In 1587, Toyotomi Hideyoshi issued the "Bantianlian Chase Release Order", announcing the expulsion of foreign missionaries, and Japan began to close itself to the country for more than 200 years. During this period, the outside world has undergone earth-shaking changes, but at this time, Japan, like the Ming and Qing dynasties in China, closed its eyes and thought that it was invincible, but it was already overtaken by others and left far behind.
The Times: European colonization swept the world.
Since the 15th century, European countries have been frantically grabbing colonies around the world with strong ships and cannons. By the middle of the 19th century, the world's major backward countries had lost their independent status to varying degrees, and even China, known as the "Dragon of the East", was no exception.
At that time, the national strength of the United States was rising, and Americans were naturally very excited to see the huge profits overseas. However, there are only so many "cakes" in the world, and European countries have eaten away at a large part of them, so the Americans have no choice but to target Japan, which is not yet favored by Europeans.
The Black Ship Strikes: A Stunning Moment in Edo Bay, Japan.
On July 8, 1853, the people of Uraga and Kanagawa in Edo Bay, Japan, saw four strange ships all black and emitting black smoke anchored in the nearby sea. Since the Japanese had never seen such a ship, they named the four strange ships "Black Ships". Later, they learned that these strange-looking "black ships" came from distant America.
Shocking debut: The U.S. ** ship broke into Edo Bay strongly.
The four "black ships" that came to Japan at that time were all **, namely: a steam-powered frigate with a displacement of 2450 tons, a steam-powered frigate with a displacement of 1692 tons, a sail-powered frigate with a displacement of 989 tons, and a sail-powered frigate with a displacement of 882 tons.
These four ** are all wooden-hulled ships, equipped with more than sixty cannons of different types. These pieces of equipment are not enough in the late 19th century, not to mention in modern times. However, in the mid-19th century, Japan was a few ranks behind China at that time, and there were only about 20 coastal defense guns in the entire Edo Bay that could be on par with the artillery on the **.
Weak compromises: Japan faces a huge disparity in strength.
Faced with a huge disparity in strength, the Japanese finally decided to compromise after several days of ideological struggle and allowed the soldiers on the ** to go ashore.
Trade pressures: U.S. demands to engage with Japan**.
Immediately after the Americans came ashore, they made a trade request. The Japanese did not want to trade, but they did not dare to offend the Americans, so they made an excuse that this matter required not only the emperor's consent, but also the pro-feudal forces in various places, and that they could not reply for a while, and that they would come again in the spring of the next year. The Americans felt that this reason was reasonable, and there were only a few hundred people on their side, so they might suffer a loss if they really started a fight, so they agreed.
A historic opportunity: the signing of the Japan-US Treaty of Amity.
On February 13, 1853, the Americans came to Edo Bay again. In order to ensure that the Japanese "fulfilled", the Americans drove seven ** ships this time. Seeing the menacing arrival of the Americans, the Japanese understood that this time they could not delay.
On March 31, 1854, Japan and the United States signed the Japan-U.S. Treaty of Amity in Kanagawa. The main content of the treaty was that Japan agreed to open the ports of Shimoda and Hakodate to the United StatesU.S. ships can be resupplied in both places;Granted most-favored-nation status to the United States.
The Road to Enlightenment: Japan's Awakening to Modernization.
The Japan-US Treaty of Amity shattered Japan's dream of living in peace behind closed doors, and it also allowed the Japanese to see the huge gap between themselves and the outside world. After that, the Japanese put forward the slogan of "enriching the country and strengthening the army, developing the industry through colonization, and civilizing and enlightening the country," and began to work hard to make the country strong, and comprehensively learn from the advanced countries of the West and Xi.
In just 40 years, Japan transformed from a barbaric and backward feudal country to a militaristic capitalist state, and defeated the Qing Dynasty in the Sino-Japanese War in 1894, thus becoming the largest power in East Asia. The Rise of Japan: The end of the isolation of the country and the dawn of a new era.
The End of Japan's Isolation and Closure: The Attack of the Black Ship and the Great Change of Destiny are a profound picture of Japan's face to the onslaught of the "Black Ship" in the mid-19th century, and the resulting great change in the fate of the country. Through vivid descriptions, the article brings readers into that magnificent historical moment, and gives people a clearer understanding of Japan's arduous process in the process of modernization.
First of all, the article emphasizes Japan's policy of seclusion from the rest of the world for more than 200 years, and vividly expresses Japan's sense of disconnection from the outside world. This historical background provided the necessary foreshadowing for the subsequent occurrence of the "Black Ship" incident. Through a review of the international situation at the time, the author provides readers with a more comprehensive understanding of the wave of European colonization, the silence of China, and the rise of emerging American powers.
Secondly, the article's description of the attack of the "black ship" is vivid and interesting, and by describing the power of these four ships from the United States and the great shock to Japanese society, it successfully shows the fear and helplessness of the Japanese in the face of the unknown at that time. The description of this part makes it easier for the reader to immerse themselves in the shock and helplessness of Japanese society at that time.
At the climax of the essay, the author focuses on Japan's demands for compromise and trade in the face of a huge disparity in power. This is a moment when the country is faced with a fateful choice, and through the description of the inner struggle and final compromise of the Japanese people, the reader can better understand the pressures and dilemmas faced by Japanese society at that time.
Subsequently, the article recounts in detail the signing of the Japan-US Treaty of Amity and the far-reaching impact of this event on Japanese society. Through the analysis of the content of the treaty, the reader learns that Japan chose to open up to the outside world at this historical juncture to welcome the baptism of modern civilization. This decision opened Japan's journey toward modernization and laid the foundation for the later enrichment of the country and the strengthening of the army, the development of the industry and the development of civilization.
Finally, the article cleverly summarizes the theme of the whole article through a strong headline, which leaves a deep impression on the reader. Overall, this article successfully presents the changes of an era through vivid descriptions, detailed historical backgrounds, and precise titles, allowing readers to experience a tortuous and exciting history in the long river of history.
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