Revolutionary Change in Japan, 1850 1960
The Tokugawa polity (1603 1868) Warrior Rule: shogun (center) and daimyo (domain lords) Strict controls on daimyo to prevent uprisings Society ordered into status groups, mobility restricted
Change During the Tokugawa Era urbanization: Edo has 1 million people in 1700 growth of commercial economy, communications flourishing urban popular culture status system destabilized by market popular protests over economic instability: growing calls for world renewal
Tokugawa Japan and the World Relative seclusion: closed to most Europeans No formal diplomatic relations with China Limited relations with Dutch, Chinese traders through Nagasaki Tokugawa attempt to create Japan centered regional order: "Civilization" and "Barbarity"
The Perry Mission and the Opening of Japan (1853 54)
The Ansei ( Unequal ) Treaties, 1858 Treaty ports to be opened Restrictions on Japanese tariff autonomy Extraterritoriality Triggers political crisis that will topple Tokugawa Terrorism by men of high purpose
The Meiji Restoration and the Meiji Revolution
Charter Oath (1868) 1. Deliberative assemblies and public discussion 2. All classes united in affairs of state 3. Common people free to pursue their own calling 4. Evil customs of the past shall be broken off and everything based upon the just laws of Nature. 5. Knowledge shall be sought throughout the world so as to strengthen the foundations of imperial rule.
"Rich Nation, Strong Army" Centralized state Abolition of status system Universal compulsory education Military conscription End of samurai privileges
Economic Development Policies New tax system Free market in land Banking system Railway development Silk & cotton as key industries Close governmentbusiness ties
Civilization and Enlightenment
Challenges to the Meiji State Peasant protests Samurai rebellions Movement for Freedom and Popular Rights
Meiji Constitution (1889) Constitution as way to unify and mobilize the nation Sovereignty with emperor Prussian model: rights defined, but emphasis on duties Key step toward revising unequal treaties
Forming Japanese subjects The nation is but a single family, the imperial family is our main house. We the people worship the unbroken imperial line with the same feeling of respect and love that a child feels toward his parents...
Sino Japanese War (1894 95) China recognizes independence of Korea Taiwan and Liaodong Peninsula (South Manchuria) to Japan Provokes Triple Intervention: Russia, Germany, & France force return of Liaodong Japan prepares for conflict with Russia over Manchuria and Korea
Sino Japanese War Art
Russo Japanese War (1904 05) Liaodong Peninsula, Southern Sakhalin to Japan Russia withdraws from Korean affairs Taft Katsura Agreement: US recognizes Japan in Korea, Japan recognizes US in Philippines 1910: Japan annexes Korea (rules to 1945)
Economic Impact of WWI industrialization growth of zaibatsu (Mitsui, Mitsubishi, Sumitomo, etc.) inflation instability throughout 1920s
Mass Protests and Radical Ideas Labor movement, strikes grow during WWI nationwide Rice Riots (1918) influence of Russian Revolution on Japanese intellectuals, students JCP formed, 1921
Era of Party Governments, 1918 32 Meiji oligarchs weaken Two main political parties form governments, 1918 21, 1924 32 Party government is precedent, not law Universal Male Suffrage Law (1925): safety valve against violence Peace Preservation Law (1925): prohibits attacks on national polity (imperial institution) and system of private property
Rise of urban new middle class Nuclear families Consumerism "Modernity" as promise and danger modern girls and boys Modern Life
Tensions in Rural Society Rise of tenant protests Growing rural economic crisis, 1920smid 1930s Spread of anticapitalist, anti urban ideology: village as heart of Japan 4
Crisis in Foreign Relations To end of WWI: Japan plays by old rules of imperialism: attempts to control China, Siberia After WWI: Western powers seek to contain Japan Cooperative Diplomacy in 1920s: Washington Treaty System (1922), London Naval Treaty (1930) But see critics of "weak kneed diplomacy" Manchurian Incident (1931): Army takes the initiative, occupies Manchuria, part of North China
Collapse of Party Governments; Calls for a Showa Restoration Eliminate corrupt elites between emperor and people Reorganize state, overcome political, economic, social, crises Reassert Japan's imperial mission in East Asia Failed coup attempt by young army officers, 1936 but military role in government expands
War with China, 1937: Creating a New Order in East Asia
War with the Allies, 1941: Japan as the Light of Greater East Asia Driving out the ABCD powers (Americans, British, Chinese, Dutch)
People of the Southern Region
Home Front: The people all rouse themselves
Total War and Children
Preparing for the Decisive Battle
The U.S. Occupation (1945 52)
Tokyo War Crimes Trials
Democratic Reforms Dissolve military Purge wartime leaders, ultranationalists (200,000) new constitution new labor laws (unions legalized) land reform gender equality
The emperor proclaims his humanity
Making Revolution: Food May Day, 1946
Reverse Course, 1947 52 Cold War and U. S. need for strong Japan Restrict labor rights Purge communists Leave business alone Partial rearmament Old guard reemerges U.S. Japan Security Treaty, 1951 Conservative Prime Minister Yoshida Shigeru
Polarized 1950s Conservative parties merge to form Liberal Democratic Party (1955): ally with big business, bureaucrats, farmers Clash with Socialists, left wing labor unions 1960 crisis over revision of security treaty: mass demonstrations 1960 Miike coal mine strike: labor defeated, but costs to management are high
Consensus on Growth 1960 PM Ikeda's Income Doubling Plan: goals rapidly achieved 1964 Tokyo Olympics: bullet train launched Economic growth tops 10% each year, 1955 73 Middle class consumer society High education levels LDP shares the growing pie with labor, salaried workers, small business Problems of environment, gender, minorities