What steps did the Meiji emperor take to modernize Japan?
1 Answer
The Meiji emperor introduced a constitution that established an elected parliament, a national education system, and the (on-paper) abolition of the feudal class system, among other reforms.
Explanation:
Starting with his restoration to the imperial throne, the Meiji emperor worked with political supporters and counsellors to make Japan a more modern and powerful country.
The feudal lords and samurai lost their lands and class privileges, and with the destruction of the strict feudal class system, individuals were free to enter into professions that had been denied to them in the past. This helped create a boom in industry, which gave Japan a new financial security.
Additionally, the Meiji emperor and his advisors created a constitution as a "gift" to the people, establishing an elective parliament called the Diet. The government also established a national education system. Both of these moves proved popular both with Japanese citizens and with Western powers, to whom Japan wanted to appear modern to in order to encourage international cooperation and trade.
The emperor also created a national military, staffed by a conscription system. Japan would go on to win two large international conflicts (the Sino-Japanese War in 1894-1895, and the Russo-Japanese War in 1904-1905). While these sudden military successes worried some of the world's great powers, they also established Japan on the world stage as a modern and successful country.
The Meiji emperor's contributions to Japan's modernization are often looked upon favorably, as they brought a formerly feudal country right up to the cutting edge of contemporary politics, industry, and social reforms at the time.
