Short Homework Assignment 1

Name: Fernando Isaac Salgado Sánchez

Read the short assigned reading and answer the following questions. You can print this
sheet and submit it, or send your answers to:

akameidyche@gmail.com

1. What impact did the Opium War have on Japan?

The Opium War was a conflict that gave several results for several countries, like Great
Britain, the United States, Russia therefore also to China, this country was forced to open
up their borders to the mentioned countries; Amon this countries there was Japan, a country
that was affected by the Opium War. In the Japanese archipelago resulted in the end of the
policy of the isolation of the Tokugawa system, causing Japan to open politically and
economically due to the immense transit of foreign ships in Asian waters especially in the
Chinese seas, making pressure to the Japanese government to establish relations with
western countries.

2. What was Japan’s situation after signing treaties with the Western countries (1854-
1858)?

After signing the treaties with the United States, Holland, Great Britain, France or Russia,
the shogunate was forced to sign concessions, which resulted in an inequality of treaties
that did not benefit Japan, for example, Japan lost tariffs and there was an obligation to
abide the concessions also the bakufu was separated in factions creating politic differences.

3. How did Ii Naosuke try to solve the bakufu’s crises? Was he successful?

Ii Naosuke being named as grand councilor had the authority to dominate the shogunate, he
signed treaties with the United States obviating the imperial approval, showing the
authority of the bakufu, this gave a result of giving a short period of stability, however his
opponents forced him to retreat, ending up being killed by the samurai of Mito.
 4. What were the main ideas in Yoshida Shōin’s teaching?

Yoshida Shōin followed the traditions of the military science and confucianism, that gave
to him the idea of the rejection of foreigners, he also mentioned that the failure to expel the
foreigners was because the people did not followed their duty and also because they
ignored the emperor, he taught that obedience and loyalty were the most important values.

5. What is your opinion of the reading in general?

Personally I can say that I find it very educational because I did not have knowledge of
the history of Japan, that's why I found it entertaining and interesting, with this
information I can draw parallels with the history of my country (Mexico) and make an
analysis of the political behavior that Japan had due the threats or foreign
interventions. This is so important because I believe that we have to learn about our
past in order to create a future, having said this me as an social investigator history
gives the necessary tools to understand how a civilization as authentic as the Japanese
one has developed.

Sources

-Conrad Schirokauer, David Lurie, Suzanne Gay. (January 2012). A Brief History of
Japanese Civilization. Cengage Learning,