Meiji Era and Industrial Revolution

Meiji Era and Industrial Revolution

Pre Industrial Revolution

Emperor had VERY little power

Shoguns ruled Japan

Daimyo had a lot of power and land

Majority of people were poor/peasants

Coup d'état

Samurai rebellion helped return control of the country to direct imperial rule under Mutsuhito (the emperor Meiji-he was 15 when he was restored to power! )

One motivator for westernization: Watching neighboring China controlled by European and US, too weak to stand up to them

Multiple Choice

BEFORE the industrial revolution (during the feudal era),Who had the majority of power in Japan?

• The Emperor

• The Shoguns

• The peasants

• The Samurai

Multiple Choice

Why did Japan isolate themselves for 200 years?

• To protect their emperor

• To get rich off of trade with the British

• To prevent European invasion and control

• To allow for better training of the samurai

Multiple Choice

After replacing the monarchy, the emperor decided that Japan needed to WESTERNIZE. What does this word mean?

• become more like Europe and the US

• Wear cowboy hats and raise cattle

• Act more like their Chinese allies

• defend the western shores of the island

Industrialization

started with borrowing and buying technology (Stream engines) from the West. Japan build a massive rail system.

Industrialization

Use of factories to produce exports: A Silk Factory can be seen here

Families in mountain villages often signed contracts with silk companies, selling their teenage daughters into factory labor for one- to five-year periods. The girls typically lived in company dormitories located on the factory grounds.

Multiple Choice

Click on the song from the factory worker. Which term would you use to describe her working conditions?

• fair and just

• abusive

• safe

• unsanitary

Education Reform

"compulsory" elementary education

Established Universities with advice from Western academics

Western IDEAS

Constitution, representation, taxation, capitalism

Multiple Choice

Industrial Japan made a lot of money off of farming (especially taxing them). How does the quote from the farmer describe the era for the farmers?

• exciting

• profitable

• prison like

• enjoyable

Open Ended

Emperor Meiji is pictured here, one year apart. How do these images help summarize the Meiji Era in Japan?

You MUST refer to what we have discussed with these slides today!