The Tokugawa Dynasty

The governing body in Japan, during the nineteenth century, went from leadership under the Tokugawa dynasty to leadership under the leaders of the Meiji restoration. This shift of power caused the end of Feudal Japan and the beginning of modernized Japan. The Tokugawa dynasty fell because of foreign encroachment, Tokugawa political and economic instability, and the role changes and actions of Japan's daimyo and samurais. These stresses proved that, a state of affairs was likely to bring about the downfall of dynasty.

No civil war, battle, or event that had taken place in Japan prior to July 14, 1853 would cause Japan to change as drastically as it would after that day. On July 14, 1853, Commodore Matthew Perry of the United States Navy delivered to representatives of the emperor a letter from President Millard. When Perry delivered the letter from President Millard, Japan would be faced with an un-welcomed reality; Japan was weak. After years of little to no contact with the foreigners, Japan had fallen behind the European nations. They were economically, militaristic-ally, and technologically behind. When Perry came to Japan he arrived in steamships painted in black (the “black ships”). Japan was frightened by these ships. They realized that their own antiquated shore batteries were almost useless against them and that Edo and the coastal shipping which provisioned it lay defenceless. And Japan's navy still consisted of wooden vessels.

The United States also realized that it was more powerful than Japan. The letter from President Millard made demands of Japan that couldn't easily be ignored due to the military power of the United States. The demands were trade, at least for a short time on a trial basis, humane treatment of A...

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...he eternal aspects of Western civilization while they sought to keep in, their inner life, and those elements that they regarded as being intrinsically Japanese. The Tokugawa dynasty did not recognize this and had tried to distance Japan from the influence of Western civilization. It was just such weakness and derision that proved the need for reform.Through foreign encroachment, Tokugawa political and economic instability, and the role changes and actions of Japan's daimyos and samurais all were factors that led to the fall of the Tokugawa dynasty. Foreign encroachment was the main reason for the fall, and was also a main cause for Tokugawa political and economic instability and the changing roles and actions of Japan's daimyos and samurais. Without foreign encroachment, the other factors would've been weaker and not strong enough to bring down the Tokugawa dynasty.