Tokugawa
By the mid-1800s, why did so many groups of people in Japan feel discontented?
Many Japanese people were discontented due to economic hardship, social rigidity, the declining power of the samurai, merchant frustration over lack of status, daimyo financial strain, rising unrest among urban workers, and growing resentment toward the Tokugawa shogunate’s inability to resist foreign influence.
Who is Matthew Perry?
A U.S. naval officer who arrived in Japan in 1853 with warships to demand the opening of trade.
When did the Meiji Restoration officially begin?
1868
What is the Treaty of Ganghwa?
A treaty, signed in 1876, that forced Korea to open its ports to Japanese trade, marking the first step toward Japanese dominance of the peninsula.
What U.S. state is known as the "Sunshine State?"
Florida
What is the metsuke?
A secret police force, established by the shogunate, monitored and suppressed opposition to Tokugawa rule.
What is the Treaty of Kanagawa?
An agreement, signed in 1854, which was the first treaty between Japan and the U.S., ending Japan’s isolation.
What is the Boshin War?
The war from 1868 to 1869 that led to the overthrow of the Tokugawa shogunate.
What is the Liaodong Peninsula?
After winning the First Sino-Japanese War, Japan was forced to return this territory to China due to Western intervention in what became known as the Triple Intervention.
What country has the most time zones in the world, including overseas territories?
France
What is sakoku?
This economic policy restricted Japan's imports and exports, preventing the country from benefiting from global trade advancements.
What are the Black Ships?
The nickname of Commodore Perry’s fleet due to the color of its ships.
Who is Emperor Meiji?
After the fall of the shogunate, Emperor Meiji was restored to power.
What is the Battle of Mukden?
This battle, fought during the Russo-Japanese War, was one of the largest land battles in modern history and demonstrated Japan’s growing military power.
Which chemical element has the highest melting point and is used in light bulb filaments?
Tungsten
What is sankin-kōtai?
To prevent rebellion, the shogunate forced daimyo to spend every other year in Edo, a costly practice known by sankin-kōtai.
How did the government and Japanese society react when Japan was forced to accept unequal treaties?
The samurai and daimyo restored the emperor to power and worked to reform Japan.
What is "Fukoku Kyōhei" (Rich Country, Strong Military)?
This key slogan of the Meiji Restoration emphasized Japan’s goal of modernizing while preserving national unity.
What is the Anglo-Japanese Alliance?
This 1902 alliance was Japan’s first military alliance with a Western power and gave Japan diplomatic backing against Russia.
In 1926, what famous magician died on Halloween, partly due to a ruptured appendix?
Harry Houdini
What is currency debasement?
Tokugawa Japan’s monetary system was based on three separate currencies—gold, silver, and copper—leading to major problems in economic stability due to this financial issue.
What are the Unequal Treaties?
Japan signed several other treaties with Western nations After Perry’s visit. Due to their unfair nature, they were called the Unequal Treaties.
What changes did the Meiji Restoration bring about in Japan?
Rapid industrialization, modernization, and changes in government and society
Why did industrialization help start Japan on an imperialist course?
Japan needed access to natural resources, enabling Japan to build an empire.
In 1815, the eruption of what Indonesian volcano caused a "Year Without a Summer," and led to global crop failures and famine?
Mount Tambora