Meiji Restoration Change The Way People Lived11 Nineteenth-Century Japan
1324 Words6 Pages
Liz Campbell
How did the Meiji Restoration change the way people lived i11 nineteenth-century Japan?
,
The Meiji Restoration was the process of a significant power shift in late 19th century Japan. The Tokugawa bafuku fell and the court regained rule, with Emperor Meiji at the head. This power shift gave way to a massive political change in the country, both internally and with regard to the ways in which politics were carried out. The government then moved to make significant military and economic changes affecting the way in which people lived. Furthermore, this change affected other areas of life, such as the way in which Japan interacted with the West and Western ideas. Finally it also caused social changes, particularly noticeable was the shift in the importance of samurai and other traditional social customs.
One of the most major political shifts for the people occurred when the Charter Oath was produced in April of 1868 in Emperor Meiji' s name. This document referred most significantly to the political assemblies that would be set up. After Tosa's petition based on
'…show more content… One of the most visible changes was the role of the samurai. In 1876 the economic privileges of samurai were completely wiped, mainly for financial reasons - stipends had been reduced as domains abolished, therefore there was a reduction in number of ranks. This resulted in an elimination of samurai privilege and the allowance of a more merit-based society. Another change was the aforementioned changes in education. Education was made compulsory, which some saw as risky, but the government thought it would overall be beneficial to them. Eventually attendance gained and compulsory education was accepted as part of following the Emperor. This would have been a major social change for the country, education giving all equal opportunities that would not have been available