Cause of the Rebellion...
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Commmodore Matthew Perry
The samurai began to rebell against their emperor after the modernization of Japan began. In 1854, U.S. Navy Commodore Matthew Calbraith Perry sailed into Kagoshima Harbor nad demanded that Japan negotiate a treaty with America. He did so by a show of force. Perry threatened Japan with his artillery. Such humiliation was unexceptable to the Japanese leaders so they decided that they needed a modern army that was equiped with the most up-to-date weapons and trained under the very best officers.
Negative Effects of the Modernization...
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Once the new army of Japan was born, the samurai were left with no jobs and they were also losing their social standings as the feared warriors. They were forced to take off their double katanas* or face arrest. To the samurai, this was the ultimatae insult. The katanas were the distinguishing mark of the samurai. They realized that the new reforms were destroying the samurai ways, so they becamae determined to stop the government changes.
The Last Battle...
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"September 25, 1877, the feudal system that had dominated Japan for 700 years died, not with a whimper but with a defiant roar." The remaining samurai (they numbered 40) ran across the field at last, after months of fghting, to meet the imperial army of Japan.
Samurai Imperial Army
Saigo Takamori General Yamagata Aritomo
-350-400 men -30,000 men
The samurai were armed with swords while the imperial army had guns and modern weapons. The samurai were also outnumbered. The outcome was inevitable and the samurai were wiped out. During the warfare, Saigo Takamori was wounded so his friend took him to a secluded area where Saigo commited seppuku.(for definition, refer to the thesis page) This last battle ended the rebellion and the japanese government did not have to worry about another rebellion.
katanas*- Japanese swords used by the samurai
Samurai Imperial Army
Saigo Takamori General Yamagata Aritomo
-350-400 men -30,000 men
The samurai were armed with swords while the imperial army had guns and modern weapons. The samurai were also outnumbered. The outcome was inevitable and the samurai were wiped out. During the warfare, Saigo Takamori was wounded so his friend took him to a secluded area where Saigo commited seppuku.(for definition, refer to the thesis page) This last battle ended the rebellion and the japanese government did not have to worry about another rebellion.
katanas*- Japanese swords used by the samurai