History: Meiji Revolution, Japan

Meiji Restoration, 

in Japanese history, the political revolution that brought about the fall of the Tokugawa shogunate and returned control of the country to direct imperial rule under the emperor Meiji, beginning an era of major political, economic, and social change known as the Meiji period (1868–1912). This revolution brought about the modernization and Westernization of Japan.

The leaders of the restoration, mostly young samurai from feudal domains historically hostile to Tokugawa authority, were motivated by growing domestic problems and the threat of foreign encroachment. Adopting the slogan “wealthy country and strong arms” (fukoku-kyōhei), they sought to create a nation-state capable of standing equal among Western powers. As expressed in the Charter Oath of 1868, the first goal of the new government, relocated to Tokyo (formerly Edo), was the dismantling of the old feudal regime. This was largely accomplished by 1871, when the domains were officially abolished and replaced by a prefecture system. All feudal class privileges were also abolished. In the same year a national army was formed, which was further strengthened in 1873 by a universal conscription law. The new government also carried out policies to unify the monetary and tax systems, with the agricultural tax reform of 1873 providing its primary source of income.

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