Expansion in the Industrial Age - Japan

EXPANSION IN THE INDUSTRIAL AGE HIST 1301 | History Japan U.S. commodore Matthew Perry, with a fleet of four gunships, entered Edo (Tokyo) Bay in July 1853 with the mission of developing commercial and diplomatic ties with Japan. In order to stave off western countries' colonisation and subjugation, Japan had essentially shut itself off in the 1600s. As part of their attempt to preserve their culture, the Japanese also sought to repel outside influences. Perry gave the command for his ship's guns to fire and turn towards the beach in an attempt to secure admission. The Japanese military was unaware that the weapons were firing blanks. Following negotiations between Perry and the Japanese government, Japan signed the Convention of Kanagawa on March 31, 1854, opening the ports of Shimoda and Hakotate to American ships and sailors. It also promised assistance for American ships and sailors that capsized on Japanese coasts, allowed American merchants to purchase provisions in Japan, and ensured amicable and peaceful relations between the two countries. With no military means to oppose Perry's demands, the Japanese government was forced to comply. The Tokugawa shogunate, which replaced the emperor, who had reigned as a figurehead for hundreds of years, ruled over Japan at that time. The shogun was a military leader. The nation was ruled by aristocratic lords known as daimyo, who were subservient to the shogun, and their retainers, members of the samurai military class. Following Perry's arrival, modernizers in Japan felt that embracing western institutions and technology would be the best way to save their nation, recalling the American gunboats and China's humiliation at the hands of Britain's fleet during the first Opium Wars (1839–1842). They demanded that the emperor return to power because they believed that the shogunate was impeding progress. These arguments did not convince many samurai. Industrialization would not only provide "inferior" crafters and merchants a higher status in society than they already had, but it would also strip them of their influence and authority when the shogunate ended. Emperor Meiji took the throne in January 1867 after his father passed away. Following the resignation and abdication of Tokugawa Yoshinobu in November, the emperor formally declared the end of the shogunate in January 1868. The so-called Meiji Restoration was in progress. The daimyo gave the emperor their titles and their territory in 1869. The samurai were no longer the daimyo's retainers, even if they were permitted to continue serving as administrators of their old territories. Rather, they were employed by the state. The daimyo were stripped of their positions as rulers in 1871, and both they and the samurai received annual stipends. But much worse humiliations were in store for those who had hitherto ruled Japan. In 1873, the government started taxing the stipends provided to daimyo and samurai; starting in 1876, the stipends were delivered in the form of government bonds. The samurai lost rights like the ability to carry swords when the Meiji government formally outlawed class divisions. Even though a few revolted and again rebelled against government forces in the 1870s, Japan's new national army—armed with cutting-edge weaponry and trained in western battle techniques—overcame them. Japan's Meiji administration made industrialization one of its main objectives, and in the nineteenth century, the state was more involved in it than in most other western nations. The first objective was to construct railroads in order to connect the various parts of the nation and promote more industrial growth. In 1872, a train line connected the port of Yokohama with Tokyo, the country's capital, after construction had started in 1870. Recalling that Perry's requests were issued from a gunboat's deck, the government made significant investments in shipbuilding as well. In direct competition with the government, the private Mitsubishi Corporation—founded by the samurai Iwasaki Yatori— replaced it as the nation's top shipbuilder and shipper with its state-of-the-art vessels and effective administration. Then, in an effort to break free from western shipping companies, the government gave Mitsubishi eleven ships on the condition that it start doing business regularly with China. The business bought the government-owned shipyard in Nagasaki in 1887. As a family-owned company conglomerate with significant financial and industrial branches that influenced Japanese politics, Mitsubishi rose to prominence as one of the country's earliest zaibatsu. Mitsubishi had significant mining investments as well. The Japanese government followed suit, making investments in industries that produced cement and armaments as well as lead, iron, and copper mines. There was variation in the government's readiness to support sectors that were not essential to industrial development or military defence. For example, the textile industry depended less on government assistance. As Japan endeavoured to construct battleships, railroads, and modernise its military, textile corporations persisted in procuring automated machinery from overseas sources. Feudalism was ended by the Japanese government, which also granted ownership to the land owned by peasant farmers. This allowed them to sell their property and, if they so desired, move to the city to work in shipyards and factories. The government sent in fertilisers and farming supplies to enable those who stayed on the land produce more food for Japan. The warrior elite was able to use their expertise as factory managers when the samurai rank was abolished. The samurai made investments in industries with less government assistance as they amassed personal riches. This tendency had a positive impact on the manufacturing of textiles, glass, chemicals, and beer. In 1872, Japan launched its public education system. By 1900, girls were not far behind boys in almost universal attendance. The Confucian classics and science were both emphasised in the new curriculum. Additionally, Japan sends students to study technology in universities in the US and Europe. Japan was keen to compete with larger nations and had become capable of doing so by the end of the nineteenth century. It soon had the opportunity. It won the Sino-Japanese War over non-industrialized China in 1895. It overcame Russia in 1905 and made it abundantly evident to the US and Europe that it wanted to rise to global dominance.