THE NATIONAL SECLUSION POLICY

The National Seclusion Policy was a series of edicts

that were passed to control the influence of foreigners
and to keep the daimyo in control. The purpose of it
was so that the bakufu could strengthen its authority
and maintain a centralized government. The policy
developed from 1633 to 1639.

BANISHING CHRISTIANITY
Many European ships coming to japan carried Roman Catholic
missionaries. Jesuit missionaries converted 150 000 Japanese
to Christianity in Nagasaki, under Francis Xavier, between
1549 and 1587. So Hideyoshi ordered all the missionaries to
leave or be executed.

TREATY OF KANAGAWA
After failing once, Commodore Perry returned in 1854 with
a very strong squadron to get Japan to give in to his
objectives. The bakufu signed the Treaty of Kanagawa
because they thought the treaty still allowed them to
maintain independent authority and control over their
country. Perrys original objectives were to get supplies and
coal from Japan, to protect sailors and American ships
that might need help and to enter into official trade
agreement with Japan but only the first two were
accomplished in the treaty.

THE HARRIS TREATY

Townsend Harris, an American consul, was appointed to
organize a more complex trade agreement. The shogun
needed permission from the emperor but didnt receive
it. After long negotiations, the Harris Treaty was signed
and it allowed Americans to live in Edo and Osaka under
the protection of American law.

SHOGUN RESIGNS
Samurai from Tosa convinced the shogunto resign and then
have a leading role in a new government. Before the new
government could take place, military forces from Satsuma
and Choshu intervened and proclaimed Meiji as emperor.
Meiji abolished the office of the shogun and as well as
ordering the Tokugawa family to surrender their ancestral
lands.

SHOGUN BECOMES INTERESTED IN WESTERN

IDEAS
The shogun became interested in western ideas so he decreased
the amount
of restrictions on importing books. Studying
the Dutch language was
encouraged
between Japanese intellectuals. To study European arts and
science, many scholars travelled to Nagasaki.

THE CHARTER OATH

To show the samurai that this new government
wasnt the same as the bakufu, Meiji signed the
Charter oath. It outlined the goals of the new
regime and stated that all future policies would
be based on consensus of all daimyo. Many drafts
were made before it was broad enough to satisfy
the points of view of all that worked on it.

The IWAKURA MISSION

The Iwakura mission was a 22-month world trip of 12
countries and was attended by 50 students and 50 officials.
The purpose was to find the best ideas around the world
and bring them back to Japan. At the end, the ambassadors
concluded that japan wasnt in the danger of losing its
sovereignty to other countries but that Japan should
modernize.

THE CONSTITUTION OF JAPAN

Japan was in favour of making a constitution because it would
further
unify Japan. Some
other reasons were that most other strong nations
had one and that Western countries would regard Japan as a
stronger
nation if it had a Western style
constitution. Many people wanted an
elected
assembly and a greater participation in government.