Japan Empire Flashcards
(28 cards)
What was the structure of Japanese society under Tokugawa rule?
Shinokosho hierarchy: Samurai, Farmers, Artisans, Merchants. Rigid, Confucian-based social order.
What was Japan’s foreign policy between 1603–1853?
Isolationist policy known as Sakoku; limited foreign contact via Dutch at Dejima port only.
Why was Christianity banned in Tokugawa Japan?
Feared it would undermine loyalty to daimyo and state authority; seen as threat after Portuguese influence.
When did Commodore Perry arrive in Japan?
July 8, 1853.
What was the Treaty of Kanagawa (1854)?
Opened two ports to U.S. ships; marked the end of Japan’s isolation.
What were the effects of Perry’s arrival on Japan?
Highlighted Japan’s vulnerability; led to signing of unequal treaties and loss of tariff autonomy.
What year did the Meiji Restoration begin?
1868
What did the Meiji Restoration aim to achieve?
Modernize Japan politically, militarily, and economically to resist Western domination.
What key slogan summarized Meiji aims?
Fukoku kyōhei – “Enrich the country, strengthen the military.”
What year was the Meiji Constitution introduced?
1889
What happened to the Samurai class during Meiji reforms?
Abolished; lost stipends and right to carry weapons; culminated in the Satsuma Rebellion (1877).
What % of global silk did Japan produce by 1895?
Around 27%.
When did the First Sino-Japanese War occur?
1894–1895.
What did Japan gain after defeating China in 1895?
Taiwan (Formosa), Pescadores Islands.
What major war did Japan win in 1904–1905?
Russo-Japanese War.
What territory did Japan annex in 1910?
Korea.
What international alliance did Japan join in 1902?
Anglo-Japanese Alliance (first equal Western-Asian alliance).
When did all Japanese men gain the vote?
1925
What was Japan’s population in 1925?
60 million.
What were the main characteristics of 1920s Japan?
Urbanization, consumer culture, rising middle class, modern “salarymen” and “modern girls.”
What year did Japan invade Manchuria?
1931
What event started the Second Sino-Japanese War?
Marco Polo Bridge Incident, July 1937.
What was the Tripartite Pact and when was it signed?
Alliance with Germany and Italy, signed in 1940.
Why did Japan bomb Pearl Harbor?
U.S. sanctions, need for resources, and to cripple U.S. Pacific power. Attack: December 7, 1941.
