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The Continuation and Realization of the Charter Oath
When the bakafu navy surrendered in May 1869, it signaled the end of an era in Japan (Schirokauer, 188). The way of the shogunate was finished, the Tokugawa family had been defeated and the wave of revolution swept through Japan. The only problem with that wave of revolution was that the men who were leading it had no real idea where it should be going. The emperor of Japan was a sixteen year-old boy, they knew that the power should not fall right into his hands, but they were not sure how to centralize the power with out giving it directly to him. Feudalism was not to pass all the way out of Japan; it was not going to play the dominant role that it had during the time of the Shogunate rule. The idea that they settled upon was modeled after the Chinese system, it was called bureaucratic centralization. With this decision the Meiji Restoration was starting to materialize into a staying ideology.
Though the men leading the Meiji restoration did not always see eye to eye on policy issues they did have a couple things in common; they were all close in age and agreed that they needed to strengthen their defenses against the West (Schirokauer, 188). With these ideas at the top of their agenda they were ready to undertake massive changes in the governmental system. In 1868 the Charter Oath was issued, it outlined some of the changes that the new rule wished to enact. Another main point that they agreed upon was the fact that the Emperor needed to move to Tokyo, formerly Edo. In 1871 the Emperor moved into the imperial palace which was formerly the Shogun's palace.
The Charter Oath is the defining piece of the Meiji Restoration. In Schirokauer's book it states that the Japanese go much farther than the Chinese ever would have (189). The fifth point of the Charter Oath is most likely the point that the Chinese would have had the most problem with. The fifth point reads "knowledge shall be sought throughout the world and thus shall be strengthened the foundation of the Imperial policy (Schirokauer, 189)." This point is a major change from the isolationist policy that Japan had, had for so long. It was in the 1870s that the fifth point of the Charter Oath really came into effect.
The East Asians, mostly China and Japan, both were trying to become or stay a great power, and did it in different ways. Japan tried to isolate themselves by only allowing limited contact and no spreading of Christianity, as was talked about in document sixteen. China tried to keep up with them by using a strong legal system as was mentioned in document six, and government set up like the monarchs of Europe, in that the power is passed from father to son, as seen in document five. Japan, at first, let the newcomers in and learn about them, and let them learn a little from them. However, they didn't have very good experiences, like as portrayed in document twelve, the Japanese thought of the Europeans as arrogant and full of themselves, and the Europeans, like Will Adams in document fourteen, didn't like what the Japanese did, in holding them there when they wanted to leave, and the way they treated the women as completely there just to serve and help the men, as was mentioned in document eleven.
The government was forced to create a national parliament called the Duma. This paved the way for more peasant reforms and an increase in production. Japanese revolts ensued with the opening of Japan to the Western World. The middle and lower classes wanted Japan to be open, while the conservative daimyo did not. Both of these groups looked to the emperor for a decision.
Achievement of the Goals Set Down in the Charter Oath of 1868 by 1895 Soon after the Restoration, the Meiji leaders drafted an Oath for the Emperor to take. The Charter Oath gave a general guideline for the new government and its future policy. It was proclaimed on 6 April 1868. The Emperor declared that his country was to establish assemblies and all policies to be based upon wide consultation, to allow people to choose their occupation without class restriction, to abolish the uncivilized customs, to learn useful and practical knowledge and the national interest would override all other interests.
...their own career path and destiny for their life.(197) This was a (new concept)** during that time period because the lower class was not always granted the same opportunities as the upper class. (197) The Meiji restoration also introduced the idea of a democratic form of government, rather than a dictatorship.(197) They actually began to give citizens a voice in government, which was an entirely new concept to the Japanese.(197) Not only were the Japanese beginning to gain more rights, but they were also beginning to accept ideas that were once looked down upon(would have never been considered), such as sports(201). The rise of baseball became really popular during the Meiji Restoration as well.(201) Overall the Meiji Restoration was a major advancement in the Japan society and it symbolized the renewal of the Japanese people and a new Japanese government.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Chinese and Japanese faced much internal conflict, but while China faced a combination of economic setbacks and political weakness, the Japanese were riddled with wars along their countryside. First, the Chinese emperor was too weak in comparison to his bureaucracy, which ended up making most of the decisions for the last Ming dynasty emperor. This was due to the emperor’s realization that having a title as Son of Heaven did not mean he had all the power of the empire. Instead he lived a laid back life where the bureaucrats vied for power and wealth amongst themselves and he merely managed them. Like the Chinese, the Japanese also saw elites battling it out for power, but this time on the battlefield with armies of samurai. These battles put Japan in a period much like the Warring States period in early Chinese history, where families fought and fought for power almost endlessly. The political weakness in China contributed to its economic failure as well. With no force to manage to seas, pirates were free to raid trade ships and villages along the coast line, weakening the Chinese economy that relied on a transport system to supply the country. These two major forces led to China’s fragmentation and eventual takeover by the Manchu. In contrast, the battles happening in Japan were not harmful to the economy as much as they were in China. This is due to the fact that the Japanese daimyos were independent...
The goals of the Meiji Restoration included dismantling of the old feudal regime and the creation of a nation-state capable of standing equal among Western powers, including the United Kingdom, France, Russia, and the Unites States. The leaders of the Meiji Restoration were mostly young samurai motivated by increasing domestic problems and threats of foreign intrusion. Saigō Takamori was also an influential leader in the Meiji Restoration. He was responsible for leading several rebellions against the government in companionship with samurai warriors and peasants who distrusted the new regime. The citizens of Japan were also, arguably, influential leaders of the Meiji restoration. Under their pressure to insist on the creation of a constitutional government, the government formed a Cabinet system in 1885 and in 1886 began developing the Constitution, which would be presented as a gift from the emperor to the people in 1889 and established a bicameral parliament. Revolutionary tactics from the Meiji Restoration included the development of transportation and communication. Railroads were built, telegraphs connecting major cities, and the institution of a European-style banking system developed. We can clearly recognize differences between the revolutionary tactics of the Meiji Restoration to those in the Mexican Revolution and those in the
In 1615, Tokugawa pass the law for military housing. Ieyasu created Sankin-Kotai or alternate attendance system. This required that each lord of daimyo to spend 6 months year spent in Edo. Policy kept daimyo lords on move and made them financial unstable. Tokugawa basically kept the lords in hostage while they were on move; this kept them from plotting against him. His government established Kyoto deputy. No one could visit the Tokugawa without the deputy’s approval. Marriage between imperial and emperor was to be approved by deputy too.
...ch translates to enlightened. Mutsuhito was crowned the Meiji Emperor of Japan in the year 1868. The emperor abolished the office of the shogun. With this, the Samurai class was replaced by a modern military force. Large quantities of peasants were soon conscripted into the army. And with that, the old class system of Japan had been abolished. In the same year, the Charter Oath was signed by Emperor Meiji. The oath was composed of 5 articles which would eventually modernize and westernize Japan. The Oath definitely changed Japan’s politics, and introduced a Western parliamentary constitution.
In the First Sino-Japanese War in 1895, China at the time confronted impending risk of being parceled and colonized by colonialist powers...
Though it seems that it was the Western influence that set off this revolutionary change, a more scrutinizing look into Japanese society at the time reveals that Japan was in fact on the brink of supplanting the fixed, hierarchical Tokugawa order for one that was better suited for its fast evolving, capitalistic society. As historian David Lu states, “Our people began to discover [modern civilization’s] utility and gradually and yet actively moved towards its acceptance. However, there was an old fashioned and bloated government that stood in the way of progress.” (Lu, 351). Therefore in a way we can view the intrusion of Western powers in Japan on that infamous July day in 1853 as an event that occurred during a time when Japan was ready for a world renewal, and not a direct and complete cause of modernization of Japan; in fact it was Japan’s revaluation of modernization and what it meant to be Japanese amidst strong western influences that eventually ...
the grant letter related to the charter oath in five ways. The first article of the charter Oath state’s, “Deliberative assemblies shall be widely established and all matters decided by public discussion.”, And in the grant letter, it talks about how the junior prime minister would become an ambassador and openly talk to the united states abut their concerns. Also, the letter goes on to talk about wanting to declare an open friendship with the united states, not an underhanded, quiet treaty. The second article of the charter oath, “All classes, high and low, shall unite in vigorously carrying out the administration of affairs of state.” Int the grant letter it is written: “ It is our purpose to select from the various institutions prevailing among enlightened nations such as are best suited to
Imperialism has not only influenced colonial territories to better themselves or to further the mother country’s realm of power, it also had a significant impact on the people’s culture, education, environment, and political systems. Japan and Britain were two imperial systems that countered each other in many facets but also had strikingly similar qualities that had helped them become strong imperial powers that needed one another to continue their position amongst others. The Japanese empire was an inspirational country to other Asians that spearheaded the fight against the European imperialism. After the Meiji restoration, the emperors decided that the modernization of Japan was going to begin and in order for it to be a success, the government had to change along with their culture, “.restored authority faced new dangers in a new age.
From the Meiji Restoration era, democratization efforts were undertaken to modernize Japan. A bicameral system of legislature as well as local, though unelected assemblies were created in the image of the Prussian model (Haddad, 2012, p. 50) and a Constitution placing absolute power with the monarch was formed. Although the main intention of the oligarchs behind the Constitution was to have the national Diet as an advisory body, they "created a series of 'transcendental cabinets' which answered to the Emperor" (Haddad, 2012, p. 50),
The Meiji Constitution was promulgated in 1889 and was drafted most importantly by Ito Hirobumi.
...high power status, Japan had to have a self-reliant industrial common ground and be able to move all human and material resources (S,195). Through the Shogun Revolution of 1868, the abolition of Feudalism in 1871, the activation of the national army in 1873, and the assembly of parliament in 1889, the political system of Japan became westernized (Q,3). Local Labor and commercial assistance from the United States and Europe allowed Japan’s industry to bloom into a developed, modern, industrial nation (Q,3). As a consequence production surplus, and food shortage followed (Q,3). Because of how much it relied on aid of western powers, Japan’s strategic position became especially weak. In an attempt to break off slightly from the aid of the west Japanese leaders believed that it would be essential for Japan to expand beyond its borders to obtain necessary raw materials.