How Did The Meiji Government Modernize Japan?

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During the early stages of the 17th century, Japan remained isolated, with little contact to any nations. Japan functioned under the rule of the Tokugawa shoguns, a military government which had maintained power since 1603, (Meiji Restoration Britannica). However western nations soon began trying to convince Japan to open up ports for trade, and in 1853, U.S Commodore Matthew Perry sent four ships to Japan, heavily armed with weaponry. He left the Japanese shogun a letter from President Millard Fillmore. The letter asked the Japanese for free trade with the United States, warning that a more powerful fleet of ships would return for the response. Cornered, the Treaty of Kanagawa was signed in 1854, opening two ports and allowing the US to set …show more content…

The period of his rule is known as the Meiji Era, a period of major economic, political and social change, lasting from 1868 to 1912, (Meiji Restoration, Britannica). The Meiji government put full focus into modernizing Japan, statesmen from Japan were sent to western countries to observe the way government and civilization functioned, the gathered information was implemented to Japan, (Beck, Roger, B, 720). Some of the major reforms included, moving the capital, removing feudal class privileges, universal education, a new tax system and much more, (Meiji Restoration, Britannica). These reforms were met with mixed views, while many benefitted from Japan’s modernization, many in the samurai class felt that their status had been destroyed, and many peasants distrusted the new regime and were against its new western policies. This led to large revolts, peaking in the 1880s, (Meiji Restoration, Britannica). However, although drastic changes to the class system created backlash among many Samurai, the Meiji Restoration ultimately benefitted the people of Japan as it led to widespread industrialization, educational benefits and pushed to establish new human rights for the people of …show more content…

Not only did education shift the populus under the philosophy of the new government allowing for further advancements, it benefitted the lives of the Japanese people. Prior to the Meiji Restoration, education was a rarity for the lower classes in Japan, meaning only a small portion of Japan was educated. This all changed however in 1872 with the addition of a universal educational system known as Gakusei. The educational advancements are clearly put in perspective with the fact that by 1906, “school attendance was as high as 95%, and Japan boasted one of the highest literacy rates in the world,” (Education during the Meiji Restoration, Virtual Museum). With education comes a better quality of life for the people. With the majority of the people educated, the Japanese people were now free to pursue greater futures and were given more options for success. Without education one is limited to unskilled labor, which can often be mundane and tiring. The Meiji Restoration gave the citizens of Japan new pathways towards happiness, a massive benefit of the new education system. Furthermore, education benefitted women’s rights and enforced other positive ideals of equality. Before the Meiji Restoration, education was limited to boys from the samurai class. With Japan’s new schooling methods, the educational system “encouraged a democratization

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