Before the Shoguns
What was farming in Japan like? What did they do instead?
Farming was difficult because of all the mountains, so they went to sea and fished
Who sits at the top of the Japanese Feudal System?
The Emperor
The Japanese term 'Sakoku' translates to..
"Locked Country"
4 ships arrived as part of a fleet from the US. These were known as the...
The Black Ships
The Japanese eventually agreed to deal with the US. This signed document is called the...
Treaty of Kanagawa
Describe the landscape of Japan
An island country surrounded by sea, with many hills and mountainous regions
Who actually holds all of the power in the Japanese feudal system?
The Shogun
What were the 2 main rules of the Sakoku
1. You could not leave Japan
2. If you left Japan, you can not re-enter
Who was the commander of the US fleet when it arrived to Japan in 1853?
Commodore Perry
What were the terms of this treaty?
They would allow safe passage for Americans, and also had an American official in their government
The Emperor ruled Japan, but why was this difficult?
Because of the mountains, it was hard to travel and communicate with people from across the country
A type of land lord that works for the Shogun, and hires Samurai to protect their ownerships is called a...
Daimyo
How long did the Sakoku last for?
200 years
The US arrived and offered the Japanese with an 'Ultimatum'. What was this ultimatum?
End the Sakoku and open the country, or we will declare war
How did the role of Emperor & Shogun change during the Meiji Restoration period?
The Emperor became the actual ruler, and the Shogunate ended
What was the main religion in Japan?
Buddhism
Who were seen to be higher up in the Japanese Feudal System?
The Artisans, Craftsman, Peasants, or Merchants?
Peasants
What was one of the main reasons that the Tokugawa Shogunate introduced the restriction?
To maintain control and power over its people
The US delivered a letter from the president, as well as 'white cloth'. Why the cloth?
To scare the Japanese into needing to 'surrender' if they go to war
What happened to the Samurai?
They were replaced with the modern army and navy system
What happened to cause the beginning of the Shoguns?
There was a battle between two clan familys, with the Minamotos winning
The Samurai followed a strict code that focused on honour, pride, respect, and not being affraid of death. This code was called...
Bushido
Thinking about 'the inside coming in', what were some cultural reasons that the Shogunate wanted the Sakoku?
- To stop the spread of Christianity
- To keep traditional beliefs and customs
- To make sure that the people didn't question power, or weren't influenced by ideas from the outside
The US used a type of military strategy, commonly used when a big strong power tries to intimidate a small country. This is known as...
Gunboat Diplomacy
To avoid being colonized by other countries, Japan were forced to...
Modernise/Adopt Western Culture