Japan and the Meiji Restoration

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During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Japan experienced the Meiji Restoration with the intent of imperialism and exploration, which concluded a 250 year period of isolation from the rest of the world [lecture]. Japan was now entering the modern world and had a lot of catching up to do, but that didn't seem to slow them down. Ultimately, Japan sought out to avoid becoming another part of the expanding European empire, and they would do that by earning international equality and recognition. In order to do so, Japan's leaders set up the country for imperial expansion through the rigorous modernization of their political, educational, social, industrial, and military institutions. Japan had been governing themselves by means of a feudal system since the 11th century [lecture], which all citizens inherently knew their place in society and their expectations. Japanese culture at the time reflected how conservative they were through such a long period peace, but a widespread feeling of discontent and wanting change surged through Japan. In 1853, Japan opened up its closed door policy to foreign trade which ended their system of exclusion as requested by the President of the United States [book]. The Japanese signed treaties to continue foreign trade, but the general feeling amongst the Japanese people was that the Shogun had shown his weakness by giving in to signing those treaties. In the wake of these treaties, the Japanese military was overthrown and was replaced by the 15-year-old Meiji Emperor, whom quickly put into effect a new policy of modernization. The Emperor's goal was to become powerful enough to fight off the western nations and gain equality, and he would do so by empowering the people through education and devotion to the empire. In order to establish this new empire, leaders of Japan went on an extended mission to study Western learning
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