Japan and Imperialism

Jessica LehmanJoey FigueroaTimmy LeahyCarson BrittSam WilsonFeaturing: Drake Stratton

Introduction to the World•By 1640 Japan reacted negatively to

western civilizations. •Japan’s isolation from the west seemed

barbaric and hostile.▫Particularly to the United States.

•Americans believed it was their job to lead in the expansion of western society.

Cont…•Commodore Matthew Perry arrived into Edo

Bay (modern day Tokyo Bay) in 1853. • Japan faced the unfortunate fact that they

were defenseless against the United States navy.

• They were forced to sign a treaty with the United States that opened up two ports for trade. ▫Japan signed other treaties with western

merchants, greatly increasing trade and opened up Japan to western influence.

Desire for Power▫Japanese samurai humiliated by Shogun

Shogun: military governor in Japan, held power over emperor

▫1858-1863: Samurai created anti-shogun and anti-foreign retaliation attempts

▫1887: Patriotic samurai seized control of government

Meiji Restoration

•New form of government installed▫Radical samurai

•Immediate goal: meet foreign threat▫Enrich state, strengthen army, keep Japan

protected from foreign invasion.•Meiji leaders decided to cease attack on

western nations▫Realized West was superior▫Focused on domestic improvement

Meiji Restoration cont.

•Began domestic reforms and modernization over the next several decades▫Inspired by Western superiority

•Ended social class system▫Established social equality

•Freedom of international movement•Free economy• Industrialization

▫Imported western engineers

Meiji Restoration cont.

•Main goal: build a more powerful state▫Modern navy▫Army completely reorganized▫3-year service requirement for all Japanese

males•Army reform = huge success•Also adopted Western science &

technological developments▫Encouraged students to study abroad

Meiji Restoration cont.• Government paid Japanese to track foreign

experts• Later replaced expertsRegained control of itself

by winning two wars with its new powerful army• Class equality

▫Samurai lost all power▫Government banned samurai swords▫People became more “western” - adopted western

hair styles, became businessmen• Japanese were centered around the emperor

▫Ceremonial ▫No political power

Russo-Japanese War

•“First World War of the 20thC•Grew out of rival ambitions between

Russia and Japan▫Was over Manchuria and Korea

•Russians sought a warm water port on the Pacific Ocean▫Wanted it for their navy as well as maritime

trade•Japan chose war

▫Wanted to gain dominance in Korea

Russo-Japanese War cont.

•War between Russia and Japan, both expanding empires▫It was a modern war, with machine guns

and large, advanced armies▫Both countries wanted more control in

Chinese territory▫Russia built a naval port at Fort Aurthur,

which the Japanese had returned to China after the Sino-Japanese war.

Russo-Japanese War cont.• Japanese launched surprise attack on Port

Aurthur▫The port surrendered after a year of fighting▫Many bloody battles, 150,000 casualties at

battle of Mukden• Domestic problems forced the two countries

to stop fighting▫Russia had political problems; Japan, financial▫Treaty of Portsmouth

• Tzar liberalized government after public outcry, Japan gained more political power.

Russo-Japanese War Cont.

•Lasted from February 1904 – September 1905

•Japan won the war ▫Now had a valuable hold in China

•Japan annexed Korea•By 1910 Japan had become a major

imperialistic power

Sino – Japanese war

•Fight over Korea, a Chinese tribute state▫China was expected to win with it’s strong

navy and massive army▫China could not compete with the progress

that came from the Meiji Restoration, which helped Japan win the war.

▫Both China and Japan were protectorates of Korea, and when the Tonghak rebellion broke out, both states sent soldiers in to quell rebellions

▫Japan used this to start war with China

Sino-Japanese war cont.

•By1895, China had lost the war after a series of military defeats, and recognized Korea as independent nation▫China was forced to pay war reparations to

Japan▫This war showed the weakness of the

Chinese Empire, as well as the strength of Japan.

Japanese Imperialism

•The Japanese copied their expansion and imperialism from Western European tendencies.▫West in China

•Started by attempting to overtake small Asian states and provinces for resources and security▫Korea, Okinawa, Chinese Provinces, land

from Russo-Japanese wars

Japanese Imperialism cont.

•Goals for Imperialism▫Natural resources▫Security/defense▫Trading and market

•Japan became first major Asian imperialistic power▫Led to Japanese dominance of Asiafor the

next 50 years

Shiki Masaoka (1867-1902)• Japanese poet whose work was very popular

during the beginning of Japanese imperialism• Wrote Haiku’s about nature but he reformed the

Haiku and made it a modern poetic genre.• He was revolutionary in how he separated it

and made it one in itself which relates back to the changes that were happening in Japan at that time.

• Just as he had reformed and restructured the Haiku into its modern format, the entirety of Japan was undergoing the same process.

HaikuI want to sleep

Swat the fliesSoftly, please.After killing

a spider, how lonely I feelin the cold of night!

For love and for hateI swat a fly and offer it

to an ant.A mountain village

under the pilled-up snowthe sound of water.

Night; and once again,the while I wait for you, cold wind

turns into rain.The summer river:

although there is a bridge, my horsegoes through the water.

A lightning flash:between the forest trees

I have seen water.

Bibliography•http://www.toyomasu.com/haiku/#shiki•"The Meiji Restoration and Modernization."

Modern History:. Web. 05 Mar. 2012. <http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/japan/japanworkbook/modernhist/meiji.html>.

•"Russo-Japanese War." National Museum of Health and Medicine. Web. 05 Mar. 2012. <http://nmhm.washingtondc.museum/exhibits/mcgee/mcgee.html>.