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Japan was one of the imperialistic powers that eventually threatened China.  Even though much smaller than China, Japan has a military culture that seemed invincible until the United States dropped two atom bombs on it in August 1945.

Japan was one of the imperialistic powers that eventually threatened China.  Even though much smaller than China, Japan has a military culture that seemed invincible until the United States dropped two atom bombs on it in August 1945.

But Japan was similar to China in one respect:  both were very suspicious of Europeans and both preferred isolation over European influence.  In 1543, shipwrecked Portuguese sailors discovered Japan and they were welcomed.  In 1549, some Japanese welcomed European Christian missionaries and liked the European technology that they brought to the island.  European technology, especially firearms, helped the Tokugawa Shogunate unify Japan in 1603 and establish its capital at Edo (now Tokyo), and that family ruled Japan until 1868.  European cannons easily punched through the castle walls of the daimyo or large Japanese landowners.  In some areas fortified walls were built, which sheltered communities for artisans, merchants and government bureaucracy.

But Japan was similar to China in one respect:  both were very suspicious of Europeans and both preferred isolation over European influence.  In 1543, shipwrecked Portuguese sailors discovered Japan and they were welcomed.  In 1549, some Japanese welcomed European Christian missionaries and liked the European technology that they brought to the island.  European technology, especially firearms, helped the Tokugawa Shogunate unify Japan in 1603 and establish its capital at Edo (now Tokyo), and that family ruled Japan until 1868.  European cannons easily punched through the castle walls of the daimyo (large Japanese landowners).  In some areas fortified walls were built, which sheltered communities for artisans, merchants and government bureaucracy.

But by 1637, the spread of Christianity in Japan caused a retaliation and persecution of Christians.  Japan then closed its doors to the West and kept only one port, Nagasaki (hit with an atom bomb in 1945), open for merchants from China and the Netherlands.

But by 1637, the spread of Christianity in Japan caused a retaliation and persecution of Christians.  Japan then closed its doors to the West and kept only one port, Nagasaki (later destroyed with an atom bomb in 1945), open for merchants from China and the Netherlands.

American Commodore Matthew Perry attempted to break the isolation of Japan by sailing into Edo (Tokyo) harbor in 1853.  His trip was successful, causing the Treaty of Kanagawa to be signed in 1854 to allow the United States to use two ports and also to open an embassy.  European nations then gained similar access by 1860.

American Commodore Matthew Perry attempted to break the isolation of Japan by sailing into Edo (Tokyo) harbor in 1853.  His trip was successful, causing the Treaty of Kanagawa to be signed in 1854 to allow the United States to use two ports and also to open an embassy.  European nations then gained similar access by 1860.

Japan urbanized during the 1700s, causing families to leave farms and begin to work in cities, and some of the Japanese women worked in city jobs for the first time.

Japan urbanized during the 1700s, causing families to leave farms and begin to work in cities, and some of the Japanese women worked in city jobs for the first time.

The Japanese ultimately revolted against the Tokugawa shogun, which abdicated power in November 1867.  The cause was complaints about too much foreign influence.  A new emperor Mutsuhito established the Meiji government in the spring of 1868, which lasted until 1912.  During this Meiji period feudal lords gave their land back to the emperor, and Mutsuhito industrialized Japan, strengthened its national military, centralized its government and established universal public education.  In the late 1800s the Japanese produced coal and built railroads and many factories.  By the early 1900s Japan was a world power that could compete militarily and economically with the greatest nations in the world.

The Japanese ultimately revolted against the Tokugawa shogun, who abdicated power in November 1867.  The cause was complaints about too much foreign influence.  A new emperor Mutsuhito established the Meiji government in the spring of 1868, which lasted until 1912.  During this Meiji period feudal lords gave their land back to the emperor, and Mutsuhito industrialized Japan, strengthened its national military, centralized its government and established universal public education.  In the late 1800s the Japanese produced coal and built railroads and many factories.   

Japan first defeated China, which had invaded Korea in 1894.  Japan beat the Chinese back, causing them to retreat from Korea and then Japan invaded and conquered Manchuria in the Sino-Japanese War.  The peace treaty (signed in 1895) gave the Pescadores Islands and Taiwan to Japan.

By the early 1900s Japan was a world power that could compete militarily and economically with the greatest nations in the world.  Japan first defeated China, which had invaded Korea in 1894.  Japan beat the Chinese back, causing them to retreat from Korea, and then Japan invaded and conquered Manchuria in the Sino-Japanese War.  The peace treaty (signed in 1895) gave the Pescadores Islands and Taiwan to Japan.

Japan felt it was invincible.  It next took on Russia and defeated it in the Russo-Japanese War in 1905.  Japan destroyed the Russian fleet and received control of the southern portion of the Chinese Eastern Railway and a lease on the Liaodong Peninsula, including Port Arthur, in its Treaty of Portsmouth with Russia.  Russia withdrew from Manchuria and promised to stay out of Korea.

Japan felt it was invincible.  It next took on Russia and defeated it in the Russo-Japanese War in 1905.  Japan destroyed the Russian fleet and received control of the southern portion of the Chinese Eastern Railway and a lease on the Liaodong Peninsula, including Port Arthur, in its Treaty of Portsmouth with Russia.  Russia withdrew from Manchuria and promised to stay out of Korea.

There was even more to Japan’s aggression.  It took over Korea and annexed it to Japan in 1910.  This alarmed the rest of the world, making everyone wonder if and when Japan would stop expanding.  Japan took over Korea’s schools and taught the children in a way that favored Japan.  Japan also took over the presses (media) in Korea, thereby controlling what was said.  Japan completely dominated Korea.  Japan’s land policies favored Japanese settlers.  An underground nationalist movement in Korea began to grow, with resentment towards Japan.

There was even more to Japan’s aggression.  Japan took over Korea and annexed it in 1910.  This alarmed the rest of the world, making everyone wonder if and when Japan would stop expanding.  Japan took over Korea’s schools and taught the children in a way that favored Japan.  Japan also took over the presses (media) in Korea, thereby controlling what was said.  Japan completely dominated Korea.  Japan’s land policies favored Japanese settlers.  An underground nationalist movement in Korea began to grow, with resentment towards Japan.  Many Koreans and Chinese are resentful of Japan to this day.

The story of Japan can be summed up in one sentence: Japan started out as a target of imperialism and ended up as one of the most imperialistic nations of all.

The story of Japan during this period can be summed up in one sentence: Japan started out as a target of imperialism and ended up as one of the most imperialistic nations of all.

=== Latin America ===

=== Latin America ===