PERRY EXPEDITION AND THE MEIJI RESTORATION by Chase Zhang ‘27
Abstract:
This term paper explores Commodore Matthew Perry’s 1853 expedition to Japan, and how it led to the fall of the Tokugawa Shogunate and ignited the Meiji Restoration. Before Perry’s arrival, Japan was a feudal society with strict social and economic structures, isolated from the rest of the world. The opening of Japan by Perry forced the country to sign treaties and open its ports, leading to the collapse of the Shogunate. Following the downfall of the Shogunate, the Meiji Restoration introduced reforms such as abolishing feudal hierarchy, modernizing the military, establishing a constitution, and promoting industrialization. It is fair to say, the Perry Expedition is the crucial turning point that transformed Japan into a powerful and industrialized nation.
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