AoK- History

1. To what extent did the Meiji leaders intend to create a
functioning democracy for Japan by 1912?
Emilio Solomon #000307 178
Internal Assessment
IB History HL
February 4, 2012
1,647 words

2. Solomon 000307 178
A. Plan of Investigation
The investigation assesses the extent to which the Meiji leaders intended to create a
functioning democracy by 1912. To evaluate this, the investigation focuses on Japan’s political
reforms introduced during the Meiji Restoration. During the Meiji Restoration, political,
economic, and social reforms were made to promote egalitarianism. The investigation will
examine events from circa 1870 to circa 1910.
Primary and secondary sources are used to evaluate the extent to which the Meiji
Restoration created a functioning democracy for Japan. The two main sources used are From
Bondage To Liberation: East Asia 1860-1952by Nigel Cameron, and A Modern History Japan by
James L. McClain. These sources are then evaluated for their origins, purposes, values and
limitations.
Word Count: 116
B. Summary of Evidence
Following the end of the Tokugawa shogunate, Japan went through a period of
modernization called the “Meiji Restoration.” Japan adopted many reforms, including political,
social, and economic reforms. The Meiji leaders promised to change Japan’s form of government,
in replacement of the decentralized system of the Tokugawa shogunate (Cameron 132). In 1868,
the Charter Oath was issued. The Charter Oath consisted of five articles. The fives articles
promised the creation of “deliberative councils” and the determination of policies on the basis of
“general opinion,” the co-operation of all classes in carrying out the administration of affairs of
state, full opportunity for commoners as well as for officials, and the abolition of “evil customs of
the past.” (Jansen 195).
Feudal society was abolished and the political and economic power of the daimyo was to
be removed. Samurai leaders persuaded their daimyo to give up control of their lands. Thus, the
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leaders of Choshu, Satsuma, Tosa, and Hizensurrendered their lands as well (Cameron
134).Japanese people were given the opportunity to “fulfill their aspirations”, regardless of their
position in life (McClain 156).The abolition of feudal society also led to the reduction and
commutation of samurai stipends (Schirokauer 456).
The Meiji leaders continued to experiment in various ways with more
democraticinstitutions. The left and right chambers of the Meiji government were abolished and
replaced by a Supreme Court and a Chamber of Elders (Cameron 139). Leaders from the Supreme
Court and the Chamber of Elders were asked to prepare for a National Assembly, which failed. In
1874, ItagakiTaisuke, a member of the Supreme Court demanded the immediate creation of a
national assembly “chosen by the people” (McClain 187). However, it was not put into practice
once again. After disputes with Okuma Shinegobu, a former shi-shi from Hizen, the Meiji leaders
declared that a national assembly would be implemented by 1890 (McClain 191),
In 1889, the Meiji leaders issued a constitution for Japan. The 1889 constitution promised
freedom of speech and assembly and freedom from arbitrary search for the emperors and the
Japanese people (Cameron 142). A diet or law making body was to be composed of two
chambers: the House of Peers, which consisted of members of the imperial family, nobles, and
deputies nominated by the emperor and the House of Representatives (Cameron 142). Through the
establishment of a diet, officials agreed to share their power (Caiger 280). However, the chambers
had little power. Power was mostly in the hands of the cabinet. Also, the genro advised the
emperor and controlled most of the ministries (Cameron 142). By 1890, Japan made a penal code
on French lines and a commercial code on the German model. The western powers promised to
relinquish extraterritoriality in 1899 (Cameron 144).
In order to adopt the western-style industry, Japan accelerated through industrial
development.The Meiji leaders established pilot industries, including cotton and woolen mills,
cement paper, glass and clothing factories as a model for industrialists to follow (Cameron
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146)..The Meiji leaders gave subsidies to industrialists to establish new private enterprises
(Cameron 146). Eventually by the 1880s, industrialists were able to buy government-established
industries from the Meiji government. This reflected the formation of zaibatsus, or family-owned
industries.
Word Count: 533
C. Evaluation of Sources
Cameron. Nigel. From Bondage To Liberation: East Asia 1860-1952. Oxford University Press,
1975. Print.
From Bondage To Liberation: East Asia 1860-1952, written by an American freelance
writer Nigel Cameron is a secondary source, published in 1975. The source’s purpose is to explain
the Meiji leaders’ intent to create a functioning democracy by 1912. Since the source was
published years after 1912, the author probablyhas the ability of hindsight. The source is valuable
because the source outlines different events that contributed to Japan’s functioning democracy
chronologically. The source is also valuable because the source takes into account the views of
other historians who study modern Japanese history as shown from the “works consulted” section
of the source.However, there are limitations because the source was published years ago from
now, where the availability of sources may have been limited.
McClain, James L. A Modern History Japan. W.W. Norton & Company, Inc, 2002. Print.
A Modern History Japan, written by American historian, James McClain, is a secondary
source, published in 2002.The source’s purpose is to explain that the Meiji leaders did not solely
intend to create a functioning democracy for Japan.The source is valuablebecause the source is
written by a professor who has taught modern Japanese history for a quarter of a century. Both
suggest that the author has an understanding of the topic.Furthermore, the source is valuable
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because the source takes into account other essential themes of Japanese history, including art and
women, which allows readers to understand events in its historical context (French). Also, the
source is valuable because it is written from a Japanese perspective, which allows the history to
standout and be convincing (Maclean). However, there are limitations because the source’s
narrative is inconsistent (Sabine).
Word Count: 264
D. Analysis
While there are differing perspectives regarding the intention of the Meiji leaders in
creating a functioning democracy, some historians believe that the Meiji leaders intended to create
a functioning democracy. According to historian Nigel Cameron, the Meiji leaders wanted to
create a modern central government and carry out great social reforms (Cameron 131). The
Charter Oath was issued by the Meiji leaders, which initiated social reforms, and thus created a
central government for Japan. In general, the Charter Oath promised the creation of “deliberative
councils” and the determination of policies on the basis of “general opinion,” the co-operation of
all classes in carrying out the administration of affairs of state, full opportunity for commoners as
well as for officials, and the abolition of “evil customs of the past.” (Jansen 195). The power of
the daimyo’s was removed and Japanese people were able to attain egalitarianism (Cameron 134).
Furthermore, the Charter Oath promised a sound financial government (Schirokauer 456).
Cameron believes that the Charter Oath was by no means, a declaration of a democratic
government (Cameron 139). In 1889, the Meiji leaders issued a constitution for Japan. The 1889
constitution promised rights for the emperors and Japanese people. These rights included the
freedom of speech and assembly and freedom from arbitrary search (Cameron 142). Also, the
1889 constitution, lead to the formation of a diet or law making body, where both chambers; the
House of Representatives and the House of Peers would share equal power (Cameron 142).
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Cameron believes that the 1889 constitution was also a declaration of a democratic government.
R.H.P Mason and J.G. Caigeragree that the Meiji leaders intended to create a functioning
democracy. The ruling officials in effect agreed to share their untrammeled powers as a result of a
Diet (Mason and Caiger 280). However, Mason and Caiger believe that the Meiji leaders wanted
democracy in order attain equal status with the west. (Mason and Caiger 281). Overall, some
believe that the Meiji leaders intentions were not democratic, or perhaps that the Meiji leaders
wanted economic development for Japan.
Another perspective is that the Meiji leaders did not intend to create a functioning
democracy. James L. McClain argues that the Meiji leadersdid not create a functioning
democracy. During the crisis of 1881, Okuma Shigenobu criticized the proposals drafted by the
Meiji leaders, which included the issue of a constitutional government (McClain 191). Also,
McClain argues that the Meiji leaders wanted Japan to develop economically. The Meiji leaders
wanted Japan to accelerate through economic development, in order to gain respect from the
Western powers and thus, escape Western imperialism (McClain 207). As Japan went through a
period of economic development, many family-owned industries or zaibatsu’s were formed
(Cameron 146). Although Japan went through a period of economic development, not all Japanese
people received an equal share of benefits that accompanied an expanding economy (McClain
208). McClain believes that economic development threatened to abort the Meiji experiment
(McClain 207). Historian Marius B. Jansen and J.G Caiger agree that economic development was
the Meiji leaders’ primary focus until 1912. The Meiji leaders wanted to provide national
leadership for economic development so that Japan as a whole would increase production and
create industries.One could argue that the role of the genro could possibly be another reason why
the Meiji leaders did not intend to create a functioning democracy as well.
Word Count: 561
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E. Conclusion
The Meiji leaders intended to create a functioning democracy for Japan by 1912.
According to Nigel Cameron, Cameron explains that the Meiji leaders aimed for a functioning
democracy, as shown from the charter oath and the constitution in 1889. Both the charter oath and
the constitution in 1889 developed Japan politically and socially. Even though Japan developed
politically and socially by democratic means, the Meiji leaders did not solely intend to create a
functioning for Japan until 1912. The Meiji leaders wanted Japan to develop economically through
industrialization as well.
According to historian James McClain, the Meiji leaders wanted “economic development,
in order to gain respect from the Western powers and thus, escape Western imperialism” (McClain
207). The Meiji leaders initiated economic development through the formation of government-
owned industries and family-owned industries. One could argue that the role of the genro could
possibly be another reason why the Meiji leaders did not intend to create a functioning democracy
as well. Nevertheless, it is yet questionable to what the Meiji leaders wanted for Japan.
Word Count: 173
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F. Bibliography
Works Cited
French, Howard W. Rev. of A Modern History Japan, by James McClain.
AbeBooks.com.AbeBooks Inc. 1996-2012. Web. 15 Jan 2002.
<http://www.abebooks.com/Japan-Modern-History-McClain-James-L/5365773423/bd>
Cameron. Nigel. From Bondage To Liberation: East Asia 1860-1952. Mishawaka. Oxford
University Press, 1965. Print.
Jansen, Marius B.The Emergence of Meiji Japan. New York. Cambridge University Press, 1995.
Print.
Mason, R.H.P. A History of Japan.Singapore. Tokyo Tuttle Publishing,1997. Print.
McClain, James L. A Modern History Japan. New York. W.W. Norton & Company, Inc, 2002.
Print.
Sabine. Rev. of A Modern History Japan, by James McClain. Goodreads.com.Goodreads Inc.
2012. Web. 5 Dec 2010. <http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/129505526>
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