What are the fundamental measures of Meiji Restoration?

Meiji Restoration, Japan's reform road from backward feudal countries to developed capitalist countries, was undoubtedly a successful transformation for Japan, which successfully freed Japan from the situation of becoming a semi-colonial and semi-feudal society. Let's learn more about the Meiji Restoration.

The fuse-the black ship incident

Before the Meiji Restoration, Japan was still a closed-door feudal monarchy.

1853, American brigadier general Matthew? Perry led a fleet into Edo, Japan, which is today's Tokyo, and handed the letter written by US President Mildred fillmore to the Japanese emperor to the Tokugawa shogunate, demanding the establishment of diplomatic relations and trade with Japan. Because the hull of the American fleet was painted with black paint at that time, this incident was also called the "black ship incident" in Japan.

1854, the United States and Japan signed the U.S.-Japan Goodwill Treaty, which stipulated the opening of ports and granted the United States MFN treatment. As a result, the United States gained the privilege in Japan, and the door of Japan was opened.

Social transformation-the emergence of reformists

With the opening of Japan's door, the social nature has changed, and the original middle and lower class warriors have gradually become the pioneers of the reformists. They demanded to overthrow the Tokugawa era and end the reality of foreign aggression. Then they launched the "movement of respecting the king and resisting foreign countries", which was quickly put out because the reactionary forces at home and abroad were too strong and their own strength was still very small.

At that time, Japan's power was actually in the hands of the shogunate, and the domestic forces against the invasion of foreign powers were pressing hard, which forced the shogunate to announce the invasion, and then the warships of the United States, Britain, the Netherlands and France shelled Shimonoseki. The British fleet attacked Samoa. 1In the spring of 865, Gao Shanxin, the leader of Changzhou anti-foreign faction, put forward the strategy of opening a port to discuss the curtain, decided not to mention anti-foreign, turned to armed opposition, and secretly formed an alliance with Samoans. At the same time, Britain also weighed the pros and cons, changed its strategy and helped the rebels.

Then, the successive victories of the anti-curtain faction made the shogunate realize the seriousness of the problem. 1867, Tokugawa Yoshinobu called for "the return of the big government", marking the end of the Tokugawa era which lasted for more than 260 years.

From 65438 to 0877, the Southwest War broke out, which was the end of the closing movement and the aftermath of the Japanese bourgeois revolution. With the defeat of Samoyed troops in the Southwest War, the establishment of a feudal militaristic country led by the Emperor marked the end of the Japanese capitalist revolution.

Meiji Restoration, leaving Asia for Europe

187 1 year, the Meiji government sent a large-scale envoy headed by right minister Iwakura Tomomi to visit Europe and the United States to inspect the capitalist country system. Under the slogan of prosperity, industrialization and civilization, the government actively introduced western science and technology, and Qiang Bing began to transform into a modern society.

Introduce technology and learn from the west.

Introduce modern equipment such as silk reeling and textile, establish demonstration factories and popularize advanced technology; Hire foreign experts, send overseas students abroad and train senior scientific and technological talents.

Reform the social system

The new government, headed by the Emperor, issued five vows with political programmatic nature on April 6, 1868, and issued a constitution in June1. On September 3rd, the Emperor issued a decree to change the name of Edo to Tokyo. From June 65438 to June 0869, the Meiji government enforced the policy of "returning official titles" and "abolishing vassal counties", and divided Japan into three prefectures and 72 counties.

Abolish the original four classes of "scholars, peasants, workers and businessmen". In order to reduce the financial burden related to "returning officials", the government gradually recovered the feudal salaries of China people and gentry through the form of public debt compensation; In addition, the samurai's "scraper order" and the "household registration law" which laid the foundation of the household registration system were promulgated.

Enlighten and develop education.

Advocate learning western social culture and habits and translating western works. In the calendar system, stop using the lunar calendar and use the solar calendar to calculate the number of days.

In education, the Ministry of Education was established, the education reform law was promulgated, and modern bourgeois education was developed. In addition, foreign students are sent to study in advanced countries such as Britain, the United States, France and Germany. Japan finally established nine imperial universities in central cities across the country. As the country's highest scientific research academic institution.

Military reform

In the military aspect, it refers to the military establishment of western capitalist countries, the army refers to the French navy and Britain, and promulgated the modern military service system in 1872. In addition, the military industry has been vigorously developed, and the national defense budget has been increasing. In the middle and late Meiji period, the military budget increased sharply, accounting for about 30% ~ 45% of government funds, and militarism and bushido were practiced.

affect

After Meiji Restoration, Japan completed the transformation to modernization. After more than 20 years of development, Japan's national strength is getting stronger and stronger. It abolished a series of unequal treaties signed with western countries in the shogunate era, regained national sovereignty and finally entered modernization. It can be said that Meiji Restoration was a turning point in Japanese history. Since then, Japan has embarked on the road of independent development and has rapidly grown into a big country in Asia and even the world.

However, due to the prevalence of its militarism, Japan gradually embarked on the road of external expansion and aggression, which caused great harm to the people of Asian countries.