China & Japan

Background China had been resisting outside influence

from the West- didn’t want the negative influences of the worldly West…

Didn’t trade w/ the West b.c. China was self-sufficient

This made the West mad and WANT IN!!! So, they needed to come up with

something the Chinese would buy in mass supply!!....

OPIUM!!!!(it’s a drug… aka addicting!)

External problems1. British smuggled in Opium to the Chinese = Chinese became addicted = irritated Chinese gov’t = WAR!!

Opium War Who: British vs. Chinese What: a war b/n British and Chinese about the

British smuggling opium into China Where: China When: 1839 Why: China had outdated ships vs GB’s new

updated steam ships = China loses & is humiliated = GB gets extraterritorial rights (HongKong)

While this was going on, China was experiencing a bunch in internal probs….

Internal Problems1. Hunger- population grew 30% but food

didn’t2. Ppl were poor & discouraged = more Opium

drug addiction3. Rebellion- Taiping Rebellion, Boxer

Rebellion4. Self- Strengthening movement- attempted

reforms made ppl scared & unhappy5. (will come later.. After the External probs..

They are happening simultaneously)

Taiping Rebellion Who: Hong Xiuquan

What: a rebellion against China’s gov’t where they wanted to create a “Kingdom of Heavenly Peace” where no one lived in poverty & everyone shared in China’s wealth

Where: China When: 1850s-1864 Why: They won & took over China for awhile = they

feuded among themselves for power = Qing + British + French kicked them out & the Qing retook power

After the Taiping & other rebellions, a lady came to power and ruled for the rest of China’s “Empire” or dynasty..

Empress Cixi Who: The Qing Dowager Empress, ruler of China What: she ruled while baby Emperors were “on the

throne”; was committed to tradition but supported some reforms (Self-Strengthening) but not a lot

Where: China When: 1862-1908 Why: many rebellions agnst her = she finally agreed to reform gov’t = constitutional monarchy = end to China’s Empire!!!

After the rebellions & during her rule, foreigners took advantage of this…

External Probs..2. Foreign power took advantage of internal probs & rebellions = they attacked China & got : Sphere of Influence & Open Door policy

Sphere of InfluenceWho: Europeans in China & JapaneseWhat: a strong foothold in China where a foreign nation controlled trade & investments in a given area inside China (not China)Where: ChinaWhen: Late 1800sWhy: This gave increasing economic power to foreigners in China- NOT the Chinese; this worried Americans = Open Door policy

Open Door policy Who: Americans What: a policy that “opened” the doors of China’s

economy to merchants of all nations to keep the US safe from being shut out by other nations economically

Where: China When: 1899 Why: protected US trading rights in China;

protected China from being colonized; but China was now under foreign control economically

All of this increasing discontent… led to…

Internal Probs (cont’d) 5. Nationalism- Boxer Rebellion- against

Empress Cixi & foreigners

Boxer Rebellion Who: Poor Chinese peasants & workers aka Boxers What: they formed a “Society of Righteous &

Harmonious Fists” agnst the Empress & Foreigners -> Rebelled

Where: China When: 1900 Why: rebellion failed BUT Nationalism emerged,

Chinese realized they must resist foreign intervention & they wanted the gov’t more responsive to their needs

Eventually, Empress Cixi “died”– some thought under mysterious circumstances…. (Hmm… wonder why?!)

= a boy Emperor came to power & was killed!!

= change in government which we will talk about later… (Next chapter)

Japan

Like China, Japan was also isolated from the West & didn’t want to trade w/ them…

BUT Just like China, the Westerners pushed their way in!!!

As a result, Japan MODERNIZED…

Causes of Modernization1. Westerners forced their way into Japan

to trade with them - Treaty of Kanagawa

2. Shogun stepped down, Emperor took control = Meiji Era

3. Emperor realized he had to modernize to counter the West- Adapted to Western ways

Treaty of Kanagawa Who: Matthew Perry (USA) vs. Japanese What: a treaty between the US & Japan

that opened 2 ports in Japan where US could take supplies

Where: Japan When: 1854 Why: The US had pushed open the door

in Japan = other European powers followed = foreigners were now allowed in Japan

Meiji Era Who: Emperor Mutsuhito What: the time period of Mutsuhito’s reign that

meant “enlightened rule” where he kicked out the military dictator & ruled himself

Where: Japan When: 1867-1912 Why: during this time, Japan modernized and

became a world power that was the #1 strength in Asia

Effects of Modernization1. Changed gov’t

- Made a Constitution & legal codes similar to Europe’s- no longer military dictatorship

2. Improved education- Adopted American universal public education- made all students go to school

3. Industrialized- Railroads, factories, shipbuilding, coal production

4. Improved military- warships & well trained soldiers- strongest military in Asia!

5. Gained strength & power- economic, military, & political

strength- became imperialistic – starts taking

over- could compete with the West

Examples of their new imperialism- they start taking over other Asian countries….

They do this through wars… Such as:

Russo- Japanese War Who: Russians vs. Japanese What: a war between the top 2 pwrs in

Asia over who should control Manchuria (the area in b/n them)

Where: Yellow Sea, coast of Machuria When: 1904 Why: Japan destroyed Russia’s fleet &

won = Japan won Machuria & the #1 power in Asia

Now Japan is built up enough that they are ready for World War!!

China vs. Japan in this timeChina Both Japan

Remains committed to tradition

Have well-established traditional values

Considers modernization to be necessary

Loses numerous territorial conflicts

Wins numerous territorial conflicts = becomes an Empire builder

Finally accepts need for reform

Initially resists change

Borrows & adapts Western ways to Modernize

Grants other nations spheres of influence within China

Oppose Western Imperialism

Strengthens its economic & military power