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Mutsuhito's Birth
The second son of Japanese emperor Kōmei, Mutsuhito was born in Kyoto, Japan ("Meiji"). His father was emperor during the time when commander Matthew Perry of the United States helped president Millard Fillmore open resistant Japanese ports to American ships. This made him a rather unpopular emperor with the country's shoguns and civilians, who wished to remain isolated to western culture. This event was significant because Mutsuhito later became emperor and brought western culture to Japan. -
Charles Darwin Presents the Theory of Evolution
The father of one of the most controversial theories of all time, Charles Darwin proposed the idea of evolution in his book 'The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection' (Beck 673). Darwin claimed that populations tend to grow faster than the food supply and so must compete for that food. The surviving members of species than have offspring that gain advantages, which are evolves. This event was significant because it aided many other scientific discoveries made in following years. -
The Impressionist Movement Begins
Beginning in the early 1860s, a group of Parasians reacted against the popular realist styles of the time. Their intention was to give their impression of a subject or a moment in time, hence the era being known as the Impressionist movement. These new-styled artists included well-known names such as Edouard Manet, Claude Monet, Edgar Degas and Pierre-Auguste Benoir (Beck 623). This event was significant because it caused an entire change in art that has lasted to this day. -
Mutsuhito's Coronation
At 14 years old, Mutsuhito took the Japanese throne; his father, emperor Kōmei, had died January 30th of 1867. At his coronation, Mutsuhito took the reign name of Meiji ("Meiji"). His ascension to the throne signaled the end of the Tokugawa shogunate power in Japan. It also brought the restoration of the emperor as the supreme executive power in the country. This event was significant because the Meiji era brought major reforms to Japan and transformed the country into a world power. -
The Charter Oath of Five Principles
Also the 'Imperial Oath of Five Articles', Mutsuhito used the Charter Oath to open the way for westernization after the resignation of the shogunate. The articles of the oath were the following: assemblies at which the public would decide of government matters; the end of caste systems; equality for all men; the discontinuation of old customs; and the advancement of Japanese knowledge for the empire's betterment ("Charter Oath"). It was significant because it paved the way for modernization. -
Tokyo, The New Capital Of Japan
In the spring, Emperor Mutsuito and his court began a survey of his empire. They moved from the west to the east, going from Kyoto to what was Edo. At the time, Kyoto was considered the capital of Japan and housed the emperor's palace. However, after his cross-country trip, Mutsuhito moved the capital to Edo and renamed it Tokyo (Robertson 87). The shogun palace there became the new royal palace. This event was significant because more than a 150 years later, Tokyo is still Japan's capital. -
The Ministry of Industry is Established
Established in Japan's new capital of Tokyo, the Ministry of Industry was created to help industrialize the country. New bureaucrats began the task of building up a modern economy with this establishment (Gibney 81). Shortly after, a new banking system was passed to help unify Japan's people. This event was significant because it showed that Japan was industrializing under Mutsuhito's rule. With his encouragement, Japan began to catch up to Western countries that had inspired the restoration. -
Nationwide Cumpulsory Primary Education is Passed
One of the first reforms of the Meiji Restoration, Japan's initial system of primary education was passed nationwide less than a decade after Mutsuhito took the throne. The law made it compulsory for all eligible children to attend primary school (Robertson 89). It was active across all of Japan, even in poorer regions where children often could not go to school. This event was significant because it allowed for growth of Japan's future generations and for more competent leaders in the future. -
Japan's First Railway is Built
The Japanese first found out about trains when Commander Matthew Perry came to Japan in the mid-1800s. Mutsuhito, desiring to emulate Western technology and practices, banished older forms of transport and insisted that a railroad be built to help make travel easier. With the help of foreign engineers, Japan's first railway was created. It stretched from Tokyo to Yokohama (Gibney 81). This event was significant because it provided Japanese people exposure to better technology of the West. -
Thomas Edison Invents The First Practical Light Bulb
At the end of the 19th century, one of the most lasting inventions of all time made its debut. Thomas Edison and his team of scientists developed the world's first practical light bulb at his research laboratory in Menlo Park, New Jersey (Beck 673). Shortly after, he perfected his invention and put a patent on it. This event was significant because it brought about one of the most important and depended-upon inventions, even in our world today. -
New Zeland Becomes the First Country to Grant Women Full Voting Rights
At a time when many civilized countries were reluctant to even let women have a voice in the way their own houses were managed, New Zealand took a much more radical route ("Women and the Vote"). Governor Lord Glasgow signed into law the new Electoral Law that made his country the first to allow women full voting rights in parliamentary elections (Beck 666). This event was significant because it set the idea that women could have a voice in politics, and should, in the Western world. -
The International Olympic Games are Established
Held in Athens, Greece-the home of the original Olympic Games that the Greek held as a tribute to the Olympians-the first modern Olympic Games had athletes from 14 countries competing (History.com). The hope was to bring together countries from across the globe and encourage unity. They were also a response to the rising interest in national sporting events, such as football or baseball matches (Beck 675). This event was significant because it helped to unify many countries worldwide. -
Filmmakers Begin Producing the First Feature Films
As technology advanced and the 20th century came upon the world, photography brought an entirely new form of entertainment to the masses. Films were introduced in the beginning of the 1900s, the product of experiments done in various countries in an effort to make pictures taken move like the moment actually did. Though these films were both short and silent, they were extremely popular with people (Beck 675). This event was significant because it brought important advancements in entertainment. -
The Russo-Japanese War
Running from 1904 to 1905, the Russo-Japanese War was the event that led to global recognition of Japan's military power (Gibney 111). However, unlike the Sino-Japanese War, emperor Mutsuhito's role did not include going out and suffering with his troops. Rather, he stayed in Tokyo and had an active role as commander-in-chief from his palace. The war was still a victory, with Japan winning almost every battle. This event was significant because it proved Japanese power to the Western world. -
The Annexation of Korea
The annexation of Korea was one of Mutsuhito's last acts as emperor. While Japan negotiated with Korea for control over its economic development, the country's main negotiator, Ito Hirobumi, was assassinated. This triggered the almost immediate annexation of Korea, as it was believed that the assassin was Korean (Robertson 104). This event was significant because it showed that Japanese isolation was fully over and that the country's leaders had become interested in gaining more power. -
Mutsuhito's Death
After ruling Japan for 45 years, Mutsuhito died in Tokyo, the capital of Japan ("Meiji"). He was still the emperor when he died, and left Japan in the hands of his son, Yoshihito. His death meant the end of the Meiji era and westernization of Japan as his son played virtually no political role ("Taisho"). This event was significant because it brought the end of the Meiji era and caused the Taishō era to begin, which was characterized by foreign affairs of policies congenial to the West.
