The Meiji Restoration of Japan

Japan's Isolation
-Japan was an isolated country before the 1850s. It is made up of many tiny islands which is called an archipelago.The Japanese prided themselves as the superior race, so they decided to cut off their country from the rest of world to avoid conflicts and wars. They didn't trade with anyone but themselves. This method of isolation worked at some points but the negatives were that the rest of the world were advancing economically and with technology.

Matthew Perry and the Meji Restoration
- Matthew Perry was an an American who traveled to Japan with a fleet of ships. He saw Japan's isolationism as an advantage to threaten them. The Japanese were impressed by the American's ships because they had never before seen a steamed ship or metal weapons. Matthew Perry "bullied" Emperor Mutsushito to sign a treaty and adopt the Western ways by the display of technology. On March 31, 1854 the treaty was signed that stated that the Japanese would open to forts to the United States.

- The Meiji Era was dark time for the Japanese. Japan was not part of the Industrial Revolution , so their economy was very weak compared to the rest of the world. They did not have the proper technology to strengthen their army. The new emperor tried to modernize Japan but instead Japan suffered greatly. Instead of reconstructing Japan's society it led to more damage. Many markets suffered bankruptcy, because the U.S and Europe were able to produce more goods at faster speed.

- Japan modernized and industrialized by first getting rid of the old feudal system. Those who were educated went to study abroad and learned many new things about the West. The Japanese decided to keep trading with the US and other countries which helped rebuild their broken economy. They developed communication and transportation systems. Their army improved greatly with Japan's new technology. The end of the Meiji Restoration Japan became a new and better country.

Karl Marx and Communism

Founder of Communism
- Karl Marx was one of the founders of Communism. His idea of a society was there shouldn't be a system of class and everyone would be equal. Communism would dominate and improve the economy in ways that capitalism couldn't. No one would be exploited and no matter how high a position a person had everyone would be payed the same. Karl Marx wanted a government that benefited the working class(proletariat) and took away the power from the upper class (bourgeoisie). Under the rule of communism there would be no private businesses and it would be a "pure system of sharing"

Communist Manifesto
-Karl Marx and Friedrich Engles wrote the foundation of communism called " The Communist Manifesto". It was written to encourage the proletariats to unite and start a revolution. Karl Marx pointed out that history has always had struggles between the class systems and it would never change. Marx believed that the proletariats should have the control over the farms and the factories because they worked hard.Karl Marx believed that the proletariats were the "good guys" and the bourgeoisie as the "bad people" because during the Industrial Revolution the bourgeoisie abused their power over the proletariats. They also worked in terrible conditions a reason why Karl Marx wanted communism to take over. Many people agreed with his ideas and became communist countries. Karl Marx's ideas were very influential in the 19th century.

Karl Marx and the Industrial Revolution

Karl Marx's Opinion on the Industrial Revolution
- Karl Marx lived when the Industrial Revolution began. He did not like the revolution at all, he believed that it was just " an extension of feudalism". The industrial revolution caused a huge gap between the rich and the poor because only the wealthy could enjoy luxuries. He believed that the world was divided by the bourgeoisie (factory owners) and the proletariat(working class). The proletariat's situation would never get better as long as the bourgeoisie had the power and that eventually the workers would become slaves to the Industrial Revolution.

Start of Communism
-He believed that Captialism was a poor economic system because he predicted correctly that the lower classes would poorer.Karl Marx wanted the workers to realize that they were more of them then the businesses owners and that they should have the most control He encourage the proletariats to unite and start a revolution.Through the revolution the workers would overthrow the system of capitalism and install a communist government.

-Under communism everyone would be equal. The people would make the same amount of money no matter how high their position was. Karl Marx's idea was that no one would have a private business, everything including housing would belong to the government.

-Karl Marx's ideas influenced some countries but unfortunately communist countries did not last long. Today, the few communist countries are China, Cuba and North Korea. Though these countries have communist goverments they do not practice Karl Marx's original ideas.