Meiji Restoration and the Charter Oath

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the Meiji Restoration in Japan, from 1868 to 1912. It describes the events leading to the Meiji Restoration, the events themselves and the changes that happened during the period. It discusses them with relation to the Charter Oath of 1868 and analyzes whether the restoration was a success or not. It looks at the success in terms of the establishment of a democratically-elected government, the elimination of discriminatory class status, disparaging customs and traditions and the establishment of a universal education system.

From the Paper:

"The waning days of the Tokugawa reign was witnessed by the clan's inability to implement reforms needed to face the requirements of the industrial and the overwhelming pressure of Western nations to open up the country to international trade and industry. Aside from the aforementioned problems, the Tokugawa clan was also being challenged by various other clans and a coup was the final straw that broke the Tokugawa's back. "The Satcho-Dohi coalition of the 1860s carried out this supposed feudal coup from below. The coalition was between the four tozama fiefs of Satsuma, Choshu, Tosa and Hizen, the four strongest principalities of the southwest. (The Meiji Restoration, 1999)" Eventually, the last shogun of Japan, Tokugawa Yoshinobu, capitulated in the late 1800s and handed over the rule of the country to a young emperor of the Meiji clan, Mutsuhito. Mutsuhito took over as emperor upon his father's death in 1867 - Emperor Komei left a troubled nation needing reforms to his then 15 year-old son."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Brown, Alexander David. "Meiji Japan: A Unique Technological Experience?" Student Economic Review, Vol. 19. 27 March 2005. 21 December 2006. <http://www.tcd.ie/Economics/SER/archive/2005/7brown.pdf>.
• Columbia University. "The Meiji Restoration and Modernization." Contemporary Japan: A Teaching Workbook. East Asian Curriculum Project. 26 September 2005. 18 December 2006. <http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/japan/japanworkbook/modernhist/meiji.html>.
• Horie, H. "Revolution and Reform in Meiji Restoration." Kyoto University Economic Review, Vol. XXII, No. 1. April 1952. 20 December 2006. <http://www.econ.kyoto-u.ac.jp/review/10000263.pdf>.
• Maruyama, Eichi. A Historical Look at Society and Technology in Japan (1500-1900). 31 October 1997. 21 December 2006. <http://www.jsapi.jsap.or.jp/Pdf/Number01/Vol-1_Essay.pdf>.
• Mori, Barbara. The Meiji Restoration: Summary of Events Prior to the Restoration and Beyond. 2006. 18 December 2006. <http://www.willamette.edu/~rloftus/meijirest.html>.

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