Meiji Restoration: The Opening of Japan
Imperializing China: A Warning to Japan
Japan was suspicious of Western powers because they saw how China was subjected by foreign influence and nearly ruled by foreign nations.
Opium War of 1839
-In the 1800s China experienced major internal strains and western imperialist pressure backed by military might that they could not match .
-China's attempt to ban the trade of Opium resulted in the Opium war of 1839 in which the Chinese are defeated by the superior British.
-China's attempt to ban the trade of Opium resulted in the Opium war of 1839 in which the Chinese are defeated by the superior British.
The Nanking treaty which ended the Opium war
-This results in the imposition of the Nanking treaty, the first of many unequal treaties in which China is further humiliated by Western powers.
- These treaties opened up more Chinese port to trade, gave Western powers foreign legal jurisdiction in ports, foreign control of tariffs, and Christian missionary presence.
- These treaties opened up more Chinese port to trade, gave Western powers foreign legal jurisdiction in ports, foreign control of tariffs, and Christian missionary presence.
Chinese port after Nanking treaty
-As a result of Western encroachment, and limited military threats China is economically and diplomatically controlled by Western powers
-When Japan, who had heard of these unequal treaties in China, was approached by Western nations, Japan feared that if they opened up to the West they would also be subject to unequal treaties and would not be able to control their economy and politics..
-When Japan, who had heard of these unequal treaties in China, was approached by Western nations, Japan feared that if they opened up to the West they would also be subject to unequal treaties and would not be able to control their economy and politics..
