HIST 80b Chapter Notes - Chapter 6: Meiji Period, Meiji Restoration, Iwakura Mission
Document Summary
Traditionalist reforms and the origins of modernity (1860s 1895) pages 172 - 207. The anti-tokugawa samurai, from satsuma, tosa, etc. , emerged as the leaders of meiji. The restoration had been, in part, the result of the unequal treaties. The new leaders dismantled the old status system, thus allowing the samurai to pursue careers in commerce. The idea of japan as a nation and nationalism came to be adopted, and leaders had a goal of rich country and strong army to compete with the foreigners. The annual payment of stipends to the samurai had financially weakened the government, so the government offered an exchange of stipend for interest-bearing bonds (which few took). In 1876, the government forced the samurai to exchange their stipends for bonds. Meiji-era policy was guided by the slogan of rich country, strong army , and leaders began to depart from the tokugawa-era position against commerce.