Why japan was able to modernize rapidly?
It took the majority of Europe around 150 years to modernise, but it took Japan only 40 years (at an average) to catch up after having missed the industrial revolution while being in the Edo period of isolation. Why? Here are three main reasons: Incentive: Japan's close neighbour China had been reduced to a state of near humiliation after resisting change at the hands of the west. Japan was under the threat of western imperialism and modernisation was a means of escaping the same fate. Feudalistic classes had also been recently abolished, meaning that its people now had the opportunity to persue their own talents. Education was also made compulsory in 1872: another chance for people to further improve their situation Japan had great motives for modernising. Foundation: The late tokugawa Bakufu conditions (era just before the meiji period and modernisation of Japan) were relatively prosperous. Rich merchants had saved large amounts of captial which could be invested in industry. Some clans had already established some industries as well: Such as ship and arms manufacturing in Satsuma and Choshu. Japan had a good foundation for modernising. Modernisation: The Charter Oath of 1868 translates that 'knowledge shall be sought throughout the world..'. Experts were employed from all over, and the Japanese selected the best examples of education, political, military and other such systems and adapted them for their country's own use. And they weren't afraid of changing if the first option didn't work. Therefore as a result of strong incentive and a good foundation to modernise, Japan was able to change very rapidy, however that is not to say it was as easy as it may seem.
Why was japan more successful than china in maintaining its independence?
Japan learned how NOT to react to the westerners from Chinas example and emerged as a military and imperial power Japan was more successful than China when it came to independence because Japan government modernize and industrialize along Western line quickly. This helped them with not been under Western power.
Why did japan open its ports to Europe?
Japan has had close historical ties with Europe. This is because Japan adopted Europe's Western customs in order to modernize. This included culture, clothing, religion, etc. Also, there are many major European languages in Japan ranging from English to Portuguese to German. Japanese ports were also open to its new friend, Europe.
How did japan become an imperialist power by itself?
Before Japan could become an imperialist nation, it had to modernize itself and to say it another way, to westernize itself. Japan was impressed by the military power of Western countries. They were also fearful that unless they made changes to itself, they would come under the domination of the Western powers. Most historians cite the year of 1867 as the year Japan began to modernize itself. Once that was accomplished, Japan had the power…
Would the US have used nuclear bomb on Japan if the population of Japan were Europeans?
We can never know for certain as that is not the case. However had the Nazies been able to continue fighting or had the bombs been ready before the Nazi surrender, I believe there is a good chance the first atomic bomb would have been dropped in Germany instead of Japan. But this is also not the case as they surrendered before the atomic bomb was available. Counterfactual History can be fun to think about…
What did Japanese leaders decide was the best way to avoid being dominated by imperialist nations in the 1800s?
During the Meiji Restoration period, the Japanese leaders decided that, to avoid being dominated by imperialist nations, they needed to modernize Japan. In order to modernize Japan, the leaders determined that Japan needed to become economically powerful and militarily strengthened. "Rich country and strong army" (fokoku kyohei) was the slogan of Meiji modernization. They also determined that Japan needed to become politically strong in order to get rid of the unequal treaties imposed by the…