East Meets West

Tokugawa Foreign Policy• Tokugawa fought a number of wars against western Christian Lords in

1600s - grew to distrust foreign missionaries• Expelled missionaries but allowed Dutch merchants a concession at

Nagasaki• 200 year period of isolation

Decline of Tokugawa Shogunate – early 1800s

Declining agricultural productivity

Harsh taxes on peasants – rebellions

Periodic crop

failures, famine,

inflation and starvation

Samurai and Daiymo in

debt to merchants

Rise of commerce & city life –

undermined social

hierarchy

Intellectual changes:

Shinto and the Emperor

Rangaku

Failure of reforms- Tempo

Fascination vs fear of

Westerners

Situation in USA• USA won 1847 war with Mexico expanded to Pacific• New industrial power seeking markets• Economic interests• Trade with China• Whaling• British and French monopolies on coal stations• Shipwrecked sailors would be jailed or executed

• Spread Christianity and benefits of Western civilization to backward peoples

Perry’s mission• Matthew Perry was a successful officer in the War

of 1812 and Mexican-American war and ‘father of the steam navy’• Sent on presidential mission to Japan• Arrived at Edo in 1853 – refused to leave - fired

blank shot• Shogun was ill and was indecisive – Pres.

Filmore’s letter was accepted• Poll is taken of the Daiymo’s views• Returned in 1854 - Convention of Kanagawa

signed – all demands agreed to

Extract from the letter of President Fillmore delivered by Commodore Perry to the Emperor of Japan in 1853.

“We know that the ancient laws of your imperial majesty’s government do not allow of foreign trade… but as the state of the world changes it seems to be wise, from time to time, to make new laws. …[The American people] think that if your imperial majesty were so far to change the ancient laws as to allow free trade between the two countries, it would be extremely beneficial to both.It sometimes happens, in stormy weather, that one of our ships is wrecked on your imperial majesty’s shores. In all such cases we ask, and expect, that our unfortunate people should be treated with kindness… until we can send a vessel and bring them away.… we understand that there is an abundance of coal and other provisions in the Empire of Japan. Our steamships, in crossing the great ocean, burn a great deal of coal, and it is not convenient to bring it all the way from American. We wish that our steamships and other vessels should be allowed to stop in Japan and supply themselves with coal, provisions, and water. ”

1853 Poll of Daiymoin favor of accepting the American demandsopposed to the Amer-ican demandsvague response express-ing concern of possible waradvise making tem-porary concessionsagree to go along with whatever is decided

Different perspectives…

Why did the Tokugawa Shogunate fall?

Perry forces opening of Japan

Bakufu showed weakness in

handling

Effects of opening ports

Political, social economic changes

Lessons learnt from the West

Failure of expulsion policy – awakening

of western clans

Failure of bakufu to lead

Sonno-joi movement

developed into anti-baku-fu movement

Failure of kobu-gattai, rise of

imperial court influence

Lacked able leaders – assasinations

Uprising of Western Clans: Satsuma,

Choshu etc.

Anti-bakufu alliance –Victorious in

Boshin War

How did Meiji change Japan?

Political & social reforms modelled on West but keeping Japanese values

New Constitution: Emperor is head of state, advised by Council and elected Diet

Replaced feudal system with modern prefectures

Abolished class distinctions

Promoted Shinto as unifying state religion

Mandatory public education

Industrial and military reforms drawing on Western experts

Draftees replace Samurai

Adopts latest military technologies

Railways, mining, modern agriculture

Government departments coordinate and funds industry

Why was Japan able to industrialise so quickly?

Stable government

High levels of education

Entrepreneurs came from all

classes

Removal of tariffs and duties

encouraged trade

Rise of Zaibatsu

No colonial exploitation

Access to best experts

Repression of unions