Key People
He led the U.S. naval mission that opened Japan in 1853.
Who is Commodore Perry?
What year did Perry first arrive in Japan.
1853
What does “Meiji” mean?
“enlightened rule”
The American term for westward expansion.
Manifest Destiny
This document outlined 5 key goals of Meiji Japan.
the Five Charter Oath
Young emperor who came to power in 1867.
Emperor Meiji (Mutsuhito)
What caused Japan to open their ports and start trading with the U.S?
the Treaty of Kanagawa
What system was abolished to centralize power?
the samurai system
Japan feared becoming “another ______” after seeing Western influence there.
China
Name one reason Japan agreed to the Treaty of Kanagawa.
Avoid war with powerful U.S. navy.
Samurai rebel who led the 1877 Satsuma Rebellion.
Who is Saigo Takamori?
What did the Treaty of Kanagawa allow Americans to do?
Trade, access coal, help shipwrecked sailors, open consulate.
What were two goals of Meiji reform?
Strong central government, government like Western democracies.
Why did Japan hire foreign experts?
To train Japanese workers in Western technology
Why did civil war break out in 1868?
Disagreement over shogunate vs emperor rule
This group ruled on the emperor’s behalf during the Meiji period.
an oligarchy
What was the result of the 1868 civil war
The emperor regained power; the shogunate ended.
What was the purpose of moving the emperor to Tokyo?
To unite the people and show the emperor’s power.
What were some of the technologies Perry brought?
Steam engine, telegraph set
What challenges did people face even after reforms?
Poverty, illiteracy, traditional family control, class discrimination.
This outcast group gained rights during Meiji reforms.
the burakumin
Name 3 internal problems Japan was facing before Perry arrived.
Tensions in society, dissatisfaction with the shogunate, rising violence.
List two rights gained by commoners after the Charter Oath.
Choice of job, choice of residence, owning land, surnames, etc.
Name 3 things Japanese studied abroad.
Medicine, shipbuilding, military science, parliaments, etc.
What contradiction existed in Meiji Japan’s modernization?
Western appearance but traditional beliefs.