Foreign Contact
Who was the U.S. Commodore who arrived in Japan in 1853?
Commodore Perry
Why did Japan choose not to fight the Americans like China did?
Because the U.S. had superior weapons.
What does "Meiji" mean?
Enlightened rule
What happened to the samurai class during the Meiji era?
It was abolished
What item showed Japan it was less technologically advanced?
A miniature steam engine
What was the name of the 1854 treaty signed between Japan and the U.S.?
The Treaty of Kanagawa
What feeling did many Japanese have after the treaties were signed?
They felt they lost control of their trade
Who became emperor during the Meiji Restoration?
Emperor Meiji (Prince Mutsuhito)
What did the Meiji leaders encourage daimyo to do?
Turn over their land to the state.
What did the Japanese government begin doing to learn about technology?
Brought in foreign experts.
Name one of the three main things agreed upon in the Treaty of Kanagawa.
1. Open 2 ports
2. Help shipwrecked sailors
3. Allow coal purchases
What did some groups do to protest the shogunate?
Rioted and committed violence
What is the name for the group that really held power behind the emperor?
An oligarchy
Name one right commoners gained after the Charter Oath.
Choose job, place to live, surname, own land, etc.
What happened to the foreign experts after they trained Japanese workers?
They left the country.
Which countries signed similar treaties with Japan after the U.S.?
England, France, Netherlands, and Russia
What happened to samurai and daimyo who opposed the shogun?
They were imprisoned, exiled, or executed
Where did the emperor move the imperial court?
From Kyoto to Tokyo
What document outlined the new aims of Japanese society?
The Five Charter Oath
Name two things Japanese representatives studied abroad.
Factory construction, military science, shipbuilding, law, etc.
What specific item did Perry bring that amazed the Japanese with Western technology?
A miniature steam engine
What happened in 1868 between pro-emperor and pro-shogun forces?
A civil war, and the emperor’s side won.
What was the purpose of emphasizing allegiance to the emperor?
To unify the country and make a stronger nation
According to the Five Charter Oath, what should be broken off and replaced by just laws?
Evil customs of the past.
Why did Japan send people to study Western institutions like museums and parliaments?
To gather ideas and modernize Japanese society