

Meiji leaders, which included the issue of a constitutional government (McClain 191). Also,

McClain argues that the Meiji leaders wanted Japan to develop economically. The Meiji leaders

wanted Japan to accelerate through economic development, in order to gain respect from the

Western powers and thus, escape Western imperialism (McClain 207). As Japan went through a

period of economic development, many family-owned industries or zaibatsu’s were formed

(Cameron 146). Although Japan went through a period of economic development, not all Japanese

people received an equal share of benefits that accompanied an expanding economy (McClain

208). McClain believes that economic development threatened to abort the Meiji experiment

(McClain 207). Historian Marius B. Jansen and J.G Caiger agree that economic development was

the Meiji leaders’ primary focus until 1912. The Meiji leaders wanted to provide national

leadership for economic development so that Japan as a whole would increase production and

create industries. One could argue that the role of the genro could possibly be another reason why

the Meiji leaders did not intend to create a functioning democracy as well.

Word Count: 561

5

Solomon 000307 178

E. Conclusion

The Meiji leaders intended to create a functioning democracy for Japan by 1912.

According to Nigel Cameron, Cameron explains that the Meiji leaders aimed for a functioning

democracy, as shown from the charter oath and the constitution in 1889. Both the charter oath and

the constitution in 1889 developed Japan politically and socially. Even though Japan developed

politically and socially by democratic means, the Meiji leaders did not solely intend to create a

functioning for Japan until 1912. The Meiji leaders wanted Japan to develop economically through

industrialization as well.

According to historian James McClain, the Meiji leaders wanted “economic development,

in order to gain respect from the Western powers and thus, escape Western imperialism” (McClain

207). The Meiji leaders initiated economic development through the formation of government-

owned industries and family-owned industries. One could argue that the role of the genro could

possibly be another reason why the Meiji leaders did not intend to create a functioning democracy

as well. Nevertheless, it is yet questionable to what the Meiji leaders wanted for Japan.

Word Count: 173

6

Solomon 000307 178

F. Bibliography

Works Cited

French, Howard W. Rev. of A Modern History Japan, by James McClain. AbeBooks.com.

AbeBooks Inc. 1996-2012. Web. 15 Jan 2002. < http://www.abebooks.com/Japan-Modern-

History-McClain-James-L/5365773423/bd>

Cameron. Nigel. From Bondage To Liberation: East Asia 1860-1952. Mishawaka. Oxford

University Press, 1965. Print.

Jansen, Marius B. The Emergence of Meiji Japan. New York. Cambridge University Press, 1995.

Print.

Mason, R.H.P. A History of Japan. Singapore. Tokyo Tuttle Publishing, 1997. Print.

McClain, James L. A Modern History Japan. New York. W.W. Norton & Company, Inc, 2002.

Print.

Sabine. Rev. of A Modern History Japan, by James McClain. Goodreads.com. Goodreads Inc.

2012. Web. 5 Dec 2010. < http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/129505526>

7