5. Boshin War 1868-1869
The Tokugiawa shogunate governed Japan since 1600. In an effort to modernize their military dictatorship, the shogunate ended Japan’s isolationist policy in the early 19th century. With the opening of its borders, European influence changed the culture and economic system. Many people did not want their culture to change or their economy to be controlled by foreigners. As tensions mounted, people began advocating for a return to Imperial rule and abolition of the military dictatorship. In an act of self-preservation, the shogunate launched a military campaign against Imperial forces attempting to reclaim power.
The Boshin War, also called the Japanese Revolution, began on January 27, 1868 when the shogunate attacked imperial forces near Kyoto. In an ironic twist, the shogunate who had opened Japan to modernization remained mostly an army of samurai. The shogunate used military tactics perfected by Napoleon III and received military support from France. Imperial forces received warships, ammunition, and military expertise from the United Kingdom. The Boshin War was a local war with international influence.
During the course of the brief war, 120,000 men were mobilized to fight and only 3,500 were killed. Foreigners remained a target of the samurai throughout the war. Samurai killed 11 French sailors on March 8th and then killed the British ambassador on the street in Kyoto on March 23rd. Imperial forces were victorious.
With the implementation of a single and unified imperial government, the Emperor’s residence was moved to Edo which was renamed Tokyo. When the new government abolished the samurai class, some found new administrative positions, but most fell into poverty. Japan continued its modernization begun by the shogunate and adapted a more progressive approach to foreign influences.