Japan's feudal society was becoming outdated. The shogunate discouraged change, but they could not stop the clock. Disasters and hard times brought about famine and took many lives.
Japan's feudal society was becoming outdated. The shogunate discouraged change, but they could not stop the clock. Disasters and hard times brought about famine and took many lives.
Japan's feudal society was becoming outdated. The shogunate discouraged change, but they could not stop the clock. Disasters and hard times brought about famine and took many lives.
Changes Within Japan and the Expansionist Threat From Outside
Changes Within Japan
Japans feudal society, which had been established by the shogun in times of conflict and poverty, was becoming outdated. No matter how hard the shogunate discouraged change, they could not stop the clock.
The Class System in Upheaval
Toward the end of the Edo period, merchants gained wealth
and power because more people needed their services.
They were in charge of storing rice and converting it into cash
or credits. They also lent out money when everyone needed loans.
Peasants needed money to pay their high taxes.
Due to alternate attendance and road construction costs,
many daimyo were nearing bankruptcy.
There was little work for samurai anyone, and many were too proud to take other jobs.
The Japanese people needed someone to blame- often it was
the shogun and his extravagant officials.
People claimed the Tokugawa clan held power illegally, and
that their power rightfully belonged to the emperor.
Disasters and Hard Times
In the late 1700s and early 1800s, Japan was struck by many natural disasters that brought about famine and took many lives. 1/3 of the population died of starvation. Land was deserted as peasants fled to the cities, looking for work, but often not finding any. Rice became so scarce that its price rose steeply. City dwellers rioted over price increases and attacked homes of the wealthy. The people were not satisfied by the shogunates responses to these issues and problems.
The Expansionist Threat From Outside
By the early 1800s, several nations were knocking
on Japans door.
Russia, England, and the U.S were strongly
requesting trade, or at least water and coal for their passing ships.
In 1825, the shogunate responded with the No
Second Thought Expulsion Order.
This order gave all persons on hand the right to
fire on and drive off incoming foreign ships!
If foreigners forced their way ashore, people were