Japanese Expansion

Syllabus

• Meiji Restoration
• Territorial expansion
• The path for a Global War
• World War II

Meiji Restoration

• A sustained modernization
• Led by the Military and the Emperor
• Made Japan a political and economical power in Asia

Political Transformation

• Feudal-styled Political Organization
• Tokugawa Shogun, factual ruler
• Supported by the Samurais to consolidate his power
• Traditional Power

The Restoration

• Top-down transformation
• Led by Foreign-educated politicians, intellectuals and generals
• "Enlightened rule"
• Nationalism and Fear
• Lead to an generalized Modernization

The Emperor

• Mutsuhito, The Meiji Emperor
• Became Emperor at the age of 15
• Established a "Democratic Government"
• Abolished Feudalism
• Realized need for technological and military development
• Osaka to Tokyo

An Oligarchy

• Nationalist-forward looking leadership
• Four principles
• 1) Strong State: Military, Taxes, Trade
• 2) Modern society: Social Divisions Dissolved
• 3) Western Education
• 4) Self-Sufficency

Dynamic of Governance

• Strong Military
• Disciplined Society
• Nationalist Government
• Strong Imperial Tendencies

Transition to a Modern society

• Social classes and its privileges suspended
• Samurais lost its preeminence within Japanese Society
• Mandatory Military Service
• Land Reform
• Strong presence of Army Generals within the Government

Industrialization

• Primarily a rural economy
• Self-isolated
• At odds with Western Powers
• Government-driven industrialization
• Coal/ Silk Production
• Need for Markets may lead to Imperialism

Japan's Foreign Policy

Principles

• National Superiority
• Display of Strength
• Territorial Expansion
• Regional Player, Occupying Western Countries place in Asia

Interests

• Directly related to Industrialization
• Raw Materials
• New Markets
• Military Conquest
• Power Politics
• Increase its Hegemony over China; Korea

First Signals of Expansionism

• Japanese Leadership considered Korea an inferior neighbor
• Korean Government did not pay its respect to the Meiji Emperor
• Japan displayed its new strength by deploying warships to Pusan, port, and Kanghwado.

Untitled Slide

Japan Annexes Korea

• A consequence of the Russo-Japanese War
• Treaty of Portsmouth
• Roosevelt-Witte-Jutaro
• Brought to an end Russo-Japanese War

Japan-Korea Treaty of 1905

• Japan was internationally recognized as a Power in East Asia.
• Russia Expelled from E.A.
• Japanese Army occupied major Korean Imperial Buildings
• Ports were seized by Imperial Japanese Navy
• Korean Emperor forced to sig a "Protectorate Treaty"
• International Relations and Trade were controlled by Japan

Japanese Rule in Korea

• In 1910, Korea became part of the Japanese Empire.
• Korean Emperor recognized Meiji Emperor's sovereignty over Korea.
• Two effects:
• New Source of Raw Materials/ Markets for Japan
• Chinese influence in Korea is eliminated, thus making Japan strongest nation in East Asia.