Japan's Emergence As A World Power

In the past Japan was known as a state of solitude, but within its borders their lived a thriving society that was militaristically weak, economically under developed, and governmentally primitive. This past I am talking about is during the early 1800’s. Japan may have been secure in its current conditions, but it saw the need to change, and through that change Japan emerged suddenly as a great world power by the 1900’s. Japan changed on all fronts, whether it is government, military, or economy. The result of these extreme reforms caused Japan to stand out as a world power, and create a positive effect on their entire society

When talking governmentally, the Japanese basically changed from paranoid onlookers to dominating tyrants outside their borders, and primitive feudalists to equal nationalists inside their borders.

With the beginning of the Meiji Restoration, which was the period when the Emperor was restored as the head of Japan, but he did not directly rule. This caused Japan to create a highly centralized bureaucratic government which resulted in the creation of a constitution and an elected parliament. The constitution was mainly based upon the western states, especially Prussia. Its main influence led to the destruction of class rule throughout Japan creating a country with all equal classes, this was achieved in 1870. As well as equality, the new Japanese government instituted compulsory education systems, religious freedom, and influenced modernization to catch up to the western states.

Outside of Japanese borders, this new Meiji government saw the opportunity to expand and colonize. The Orient at the time of the Meiji Restoration was weak thanks the infiltration of the western states. With this weakness being embraced in Japan, the Japanese took this opportunity and by 1905 they succeeded. The Japanese had major influence in Korea, Taiwan, Philippines, parts of China, and naval control over the China Sea. With this influence the Japanese culture spread to mainly Taiwan and Korea where it dominated completely, and in the Japanese eyes gave their neighbours a better life.

Before the Meiji Restoration in Japan the military was very weak and disorganized. The new government embraced militarism which states that the strength of a military is equal to the strength of a nation. The new improved military was developed through adapting western strengths and tactics. By the end of Japans military reform 120,000 men were ready in a modern national army, and the Japanese navy consisted of the most modern battleships.

The Japanese proved their dominance and uprising as a world power through two major wars, the first being the Russo-Japanese War. In the early 20th Century Russia and Japan were both fighting over dominance in Korea. With now sign of compromise war broke out. The Japanese dominated both on land and sea. On land the Russian armies were weak and disorganized; the new highly developed Japanese army crushed them easily. On sea, the Japanese fleets destroyed the Russian Navy on all fronts even with the Russians Baltic forces as reinforcements.

The second major battle that led to the recognition of Japan was the Sino-Japanese War between China and Japan, which was again over the dispute of who would control Korea. China lost this war because they were preoccupied with the self strengthening movements, such as the Boxers, against the invading Westerners. This did not affect

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