7.1 Fall of the Tokugawa shogunate and restoration of imperial rule

Japan's Tokugawa shogunate crumbled due to internal strife and external pressures. Economic woes, social unrest, and political instability weakened the government from within, while Western influence exposed Japan's technological gap and eroded its sovereignty.

The Satsuma-Choshu Alliance led the charge against the shogunate, culminating in the Boshin War. This conflict ushered in the Meiji Restoration, centralizing power under Emperor Meiji and setting the stage for Japan's rapid modernization.

Decline of the Tokugawa Shogunate and the Meiji Restoration

Decline of Tokugawa shogunate

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• Internal factors
  • Economic strain weakened shogunate authority with samurai debt accumulating and currency value plummeting
  • Social unrest grew as peasants rebelled against heavy taxes while merchants challenged rigid class hierarchy
  • Political instability intensified due to weakening central authority and factional infighting within government
• External factors
  • Commodore Matthew Perry's 1853 arrival forced Japan to confront Western influence
  • Unequal treaties like Convention of Kanagawa (1854) and Harris Treaty (1858) eroded Japanese sovereignty
  • Increased foreign presence in Japan exposed technological gap between Japan and West (steam engines, firearms)

Role of Satsuma and Choshu

• Satsuma domain in southern Kyushu led by Shimazu clan adopted Western military tech (rifles, cannons)
• Choshu domain in western Honshu ruled by Mori clan became hotbed of anti-shogunate sentiment
• Satsuma-Choshu Alliance (1866) united domains against Tokugawa shogunate, pooling military strength
• Key figures like Saigo Takamori (Satsuma) and Kido Takayoshi (Choshu) spearheaded reform efforts
• Military campaigns against shogunate demonstrated combined strength of alliance
• Domains provided crucial support for Emperor Meiji, paving way for imperial restoration

Significance of Boshin War

• Boshin War (1868-1869) pitted imperial forces against Tokugawa loyalists in decisive civil conflict
• Major battles like Toba-Fushimi and Siege of Edo Castle showcased imperial military superiority
• Tokugawa defeat led to transfer of power with Emperor Meiji moving from Kyoto to Edo (renamed Tokyo)
• Han system abolished, centralizing authority and redistributing land
• Charter Oath (1868) outlined Meiji government's modernization plans in five-point declaration
• New government structure established with cabinet system and specialized ministries

Importance of Meiji Emperor

• Imperial rule restored, ending bakufu system and positioning emperor as head of state
• Political role included promulgating Meiji Constitution (1889) and appointing government officials
• Symbolically embodied Japanese tradition and national unity, focus of loyalty and patriotism
• Public appearances and imperial progresses increased emperor's visibility, strengthening imperial cult
• Meiji oligarchs wielded actual political power, using emperor as figurehead for modernization policies
• Emperor became father figure of nation, bolstering national identity through State Shinto and emperor worship