In 1868, the end to the Tokugawa Shogunate led to the formation of the Meiji Restoration which modified Japan’s political, economic, cultural, and social structures similar to the impact of the American and French Revolutions that shaped modern society. These revolutions lead to many different reformations that are distinct from one another. However, similarly they all contributed in shaping today’s modern environment. Many of these similarities and differences include political changes to military along with government structure, economic changes with new trade partners and technological inventions, and social changes in role of different classes and dominance from one another. The strive for reformation lead to larger implications of revolutions that resulted from the growing urge for freedom. The American and French revolutions along with the Meiji Restoration had founded the basis of standard and transition from imperialism to decolonization and the establishment of modern states. Although, the revolutions weren't just war but also helped build the foundation for diplomatic relations and economic opportunities. The struggles within the country was actually necessary because it lead to revolutions and reformations that lead the outcome of unification. This is seen through the Meiji Restoration impacts as they took in Western influences and became unified through government changes along with building a sense of Nationalism. Among the most important changes that resulted in these traumatic revolutions include the reestablishment of government and political adjustments. The change from a decentralized political system during the reign of the Tokugawa shogunate to a highly centralized, bureaucratic government established by the em... ... middle of paper ... ...s straight from the Stamp Act imposed during the American Revolution in protest against the taxation for merchandising. During the French Revolution, Sources of Japanese Tradition, volume II, compiled by Ryusaku Tsunoda, Wm. Theodore de Bary and Donald Keene (N.Y.:Columbia University Press, 1958) p. 137. Totman, Conrad. "Ethnicity in the Meiji Restoration: An Interpretive Essay."JSTOR. Monumenta Nipponica Vol.37, No.3, pp. 269-287. Sophia University. F. M. Anderson, The Constitution and Other Select Documents Illustrative of the History of France, 1789-1907, 2d Ed., (Minneapolis, 1908), pp. 507-513. Greene, Jack P. The American Historical Review Vol.105, No. 1 (Feb.,2000), pp 93-102 Journal of the First Congress of the American Colonies, in Opposition to the Tyrannical Acts of the British Parliament. Held at New York, October 7, 1765 (New York, 1845), pp. 27-29.
In 1765, England passed on the Stamp Act. The Stamp Act taxed a seal that was required on important documents in England, and extended that tax across the Atlantic Ocean, and into the colonies. The tax seemed like a fair deal because all the revenue generated in the colonies from the tax, would stay in the colonies, rather than get sent back to England. Even though it was
“Give me liberty or give me death!” This statement from Patrick Henry’s “Speech to the Virginia Convention,” delivered to the House of Burgesses, has been quoted by many, becoming almost cliché. However, the declaration is truly understood by a select few. The unjust Stamp Act passed by the British crown in 1765, brought fame and notoriety to Henry as he spoke out against the unjust taxation without representation. Ten years later on the eve of revolution, Henry calls upon the Colonial government of which he is part, to act for the betterment of the people. Patrick Henry attempts to persuade the House of Burgesses to revolt and declare war against Britain by logically convincing them that it is their natural right to be free and calling on their patriotism and pride as leaders of colonial America.
Defense of the American colonies in the French and Indian War in the years 1754 -1763 and Pontiac's Rebellion in 1763-64 were unbearable to Great Britain. As a means of financing the activities, Prime Minister George Grenville hoped to recover some of these costs by taxing the colonists. The move came known as the Stamp Act of 1965 to be active from November 1956 though passed and enacted on 1964. The act came in place 11 years before America’s independence something that triggered American revolutionary action to oppose tax without representation. The act was passed by Britain parliament and it was to affect all Britain colonies. The essay will give insight of the degree of oppression of the Act to colonies, the radical responses, and American Revolutionary acts that are implicit against the Stamp Act.
The Stamp Act of 1765 was the beginning of the revolution for the colonies of North America. When the Stamp Act was passed by the British Parliament, it required American colonists to pay a tax on every piece of printed paper they used. This included ship’s papers, legal documents, licenses, newspapers, and even playing cards. However, in the past, taxes and duties on colonial trade had always been viewed as measure to regulate commerce but not to raise money. Therefore, England viewed this taxes as a direct attempt to raise money in the colonies without the approval of the colonial legislatures. Due to this effects, the Stamp Act provoked such a violent reaction in the colonies, because it was seen as a threat to the colonist’s liberties and rights, as well as affecting multiple members of the society.
To pay off their debt, England scheduled the initiation of the Stamp Act, which placed a tax on 50 different documents, on November 1, 1765 (Gale ¶ 2; Brindell 13). This act was to put a tax “upon every paper commonly called a pamphlet and upon every newspaper” (Copeland 193). Because the Stamp Act was an internal tax, which meant this tax law was only enforced in America, this made the colonists even angrier (Burgan 23).
Greene, Carol. Enchantment of the World Japan, p. 97. 28 Pitts, Forrest R., Japan. p. 78. -. 29. Davidson, Judith.
During the late 1700’s, rules and regulations were placed to subdue the colonies and raise money after the French-and-Indian war, as too Britain’s Seven-Year-War. In replace of the Stamp Act of 1765, a new act, under the financial leader, Charles Townshend, the Townshend Acts were added to place a tax upon certain imported goods. The Townshend Acts was implemented to raise revenue for the civil government. This act placed a tax onto glass, lead, painters, colors, paper, and tea imported into the colonies. These “external” taxes would raise 40,000 Euros to pay commissioners of customs. People argued toward the act for raising revenue, or used to pay royal officials in the colonies. Britain sent a seven-hundred pocket army to protect those customs, which angered the colonists. Later, the Massachusetts legislature wrote the Circular Letter to send to Britain, issuing that one cannot be taxed without direct representation. Adding on to the Townshend Acts’ mayhem was the ...
New York: Barnes & Noble, 1969. Print. The. Kreis, Steven. A. A. "Lecture 12: The French Revolution - Moderate Stage, 1789-1792.
Britain realized the colonist, let alone had nothing to lose and was not paying tribute or taxes to England; so Parliament created the Stamp Act. The Stamp Act demanded colonist to buy a stamp for every good purchased and every single sheet of paper. The colonists were frustrated that they have to pay taxes without a representative at England and they were willing to show their feelings, even to great lengths. Colonist burned down tax collectors homes; physically harm them and even burying them alive. The defeated Britain decided to repeal the Stamp Act, but did not give up on striking the colonies.
14. Yanagisaka, Sylvia Junko Transforming the Past: Tradition and Kinship Among Japanese Americans, Stanford University Press, 1985.
“Do not silence the boy, dear. He is on the something. The Stamp Act violates our basic rights under the Magna Carta and it, furthermore, impacts our lives directly. In every colony, printing companies are closing shop either to protest the Stamp Act or for lack of business. Just south of here in Georgia, The Georgia Gazette was forced to halt production. The Stamp Act is truly ruining the economy of the colonies and I fear this is but only the beginning,” Father claimed (Hart, Bower, and Lobdell 67 and “Stamp Act (1765)).
Nardo, Don. A. The French Revolution. San Diego, California: Greenhaven Press, Inc., 1999. Print.
Webster, R.G. Japan: from the old to the new. S.W. Patridge & Co., 1905, 1978
Deal, William E. 2006. Handbook to Life in Medieval and Early Modern Japan. Facts on File, Inc., 2006. eBook
The French Revolution began in 1789 and ended in 1792, though certain people include Napoleon’s reign as part of the revolution, stating it ended in 1804. It was a time of confusion, disorder, and bloodshed. The commoners of France decided that they were being treated unjustly and planned to overthrow their king. The French Revolution was a long and terrible war, which promoted democracy and equality for the people of France and resulted, not only in the death of Marie Antoinette and King Louis XVI, but with France becoming a more liberal country. This essay will investigate causes of the French Revolution such as enlightenment ideas, taxation and economical problems, and the political system of the time. It will be shown that there is not a single direct cause for the occurrence of the French Revolution, but many different reasons of varying importance.