EAS105H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Tokugawa Shogunate, Emperor Meiji, Edo Period
Document Summary
Tokugawa family unified japan and defeated warlords. Americans (led by matthew perry arrive in japan in 1853: western imperialism (superior military and new technology) was a, many leaders wanted these foreigners to be expelled, big shock for tokugawa. However, the tokugawa shogunate agreed to sign the treaty of. Kanagawa which opened up 2 japanese ports to the u. s. for trading and gave the us, the position of most favoured nation : this treaty thus ended 200 years of japanese seclusion. Japan would then be gradually pressured into signing similar treaties with other western powers. Social changes emperor: overthrow of tokugawa by rebel clans who restored power to the, wanted to resist western influence, 14 year old emperor meiji put on throne, restoration of power to emperor, compulsory education (european model) Uniqueness of japan, history of independence, had not been conquered by european powers ever,