History SL
5
Chapters
187
Notes
Case study 1: Japanese Expansion In East Asia 1931-41 (The Global War)
1930s Japan The Rise of Nationalism & Foreign Policy Shifts
Commodore Perry's Historic Arrival: Japan's Gateway to Modernization
The Meiji Restoration – a period of social & political change
19th Century Japan The Pivotal Role Of Education In Nation-Building
Emperor’s Warriors: Meiji Japan's Military Evolution
Unlocking 1894: Sino-Japanese War Secrets
Russo-Japanese War: Unveiling East Asia's Turning Point
Explore The Taishō Era: Japan's Transformative Years
Insights: The Paris Peace Conference Of 1919
Japan's Pivotal Politics: Impact on Foreign Relations
Japan's Shift: Taishō Democracy to Militarism
Exploring 1920s: Social Change & Economic Shifts
Insightful Look: Japan & The Great Depression
Ultra-Nationalism’s Rise: A Threat to Democracy?
Unveiling the Shōwa Era: Japan's Time of Illustrious Peace
Exploring China's Political Turmoil: 1911-22
Unveiling Guomindang's Bold Northern Expedition
Japan’s Ascendancy: A Modern Power’s Journey
Explore: Japan's Occupation of Manchuria, 1931
Explosive Insights: The Manchurian Incident of 1931
Unveiling Manchukuo: Japan’s Hidden Puppet State
Unveiling The Manchurian Incident: Causes & Impacts!
1931 Manchurian Incident: Japan's Power Struggle
Explore The Legacy of Russo-Japanese War!
China's Stand On The Manchurian Incident
Japan's Expansion: Insight Into 1930s Manchurian Policy
Shanghai's Hidden History: 1932's Untold Stories
Global Reaction to Manchurian Incident Unveiled!
Inside Japan's 1931-38 Expansion: A Revealing Look
Soviet Union & East Events: A Historic Insight
Unraveling 1930s Global Tensions: Fascism & Expansion
Unveiling The Second United Front: A Pivotal Alliance
1936 Japan: The Revealing February Coup
Exploring the Impact of the Anti-Comintern Pact, 1936
Shanghai Showdown Chinese Resistance, 1937!
1937 Brussels Conference Clash & Concord
Tragedy of Nanjing 1937: The Horrors of the Sino-Japanese War
Insight: Japan's 'China Incident' Response
Sino-Japanese War's Profound Impact
East Asia’s New Order: A Pivot in Japanese Policy
Japan & Europe: Tensions of 1938–39 Explored
Japan's Strategy: Impact of WWII in Europe
1939 Tianjin Incident Impact & Aftermath
1940 Tripartite Pact: Axis Powers Align!
Exploring US Foreign Policy: Post-1936 Insights
End Of U.S. Isolationism: A 1939 Perspective
Revealing Operation Barbarossa: Shifts In WWII Alliances!
US Oil Embargo & Indochina: 1941 Insights
Failed Diplomacy U.S. & Japan 1941 Talks
Pearl Harbor: The Untold Secrets
War's Outbreak: Diverse Views on Far Eastern Conflict!
Unraveling Japanese Expansion: A Chapter 3 Review
Case Study 2: German & Italian Expansion 1933-40 (The Global War)
Part 1 - Rivalry, Mistrust & Accord (The Cold War)
Part 2 - Leaders & Nations (The Cold War)
Part 3 - Cold War Crises (The Cold War)
History SL
Case study 1: Japanese Expansion In East Asia 1931-41 (The Global War)
The Meiji Restoration – a period of social & political change
641 words
4 mins read
Last edited on 5th Nov 2024
Table of content
Influences & concepts
- The Meiji Restoration, which began in 1868, marked a period of significant political and social change in Japan.
- As the Tokugawa shogunate (military government) lost power, the authority of the emperor was strengthened.
- A new constitution was promised, called Bunmai Kaika, meaning 'Civilization and Enlightenment'.
- The process was initiated by Emperor Meiji entering the Shinto shrine and explaining the new constitution to his divine ancestors, asserting that it would restore imperial authority.
Key components of the new constitution
- Voting Rights and National Diet
- Only a small percentage of the population was given the right to vote – just over 1.14% of men over 25 who paid above a certain amount of tax.
- The National Diet was a bicameral system composed of the House of Peers and the House of Representatives.
- The House of Peers included nobility, senior civil servants, and high-ranking military officers.
- The House of Representatives comprised elected members.
- The emperor could veto legislation and enact his own imperial edicts when the Diet was not in session.
- The Diet's purpose was to assist the emperor in decision-making.
- Role of Advisors
- A group of advisors called Genrōin played a crucial role, acting as a link between the emperor and the government.
- The Genrōin's role was not outlined in the constitution, yet they were influential.
- Military Loyalty
- The military was directly responsible to the emperor.
- Despite holding ultimate power, the emperor was not expected to make political decisions.
- Influence from Germany
- Japanese officials, including Itō Hirobumi, president of the Privy Council (advisors of the emperor), went abroad to find a suitable political system.
- They rejected the US constitution for being too democratic and 'smacking of disorder', and the British system as unsuitable.
- They chose the German style of government, which was more autocratic.
- Itō Hirobumi, an admirer of Bismarck, adopted the German chancellor’s opinion that 'popular sovereignty would be a very dangerous thing'.
- Ian Buruma described the new constitution as 'a mixture of German and traditional Japanese authoritarianism'.
Examples & application
- Choosing the Right Constitution: Just like shopping for clothes, you have to find the right fit. Japan's officials rejected the US and British systems to find a constitution that matched their vision, just like you might reject a pair of jeans that don't fit you perfectly.
- Link Between the Emperor and Government: Think of the Genrōin as a bridge between two islands. The emperor was on one side, and the government on the other. The Genrōin, although not explicitly mentioned in the constitution, served as that vital bridge.
- Military Loyalty: Imagine your dog only listening to you and not anyone else in your family. The military, in this case, was like a loyal dog that answered only to the emperor.
- German Influence: Think of Japan's new constitution as a blend of flavors from different cuisines. They took a bit of German autocracy and mixed it with traditional Japanese authoritarianism to create their own unique political recipe.
History SL
Case study 1: Japanese Expansion In East Asia 1931-41 (The Global War)
The Meiji Restoration – a period of social & political change
641 words
4 mins read
Last edited on 5th Nov 2024
Table of content
Influences & concepts
- The Meiji Restoration, which began in 1868, marked a period of significant political and social change in Japan.
- As the Tokugawa shogunate (military government) lost power, the authority of the emperor was strengthened.
- A new constitution was promised, called Bunmai Kaika, meaning 'Civilization and Enlightenment'.
- The process was initiated by Emperor Meiji entering the Shinto shrine and explaining the new constitution to his divine ancestors, asserting that it would restore imperial authority.
Key components of the new constitution
- Voting Rights and National Diet
- Only a small percentage of the population was given the right to vote – just over 1.14% of men over 25 who paid above a certain amount of tax.
- The National Diet was a bicameral system composed of the House of Peers and the House of Representatives.
- The House of Peers included nobility, senior civil servants, and high-ranking military officers.
- The House of Representatives comprised elected members.
- The emperor could veto legislation and enact his own imperial edicts when the Diet was not in session.
- The Diet's purpose was to assist the emperor in decision-making.
- Role of Advisors
- A group of advisors called Genrōin played a crucial role, acting as a link between the emperor and the government.
- The Genrōin's role was not outlined in the constitution, yet they were influential.
- Military Loyalty
- The military was directly responsible to the emperor.
- Despite holding ultimate power, the emperor was not expected to make political decisions.
- Influence from Germany
- Japanese officials, including Itō Hirobumi, president of the Privy Council (advisors of the emperor), went abroad to find a suitable political system.
- They rejected the US constitution for being too democratic and 'smacking of disorder', and the British system as unsuitable.
- They chose the German style of government, which was more autocratic.
- Itō Hirobumi, an admirer of Bismarck, adopted the German chancellor’s opinion that 'popular sovereignty would be a very dangerous thing'.
- Ian Buruma described the new constitution as 'a mixture of German and traditional Japanese authoritarianism'.
Examples & application
- Choosing the Right Constitution: Just like shopping for clothes, you have to find the right fit. Japan's officials rejected the US and British systems to find a constitution that matched their vision, just like you might reject a pair of jeans that don't fit you perfectly.
- Link Between the Emperor and Government: Think of the Genrōin as a bridge between two islands. The emperor was on one side, and the government on the other. The Genrōin, although not explicitly mentioned in the constitution, served as that vital bridge.
- Military Loyalty: Imagine your dog only listening to you and not anyone else in your family. The military, in this case, was like a loyal dog that answered only to the emperor.
- German Influence: Think of Japan's new constitution as a blend of flavors from different cuisines. They took a bit of German autocracy and mixed it with traditional Japanese authoritarianism to create their own unique political recipe.
AI Assist
Expand
Hello there,
how can I help you today?
how can I help you today?