https://padlet.com/jzemachson23/rzq0wkv3ue43xlxc en-us 2021-03-11 19:25:05 UTC 2025-10-11 14:21:35 UTC hello@padlet.com mklein231 https://padlet.com/jzemachson23/rzq0wkv3ue43xlxc/wish/1303936367 (Militarism) 

In the 18th century Japan had one of the strongest militaries in Asia. Japan had several dozen warships and 500,000 well trained soldiers. As different types of culture were spread and popularized throughout the world several different countries had created alliances. These alliances being created  lead to  more powerful and modernized military. Throughout the 18th and 19th century Japans military advanced significantly (Patterns of Modernization). All over the world in the 1900s Japan was seen as a very strong force because they had defeated one of the most powerful militaries at the time. Since Japan had made so many alliances with so many other countries it was hard to know who to trust. Other countries took advantage of becoming alliances with Japan so they could attempt to steal Japans information and tactics and gain power for themselves (Japan Bentley). During the 1800s and 1900s many conflicts and wars occurred between Japan and other countries.  Japan winning wars meant expansion could occur. The Russo- Japanese war took place in the 1900s between the Russian empire and Japanese empire, Japan destroyed Russias navy feat forcing Russia to give up land and a treaty to be signed.  The treaty was called the Treaty of Portsmouth. The wining of this war was a huge success for Japan, it  helped with expansion and  strengthening
imperialism. In order to keep up with imperialist ideas in Europe Japan modernized its military and went on to conquest further in its military power in Europe. Japan was not a force to be reckoned with they were almost just as powerful as European nations at the time such as France, Great Britain and Russia. Japan's influence on militarism sparked Russias ideas which eventually lead to Japan and Russia fighting in war. One change in Japans culture that affected the countries militarism  was criticism from the Japanese citizens. As a whole the Shogun had to step down  ending the military dictatorship that lasted 12 years (Patterns of Modernization). Overall Japan made significant changes to prove that there military could fight in serious wars and going into WWI there military was the largest and strongest military at the time.

]]> 2021-03-12 19:03:07 UTC https://padlet.com/jzemachson23/rzq0wkv3ue43xlxc/wish/1303936367 jzemachson23 https://padlet.com/jzemachson23/rzq0wkv3ue43xlxc/wish/1303959854 (Political Stability)

Commodore Perry’s arrival on the shores of Japan was the turning point in Japan’s political sphere. For 200 years, Japan was an isolationist country with a feudal system and ruled by a Tokugawan Shogun. In 1853, US Commodore Perry arrived on the shores of Japan with a threat, Japan must open up ports for the US or face the consequences. At the time the Japanese Shogun had a choice to either fight back or learn from the US by opening their ports. They decided to sign the Treaty of Kanagawa, which opened two Japanese ports for the US to export goods out of. The citizens of Japan were not happy with this treaty and the pressure from the citizens caused the shogun to step down from his rule. His successor was Emperor Mutsuhito. The crowning of Emperor Mutsuhito started the Meiji Era, a period of Westernization and rapid modernization, in Japan. The Emperor had seen what was going on with Western imperialism and wanted to avoid Japan becoming its next victim. In order to combat Western imperialism, he decided to be proactive and send diplomats to Western countries to learn about why they were so great and powerful. His plan was to take the best of Western cultures and implement them into Japanese society. This plan worked and by the early 20th century Japan was considered an international powerhouse (Patterns of Modernization). After becoming a worldly power, Japan starts to imperialize. They begin to go on the offensive and strategically invade countries they believe will be useful to their needs in the future. Japan fought many wars in their quest to conquer cities and countries. Since they had the best military in Asia at the time Japan’s imperial endeavors were very successful (Japan Bentley). ]]> 2021-03-12 19:08:55 UTC https://padlet.com/jzemachson23/rzq0wkv3ue43xlxc/wish/1303959854 slevine23 https://padlet.com/jzemachson23/rzq0wkv3ue43xlxc/wish/1303989146 (Imperialism)

As the US became a larger world power, they decided that they wanted to have trade with Japan. However, since Japan was a closed nation and didn't see the want or need to trade with anyone, the US decided to pressure Japan into trade by threatening to invade if they didn't open their doors to them; thus creating The treaty of Kanagawa. The treaty gave the US an opening to influence Japan with their new and modern ideas, and gave them the right to trade with them now that their doors were forced open. The Meiji Restoration period was when imperialism seeped into the values and cultures of japan. The name comes from the Emperors' reign name from that time period, Meiji. While the US was the first nation to initially imperialize Japan, France and Britain were the leading influencers in the modernization of Japan, and if they ever went to war with the US, they were basically going to war with France and Britain as well. After learning from the western nations how to grow as a military, Japan decided they wanted to go after Korea as well as Manchuria, China. Japan wanted to take over Korea because they didn't have any commodities for global trade, therefore they decided to take over a region that did. Japan wanted to control Manchuria in order to control their population and to gain raw materials. 

]]> 2021-03-12 19:16:21 UTC https://padlet.com/jzemachson23/rzq0wkv3ue43xlxc/wish/1303989146 slevine23 https://padlet.com/jzemachson23/rzq0wkv3ue43xlxc/wish/1310897821 (Industrialization)

In order to keep up with modernization and imperialistic ideas Japan needed to Industrialize it's empire in order to keep up with constant flow of materials received from expanding their empire. Japan advocated for Women's rights for education and built structures such as wind mills, Iron smelters and spinning mills. With all these demands for industrialization the demand for coal grew and then led Japan to expand It's empire for more raw materials. In doing so, Emperor Meiji built relationships with foreign countries and improved communication from Japan to others. ]]> 2021-03-15 14:23:16 UTC https://padlet.com/jzemachson23/rzq0wkv3ue43xlxc/wish/1310897821 slevine23 https://padlet.com/jzemachson23/rzq0wkv3ue43xlxc/wish/1310989962 Japan fought in WWI from 1914-1918 and played an important role in securing the sea lanes in the West Pacific and Indian Oceans against the Imperial German Navy as a member of the Allies. Japan used the war as an opportunity to industrialize and expand its sphere of influence in China and the Pacific.]]> 2021-03-15 14:39:27 UTC https://padlet.com/jzemachson23/rzq0wkv3ue43xlxc/wish/1310989962 mklein231 https://padlet.com/jzemachson23/rzq0wkv3ue43xlxc/wish/1311027325 2021-03-15 14:45:52 UTC https://padlet.com/jzemachson23/rzq0wkv3ue43xlxc/wish/1311027325 mklein231 https://padlet.com/jzemachson23/rzq0wkv3ue43xlxc/wish/1311053351 2021-03-15 14:50:20 UTC https://padlet.com/jzemachson23/rzq0wkv3ue43xlxc/wish/1311053351 mklein231 https://padlet.com/jzemachson23/rzq0wkv3ue43xlxc/wish/1316523259 Japan has been increasing its modernization significantly for a long period of time. Making alliances with the right countries and gaining a huge military. Other countries will want to become allies with Japan, because of how big their military is. Different nations may try to use Japan in order to gain other territories. The Japanese government will not allow this and is going to want something in return for their help. They are going to get involved in WWI in order to imperialize and gain traction over land in Asia. ]]> 2021-03-16 16:08:31 UTC https://padlet.com/jzemachson23/rzq0wkv3ue43xlxc/wish/1316523259