Meiji Imperialism

I. Reasons for Japanese imperialism

A. 'cause they can

B. quest for equality/acceptance

C. natural outgrowth of industrialization/capitalism

need for raw materials

population growth and immigration restrictions

new toys for the military [weak democracy]

D. natural outgrowth of [manufactured] nationalism

the national family and racial superiority

beginning of Japanese 'fascism'

E. defensive measure: "daggers pointed at the heart of Japan"

II. Meiji imperialism

A. Satsuma Rebellion, 1877

Saigo Takamori

defense of samurai traditions

the invasion of Korea

B. the first Sino-Japanese War, 1894-1895

the Tonghaks

class war

anti-government

anti-Japanese

Korea invokes tributary privileges

did they ask Japan too?

the triple intervention [Russia, Germany, France]

Formosa [Taiwan]

C. The Anglo-Japanese Alliance, 1902

protection for British colonies

sponsorship in the international arena

preparation for war with Russia

D. The Russo-Japanese War

the attack on Port Arthur, Feb. 6, 1904

Admiral Togo and General Nogi

General Stossel

undeclared war

destruction of the Baltic fleet

the first kamikazes

the land war

the media war

David and Goliath

Asian/African press

American minority press

atrocities and the race war

the Portsmouth Peace Conference, 1905

shortages of men and materials

Teddy Roosevelt and Kaneko Kentaro

too many concessions

the Tokyo riots

the colonization of Korea, 1905-1910

economic imperialism

establishment of the Gov.-Gen., 1905

assassination of Ito Hirobumi, 1909

force and collaboration

traders and settlers

why did it stop?

consolidation of gains

the WWI boom

death of Meiji [1911] and the genro

Taisho democracy

III. the Impact of Meiji Imperialism

A. Russian Revolution

B. Japan and the non-Western world

C. decline of U.S.-Japanese relations

the Tokyo riots

the San Francisco earthquake and riots

the Great White Fleet

immigration laws, gentlemanly and otherwise

D. what the West really respects

Sino-Japanese War, 1894-1895

extraterratoriality ended, 1899

Boxer Revolution, 1900

1^st Anglo-Japanese Alliance, 1902

Russo-Japanese War, 1904-1905

2^nd Anglo-Japanese Alliance, 1905

colonization of Korea, 1905-1910

unequal treaties renegotiated, 1910