The Meiji Restoration of Japan

The Meiji Restoration of Japan refers to the restoration of the emperor's power and the revolutionary changes that simultaneously occurred with the Meiji's emperor's rule throughout the years of 1868-1912. The power of the Tokugawa shogunate weakened Japan. The country of Japan never even thought foreign trade policies until Commodore Matthew Perry arrived at the coast of Japan. When he arrived he wanted to set up a deal for opening up trade relations with the United States. They were very doubtful that they would accept the offer due to the major damage that Britain had done to China. China just wanted to be an isolated country from the World. But sights of a Pacific coast trading center looked attractive to Japan. The American politicians looked at the ports as a way for Americans to reload and unload their ships.

The deals between Japan and Matthew Perry were not really deals, as Matthew Perry forced Japan to sign the treaties using military force. Japan is an archipelago. An archipelago a chain of islands. The Japanese were shocked at the ships with no sails that Perry was running. The military force that Matthew Perry bought to Japan was greatly superior to Japan's, and Japan had no other choice than to grant the United State's wishes. On March 31, 1854, a treaty was signed between Japan and the U.S. Continuous unfair treaties were put upon Japan by the British, the Russians and the Dutch, all abusing the Japanese's military. Due to the "pushing around" of Japan by other countries, sent the economy of Japan going downward. With no Industrial Revolution, Japan's economy had set itself for unfair trade balance, and the economy was in a dire need of fixing it as soon as possible.

After Japan got their act together, they modernized greatly. A mandatory state of government was instilled and the state funded elementary leveled education. They translated Western textbook and believed that this system would raise national pride. The Japanese also developed their own way of writing. These system developed a sense of national pride, would help people in the future and also helped maintain the love for the Emperor.