Download - “Bakumatsu”
The Arrival of Cmdr
Perry
July 1853Designed to Intimidate
Black ShipsWestern TechnologyCuriosity on both sides
Delivered president Fillmore’s Letter
Return of Cmdr Perry
Signed Treaty of Kanagawa
Trade
Diplomacy
Aid to Victims of Shipwreck
Treaties with the Dutch, French and Britain followed
Yoshida Shoin
Famous Teacher
Tried to learn the secrets of Western Superiority
Mentor to Ito Hirobumi
Led Choshu rebellion
Executed by the Bakufu in 1859
Revered as one of the fathers of Modern Japan
Sonno Joi!
Many Japanese were Xenophobic and resented Western PresenceMany Clans began to lose faith in the Bakufu and its ability to stand up to the more powerful West
Extra-TerritorialityThey instead put their faith in the EmperorBegan a new movement- “Revere The Emperor, Expel The Barbarian” – “Sonno Joi”
Emperor Komei
Extra-Territoriality
Extra-territoriality was a problem for many Japanese
Extra-territoriality meant that Foreigners could not be tried under Japanese law.
Many Clans such as the Satsuma and Choshu Clans ignored extra-territoriality to their Peril.
Rebellions
In 1863 the Emperor issued an “Order to expel the Barbarians”Many Disgruntled Samurai began killing westernersThey also began to defy the authority of the Shogunate
The Richardson Affair/Namagumi Incident
Charles Lennox Richardson was a British TraderIn September 1862 he refused to bow to a local Satsuma DaimyoSamurai attacked and killed himLed to the bombardment of Kagoshima
The Bombardment of Shimonoseki
June 1863 Choshu fired on US shipsClosed the narrow Shimonoseki Strait for over a yearSeptember 1864 British, French and Dutch Warships and Ground forces retaliated and Decimated the Town of Shimonoseki
Choshu/Satsuma Alliance
1864 clashes with westerners convinced Choshu and Satsuma clans of the need to modernise.1866, Satcho AllianceBetween two staunch imperial loyalist ClansAt first, secret.Later, Overt.
Intelligence gatheringThe Bakufu sent abroad many representatives to learn the ways of the west.Many representatives of Choshu and Satsuma also travelled to Europe and America.They studied western systems of Government, Military, Law and Education.
Pressure on Shogun
1860-1865 the Bakufu struggled to control the DaimyoIn 1866 it launched a military campaign to crush resistanceIt was denied success by the Satcho AllianceThe shogunate became increasingly impotent
In December 1867, Emporer Komei died and was succeeded by his 16 year old son (Meiji)The new Emperor was heavily influenced by the Satcho alliance
1867 Shogun Cedes Power
In 1867 the Satcho alliance began to attack the Shogunate Forces in EdoSatcho also moved on Kyoto and directly pressured the Emperor to strip the Tokugawa Shogunate of powerIn late 1867 the Tokugawa gave up power for the sake of Stability
Main Points to Remember:
“Bakumatsu” is the name given to the period 1853-1867The arrival of westerners in 1853 brought instability“Sonno Joi” - “Revere the Emperor, Expel the Barbarian” became a catchcry for those who resented Tokugawa ruleViolence aimed at westerners (Richardson Affair) led to severe consequences such as the bombardments of Kagoshima and Shimonoseki
Such defeats led to the realisation of the need to moderniseIntelligence gathering missions were sent to western countriesSatsuma and Choshu clans formed the Satcho allianceSatcho alliance forced the Tokugawa shogunate to cede power in late 1867
Bibliography
Fewster, Stuart & Gorton, Tony. “Japan: From Shogun to Superstate” Brooks Waterloo, Victoria,1988.www.wikipedia.orghttp://www.jref.com/http://ocw.mit.edu/ans7870/21f/21f.027j/menu/index.html
Questions for Test
What is the name given to the period 1853-1867?What does “Sonno Joi” mean?Name some of the catalysts for the Bombardments of Shimonoseki and Kagoshima.What was the Satcho Alliance?Why were missions sent to western countries?When did the Tokugawa Shogunate cede power and to whom?