The Meiji Restoration in Japan brought an end to the Tokugawa shogunate and feudalism, restoring imperial rule under Emperor Mutsuhito. There was opposition to the isolationist Tokugawa from court nobles and southern domains like Satsuma and Choshu. This led to a palace revolution in 1868 that removed the Tokugawa from power. The new Meiji government recentralized authority, weakened the domains, and began adopting Western political systems and culture to modernize Japan.

1. MEIJI RESTORATION The signing of the treaties did not finally assure the opening of Japan. Shogun saw the necessity for foreign pressure The Imperial court wished to preserve their isolation Japan, during Tokugawa regime, did not readily abandoned their isolation There were oppositions to the Tokugawa > Kuge, court nobles > Satsuma and Choshu > Ronin Variety of forms in showing their opposition > Insistence to give the direct administrative function of the Emperor > Reemphasis on Shintoism > Physical violence to the person of aliens Examples of Physical violences: Patriotic samurai assaulted individual foreigners British legation was attacked twice British and American legations were burned 12 foreigners were killed - An Englishman was slained for what the Japanese interpreted as an insult to the Daimyo.

2. In 1863, the emperor ordered Japan to be closed against foreigners. However, the Tokugawa could not carry it. The daimyo of Choshu closed the Strait of Shimonoseki, the main passage of foreign vessels to Japan. After that, Choshu fired the foreign vessels which caused American warships and French squadron to bombard their forts. The Tokugawa Shogunate paid an indemnity to the U.S. in order to help Choshu, but this indemnity was returned. In 1867, Mutsuhito (Meiji Emperor) came to imperial throne Late 1867, Mutsuhito accepted the return of official administrative powers of the Tokugawa but commanded to defend the empire and conduct foreign affairs. In 1868, there was an anti-Tokugawa palace revolution The Meiji Restoration had brought back the full power of the Emperor. Tokugawa was removed fro their position, but still they ranked as a high class noble created by the new regime. Immediate predecessors of Tokugawa are Nobunaga and Hideyoshi Until now, there was an adoption to Western Culture which sped up in the last years of Tokugawa. The innovation started from the top.

3. Political Changes and End of Feudalism Meiji Restoration was followed by reorganization of the government The Imperial Institution was preserved and its honor was emphasized Many of the old families continued to be powerful Reversal of attitude of the Emperor and Western feudatories towards isolation - Antiforeignism did not immedietely die out Added emphasis upon the emperor The new regime was dominated by Kuge (court nobles) and four southern feudatories (Satsuma, Choshu, Hizen, Tosa) In 1868, the emperor read the “Charter Oath” to his officials. > promises deliberative assemblies, decisions based upon public opinion Emperor moved his residence from Kyoto to Yedo (now Tokyo) Feudalism had been decaying after the Tokugawa regime In 1869, the four feudatories offered their possessions and men to the emperor to strengthen the centralized rule End of Feudalism meant the termination of system long established.