Changes

== Politics ==

== Politics ==

[[Japan]] received its first [[European]]-style [[constitution]] in 1889. A parliament, the [[Diet]] was established, although the [[Emperor]] maintained his sovereignty - he headed up all arms of the military, as well as wielding executive and legislative power. The ruling clique, however, kept a firm hold on the reigns of actual power, and the intelligent and capable Emperor [[Meiji]] agreed with the majority of their actions. A lack of unity amongst their members prevented the various political parties from wielding any significant power.

[[Japan]] adopted its first [[European]]-style [[constitution]] in 1889. A parliament, the [[Diet]] was established, although the [[Emperor]] maintained his sovereignty - On paper he headed up all arms of the military, as well as wielding executive and legislative power. The ruling clique, however, kept a firm hold on the reigns of actual power, and the intelligent and capable Emperor [[Meiji]] approved the majority of their actions. A lack of unity among their members prevented the various political parties from wielding any significant power.

Conflicts of interests in [[Korea]], between [[China]] and [[Japan]] gave rise to to the [[Sino-Japanese War]] in 1894-95. Japan defeated China, but was forced by [[Russia]], [[France]] and [[Germany]] to relinquish the territories she’d captured, in the end only managing to annexe [[Taiwan]].,This so-called [[Triple Intervention]] led to a stiffening of resolve by the Japanese against the imperial powers, and an intensification of the rearmament by the army and navy.

Conflicts of interests in [[Korea]], between [[China]] and [[Japan]] gave rise to to the [[Sino-Japanese War]] in 1894-95. Japan defeated China, but was forced by [[Russia]], [[France]] and [[Germany]] to relinquish the territories she’d captured,in the end only managing to annex [[Taiwan]]. This so-called [[Triple Intervention]] led to a stiffening of resolve by the Japanese against the western imperial powers, and an intensification of the build-up of the army and navy.

New conflicts of interests in [[Korea]] and [[Manchuria]], this time between [[Russia]] and [[Japan]], led to the [[Russo-Japanese War]] in 1904-05. The Japanese army was once again victorious, thus gaining additional territories, including the full annexation of [[Korea]] in 1910, and international respect. The successes in the recent wars resulted in a surge of nationalism, which filtered through to other Asian nations, who also started to develop national self confidence and identity. In addition, it finally allowed Japan to declare the one-sided treaties with the West null and void, and finally emerge as a world power.<ref>M. Umegaki, After the Restoration: The Beginning of Japan's Modern State (1988)</ref>

New conflicts of interests in [[Korea]] and [[Manchuria]], this time between [[Russia]] and [[Japan]], led to the [[Russo-Japanese War]] in 1904-05. The Japanese army was once again victorious, thus gaining additional territories, including the full annexation of [[Korea]] in 1910, and international respect. The successes in the recent wars resulted in a surge of nationalism, which filtered through to other Asian nations, which also started to develop national self confidence and identity. In addition, it finally allowed Japan to declare the one-sided treaties with the West null and void, and emerge as a world power.<ref>M. Umegaki, After the Restoration: The Beginning of Japan's Modern State (1988)</ref>

== End of an Era ==

== End of an Era ==