What triggered the Meiji Restoration during the Bakumatsu?

The Meiji Restoration was triggered by internal discontent and external pressures, particularly from Western powers.

The Meiji Restoration, a significant event in Japanese history, was a period of rapid change and modernisation that began in 1868. It was triggered by a combination of internal and external factors. Internally, there was growing discontent with the Tokugawa Shogunate's handling of foreign relations and economic issues. The samurai class, in particular, was dissatisfied with the Shogunate's inability to protect Japan's sovereignty and the perceived erosion of their social status and economic power.

Externally, the arrival of Commodore Matthew Perry and his 'Black Ships' in 1853 was a significant catalyst. Perry's arrival and the subsequent 'Unequal Treaties' forced upon Japan by Western powers exposed the Shogunate's weakness and inability to defend Japan's interests. These treaties, which included extraterritorial rights for foreigners and unfair trade agreements, were deeply unpopular in Japan and led to widespread calls for the Shogunate to be overthrown.

The combination of these internal and external pressures led to a period of civil unrest and political instability known as the Bakumatsu. This unrest culminated in the Boshin War of 1868-1869, a civil war between forces loyal to the Shogunate and those seeking to restore the Emperor to power. The victory of the Imperial forces in this war marked the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate and the beginning of the Meiji era.

The Meiji Restoration was thus a response to both the internal discontent with the Shogunate's rule and the external pressures from Western powers. It marked a significant shift in Japanese society and politics, as power was centralised under the Emperor and Japan embarked on a period of rapid modernisation and westernisation. This period laid the foundations for Japan's emergence as a major world power in the 20th century.