Meiji Japan Chapter 5: How Did

Outside Influence Create a Crisis?

Created by: Ms. D. Reiffenstein

Based on text: Our Worldviews
February 4, 2008
Outside Influence Creates a Crisis

 Outside contact was bound to happen for

Japan
 The shogun and Bakufu believed that they
would have less power if they abandoned
their isolation policy.
 They also feared they would lose their
sovereignty.
Russia’s Influence…

 Russia began to look to the Pacific Coast for

trade as it was difficult to supply their
outposts in central north Asia with food and
supplies.
 Fortunately for Japan, Russia became
involved in wars in Europe and turned it’s
focus there.
 The Ainu
 The Ainu are descendants of
Japan’s first indigenous
people called the Jomon.
They are believed to have
come from Russia 25000
years ago.
 Ainu peoples appearance is
more like a Europeans- they
have more hair, lighter skin
and different facial
characteristics.
 They speak a different
language.
 Ainu

 The Ainu originally occupied the

territory from northern Honshu
islands to the Kamchatka
Peninsula.
 They were self-sufficient
fishermen, hunters and food
collectors.
 They became involved with
trading furs and goods with the
Chinese and Russians.
Under the Tokugawa Shoguns
(1683-1867)

 The Ainu were forced to sign an agreement

that gave the Japanese the right to fish, hunt,
and log their lands.
 Their lives were greatly altered- they could
no longer have their own trade agreements
with whomever they chose.
 They were forced to remain separate from
Japanese society.
 Life under the Meiji Government
(1867- 1912)
 Japan’s concern about Russia to the north
forced them to declare Hokkaido a colony of
Japan.
 The Ainu lost their political independence
and were forced to assimilate with the
Japanese.
 Their customs were forbidden and their
traditional way of life was suppressed.
 In 1992 the United nations recognized the
Ainu as Japan’s aboriginal nation.
Japan - The Despised Ainu People

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYEhubSOtcI
– The following is a report on the Ainu People and
was created by Journeyman Pictures. It is 12
minutes 52 seconds
European Influence (1799-1815)

 Dutch traders where the only Europeans

allowed to set foot in Japan.
 The Dutch East India Company operated
almost independently of Holland’s
government.
 They decided to hire ships from other
countries and told them to raise Dutch flags
and hide their bibles.
Japanese High Level Government
Officials Learn About the West

 They started to import books on European

history, institutions, military science and other
sciences.
 They began learning French, Russian and
English. They believed they were similar.
 They noticed that all Europeans dressed in a
similar manner and concluded there must be
one European superpower.
Japan’s Response (Don’t think Twice)

 The Bakufu decided to expel foreigners.

 1825 a new edict was created by Takahashi-
a government official.
 He had learned that other countries did not
allow foreign ships to dock without proper
papers and protocols.
China’s Influence

 1842 China lost a war with Britain. They

were forced to sign a treaty that gave Britain
special privileges for trading that did not treat
China as an equal.
 This was a humiliation for China as they were
seen as weak and to add insult Britain
extended their trade rights to all Western
nations that wanted to trade with China.
Japan’s Response (Retreat and Ignore)

 The Bakufu viewed China as a powerful

country, they now realized how powerful the
English forces were.
 They feared they may be invaded by Britain
and other Western nations if they didn’t start
to negotiate with them.
 1844 King William II of the Netherlands sent
a letter to the Bakufu warning them of this.
The United State’s Influence (1845-63)

 Japan was on the trade route to China.

 Americans wanted to set up a coal station at
one of Japan’s ports so they could get fuel
for their steam-ships.
 The USA wanted assistance for US sailors
shipwrecked on Japan’s shores. Japan had
previously refused to help them.
Japan’s Response (Internal Unrest)

 The Bakufu and Samurai had heated debates

about conceding to the requests of the USA.
 Japan was pressured to sign treaties with
Russia, Britain, France, and Russia.
 Many Japanese felt the Shogun was no longer in
control and had been humiliated.
 Isolation was no longer possible. Japan’s
leaders decided it needed to compete with the
West in order to protect Japan’s sovereignty.