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Imperialism in Japan in 19th and early 20th Centuries

Page history last edited by Robert W. Maloy 2 years ago

 

 Link here to watch a brief, entertaining video on the history of Japan.

external image Illustration_of_the_Legend_of_Tenjin_LACMA_M.79.152.567a-f_%283_of_4%29.jpg

Topics on this page

 

A. The Meiji Restoration

    • Women in Meiji Japan

 

B. The abolition of feudalism

 

C. Adaption of Western industry and technology

 

D. Growing role in international affairs

 

E.  Japanese Imperialism

 

 

    • First Sino-Japanese War, 1894-95
    • Russo-Japanese War, 1904, 05
    • World War I
    • Second Sino-Japanese War
    • World War II

 

Influential Literature page on the young adult novel, Year of Impossible Goodbyes

 

 

Focus Question: What were the major developments in Japan during the 1800s and 1900s?

 

A. The Meiji Restoration

 

  1. Political revolution in late 19th century that led to industrialization
  2. Signified end of Tokugawa Era
  3. Emperor Meiji returned to Tokyo & regained power.
  4. Actual political power was transferred from Tokugawa Bakufu to a small amount of nobles and former samurai.
  5. Meiji pushed to reform economy & military to “keep up” with western countries.
  6. Reforms effect religion: human rights was now considered a religious freedom.
  7. The government created an educational system modeled after the French & German.

 

Interpretations of the Restoration

 

 

    • Click here for a ten-minute video about the Restoration.

 

    • Click here for a 12 minute animated video about the Meiji Restoration. 

 

The Meiji Restoration from Asia for Educators.

 

  • Again from Asia for Educators, here is an activity that can be used in the classroom for students to understand the distinctions between the periods of Japanese history.

 

 


The status of women was identified as important for Japan to receive full recognition from western governments. 

 

  Click here for a 3 minutes video on the Evolution of Gender during the Meiji Period. This video talks about how important the Women role was during this time period, but also what changes have occurred for their role.

 

 

    • "Women’s founding of and participation in conflicting discourses over the value of women in Meiji public life demonstrate that during this period active and vocal women were everywhere, that they did not meekly submit to the dictates of the government and intellectuals over what women could or should do, and that they were fully integrated in the production of Meiji culture."

 

Women in Meiji Japan: this article empathizes the importance of women in regards to 19th century Japanese industrialization. This source explains how important they actually were and they remain largely ignored in comtemprary discourse.      

          http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1369/women-in-meiji-japan-exploring-the-underclass-of-japanese-industrialization

 

Japanese women during the Meiji Restoration (left to right) a painting depicting Meiji era women at work; prostitutes on display behind a cage in Yoshiwara, one of Tokyo's red light districts, circa 1910 (roughly six years before the practice, known as harimise, was stopped); Yoshiwara prostitutes in a brothel; Japanese women at work in a bamboo basket factory, circa 1904; also circa 1904, women feeding silk worms in a factory.

 

 

 

 

 

 

B. the abolition of feudalism

 

  1. Started by Meiji attempt to decentralize feudal systemexternal image LO1DA26813.jpg
  2. Ended complicated class structure
  3. Starting in 1869, Lords began to turn their land over to the Emperor & others began to do the same.
  4. Standardized the various “domains” administration; creating “governors.”
  5. 250 former “domains” were redone into 72 prefectures & three cities.
  6. After redistricting the domains, “governors” were eased out of political power.


Chart of Japan's Feudal System that preceded the Meiji Restoration.

 

 

 

C. the borrowing and adaptation of western technology and industrial growth

 

  1. Japan became an industrial country because it was seen as a sign of strength.
  2. The already-existing treaties with western countries limited Japan’s economic success until after the turn of the century.
  3. Schools’ philosophy & methodology were based on western ideals
  4. Then schools put an emphasis on ethics & created a nationalist education, which is a European ideal
  5. Army was modeled after Prussia’s & Navy was modeled after Britain’s
  6. Currency was reformed & a national bank was created in 1880’s
  7. 1889: European-style constitution was created
  8. 1872: the first railway was created from Tokyo to Yokohama


 Japan's Modern History: An Outline of the Period


Essay about the Industrial Revolution in Japan

Industrialization of Japan

D. Japan’s growing role in international affairs

 

1. First Sino-Japanese War 1894-95; defeated China; making Japan the first non-western imperial power.

 

  • Click here to read about the war from the point of view from modern Chinese strategist.

 

  • Click here to read about the Sino-Japanese War from the perspective of Leon Trotsky.

 

  • Here is an animation video of the war.

 

  • Click here to watch a short video about the Sino-Japanese War from 3 Minute History

 

Treaty of Portsmouth Poster
Treaty of Portsmouth Poster

 

2. Russo-Japanese War: 1904-05; Japan was trying to fight westernization by expanding its borders of control; showed non-western country could defeat a western power.

 

 

 

 

 Video of the history of the Russo-Japanese War in 3 minutes.

 

Here is a learning plan on The Russo-Japanese War, 1904-1905: A Turning Point in Japanese History, World History, and How War is Conveyed to the Public suggested by Columbia University.

 

3. Joined allied forces in World War I in 1914-18.

 

  • Click here to read about the ultimatum Japan gave Germany in 1914.

 

  • Click here to read about the legacy of Japan's involvement World War I.

 

 Here is a video from Khan Academy about the involvement of Japan in World War I.

 

Japan navy flagship in Shanghai, 1937
Japan navy flagship in Shanghai, 1937

 

4. Second Sino-Japanese War: 1937-45


Before the war started, Japan invaded Manchuria in 1931. Read more about the invasion here.

Part of the Second Sino-Japanese War was the rape of Nanking in 1937, where the Japanese committed atrocities against the Chinese people. 

Click here to read eyewitness account and here to read a general history.

Read about how the war shaped modern China.

Prezi of the consequences of the Second Sino-Japanese War.

 

Here is a short animation video of the war.

 

Here is an hour long documentary about the Japanese invasion of China.



Click here to learn more about Japan and China's history as rivals in the 19th and 20th centuries from BBC.

Empire of Japan at its height in 1942
Empire of Japan at its height in 1942

 

5. World War II: 1938-45


Japan's Quest for Power and World War II in Asia, from Asia for Educators

 

 

  • Here is a brief history of World War II in the Pacific.

Attack on Pearl Harbor

    • Article from Slate: What caused Japan's aggression during World War II.

 

Attack on Pearl Harbor

  • View a short video about Pearl Harbor and view a short video about the Battle of Okinawa from the History Channel.
    • Click here for a Crash Course video that follows the course of Japanese history and focuses on the nationalism aspect.

 

Timeline of the history of Japan from the mid 19th century up to the mid 20th century.

 

  • The Timeline starts with the arrival of Commodore Matthew Perry to the end of World War II

 

  • Listed the major events in Japanese Imperialist history 

 

  • Click Here for a 10 minute history video with great animations that describes the history of Japan from the Meiji Restoration to the end of World War II.

 

 

E.  Japanese Imperialism

 

 

Quick Summary of Japanese Imperialism: This source is about a page long and summarizes the main points of Japanese Imperialism. It highlights: traditional foreign relations; Japanese expansion in the early 20th century; Explanations for expansion; volatilities of East Asian boundaries in the 19th century; and how Japanese imperialism differed from European imperialism. 

          http://www.iun.edu/~hisdcl/G369_2002/japanese_imperialism.htm

 

Video: Attached is a 9 minuet Khan Academy Video about Japanese Imperalism

          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5SkpVqjWmg

 

Powerpoint: this resource comes from an AP world history class 

          Attached below is a link to a 9 minuet long powerpoint presentation (consisting of 21 slides) that specifically addresses the rise of Japan in the 19th century and early 20th century. 

https://slideplayer.com/slide/4154681/ 

 

 

Japanese Imperialism in Korea (1910-1945)

 

  • In addition to taking land from China from the 1st Sino-Japanese War, Japan colonized Korea, a close neighbor between the two countries.

 

  • They held control over Korea for 35 years, and the end of World War II, resulted in Japan losing its colony in Mainland Asia.

 

  • Just like the Rape of Nanking during the 2nd Sino-Japanese War, the Japanese committed many terrible crimes against the Koreans, and also oppressed them. 

 

  • Some of these crimes were forcing women to be sex slaves also known as Comfort Women, and also forcing 80% of Koreans to change their name to a Japanese name

 

  • Click Here for more information on what the Japanese have done in Korea during this time period

 

  • Click here for more information on this topic provided by the History Channel. 

 

 
To learn about Japan, Women and the Home Front, and World War II, Click here.


Here is a website that gives some insight to the life of women during the Meiji restoration.


This essay describes the changes in the roles of women over time in Japanese culture.


Examining the Japanese Textbook Controversies, Stanford Program on International and Cross-Cultural Education

 

 

   

  

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