Meiji Japan Changes

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Meiji Japan – Political Changes Jordan Harton Introduction The Meiji Restoration, a significant era in Japanese history, saw the abolition of the feudal system of the Tokugawa period and many political changes. Throughout the late Tokugawa period the Shogun and Daimyo had supreme power and the Emperor remained a figurehead. During the Meiji Restoration period, a new political system was introduced, with the main purpose being to modernise Japan. This new system helped with the development of Japan’s infrastructure in areas such as railway, shipping and communication. Political role of leaders in the late Tokugawa period The late Tokugawa period had distinct and specific levels of political power. The majority of the political power laid…show more content…
This political revolution restored the Emperor with supreme power over Japan allowing for a significant change throughout the country. With the Emperor regaining his superior power he believed Japan needed to modernise and adopt the western technologies, due to being forced to sign treaties with Western countries. This resulted in contact with other nations, after 250 years of cultural and economic isolation. The Emperor enforced the ‘Charter Oath of five principles’ throughout Japans political system which helped with the modernisation. He ordered the abolition of the feudal system and all feudal class privileges, because the Emperor aimed for Japan to be equal among the people and a democratic state. The role of the Shogun was abolished which made Daimyos have higher authority but due to stabilising the new Government the Daimyo had to return all their land to the Emperor. The Samurai lost all their class privileges and were banned from wearing their Samurai swords and cut off their top knots due to Western-style haircuts and took up profession in education. The Samurai developed a new council of state which consisted of the Upper house and Assembly (Lower House). In 1881 the Emperor announced that a constitution was to be drawn up, he believed it would be a gift to the people. The constitution addressed “the diet was made up of two houses:…show more content…
Throughout 1890 industrialisation was underway with a railway network linking Honshu’s major cities, which expanded into Kyushu and Hokkaido. “The railway symbolized the "civilization and enlightenment" policy of the Meiji government. It was the symbol of a new, modern government for Japan and its people” (http://archive.unu.edu ). Throughout the Tokugawa period the railway system was used for political reasons only, the villagers had to depend on foot and waterway transport. The Meiji Period allowed for villagers to use rail transport along with the traditional transport methods. Throughout the Tokugawa Period Japan was isolated from the world allowing no foreign trade and long distance travel. For assurance of no international trade the Shogun restricted the size of ships to be constructed, only allowing for trade between domestic ports. The Meiji period allowed for the construction of larger ships using western technologies, with steam ships being introduced. The shipping industrials were effective "by the end of the Meiji period, more than a third of the world's supply of silk came from Japan" and the percentage of exports carried on Japanese built and owned ships rose from 7% in 1893 to 52% by 1913” (http://www.samurai-archives.com/ ). With the fall of the Tokugawa Shogun, the Meiji Government developed the country’s communications
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