How did the Meiji Restoration unfold?
The Meiji transformation beginning in 1868 replaced Tokugawa shogunal rule with a new imperial government.
Historical context and developments
Foreign pressure, domestic alliances and economic challenges accelerated change. Government reformed army, schools, taxes, industry and law. Older practices did not vanish overnight; resistance and uneven burdens followed.
Consequences and interpreting sources
Later regional expansion was linked to state building. A simple “Westernization” label can obscure local choices and Japanese agency.
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