The Tokugawa Shogunate was the feudal government of Japan that lasted from 1600 to 1868. The Emperor was, for the most part, was a figurehead while the real power resided with the military lord, the Shogun. After the end of the previous Ashikaga Shogunate in 1573, some factions competed for control leading to the rise of the Tokugawa Shogunate. In 1633, Tokugawa Iemitsu began enacting policies of isolationism. His reasoning was to decrease the threat of foreign influence in Japan, things like religion and colonialism, and that this would reduce the power of lords, daimyos, who were getting wealthy from trade, that may challenge him. The only nations that were able to trade with Japan were the Netherlands, China, and Korea at certain locations. An edict from 1636 read "No Japanese ship ... nor any native of Japan shall presume to go out of the country; whoever acts contrary to this, shall die,”
Japan saw relative peace during this time as the Tokugawa Shogunate had a lot of authority over possible rival fractions. He forced daimyos to spend some time residing with the Shogun at Edo (Tokyo) as a way to keep them in control. Social mobility was ended, whatever you were born to you would die in. The Emperor and nobility at the top, but they were figure heads. The Shogun, daimyos, and the samurai in the middle. Then there were peasants, craftsmen, and merchants. The merchants at the bottom of the social class since they were viewed as useless since they did not make anything. However, unlike the samurai, they were not paid in rice and became quite wealthy, but still loath their low ranking.
Though Japan was prospering and stable, they were not advancing like the rest of the world. Some feared the growing power of foreign, especially after China’s defeat in the Opium Wars, and began reading books and using weapons brought by the Dutch. However, traditionalist founded upon this and people were placed on trial and sometimes even killed for their views on modernization. In 1853, American ships under the command of Matthew Perry entered Edo Bay and demanded that Japan end its isolation or face destruction. After demonstrating his ships firepower, he promised to return a year later with more ships. A year later he returned, and the Treaty of Kanagawa was signed, opening more ports and creating a US consul in Japan.
A trend of agreements favoring foreign powers would continue, the daimyos would be split on what to do, the economy of Japan would fall, and for the first time in centuries, the Emperor would handle things that matter. Many people, especially nobles and samurai, became upset on how the Shogun handled foreigners. In 1863, Emperor Komei issued the his "Order to expel barbarians." This was against what the Shogun, but he went with it. There was allied bombardments and rebellions that supported the emperor but not the Shogun. The Shogun had much of his authority still in place, but people realize they were not currently strong enough to force foreigners out. Modernization continued, but pro-imperial daimyos advance much faster, worrying the Shogun forces.
The pro-imperial forces influenced the young Emperor Meiji, so Tokugawa Yoshinobu gave up power to avoid conflict and so his house would continue and possibly influence the imperial government. However, pro-imperialist force seized the capital and forced decrees that abolish Tokugawa. The Boshin War or War of the Year of the Yang Earth Dragon began as Yoshinobu sought to take back the court and power. Though the Shogun’s force was much larger, they imperials were more modernized. The war ended in 1869, and so did the Tokugawa Shogunate. The Meiji restoration continued and the Empire of Japan was founded.
The Shogunate was a feudal system in an industrializing world. It could not sustain its self for long. Japan worked on advancing to become dominant in the region, something that Shogunate had opposed throughout the years.
