-
Meiji is born
Meiji was born on November 3, 1852 in Kyōto, Japan. His parents were his father Emperor Kōmei and his mother Nakayama Yoshiko. His life would soon transform feudal Japan into a world power, and overall change Japanese history forever. (Britannica). -
Small Vaccination Act of 1853
On August 1, 1853, it was made mandatory in England for all infants up to three years old born after that day, must be vaccinated against smallpox. When this law was passed, many people were against it. The reasons ranged from "I want to have control over what I put in my body" to "smallpox is part of the natural order among human beings". These mandatory vaccinations would lead to the decline of smallpox victims in England, and in 1979 the virus was finally eradicated. (Compulsory-History). -
Emperor Kōmei dies
On January 31, 1867 Emperor Kōmei died of smallpox. This led to the unofficial of Meiji to the the throne at age 14. Although, he did not immediately assume the powers of the Emperor, as those tasks were carried out by other government officials until Meiji had completed his education. His death would end an era Japan, and ultimately usher in a completely new era. (Encyclopedia of World Biography). -
Formal Enthronement of Emperor Meiji
On September 12, 1867, Meiji is made into Emperor Meiji. As soon as his reign began, radical changes would be made to Japan. These changes included abolishing feudal customs, creating a representative legislative assembly, and that new systems of defense, government, and economic systems would be made and based off of Western powers. Meiji and his officials hoped this would help Japan become a great imperial power. (Encyclopedia of World Biography). -
Abolishment of the Han System
The Han System was the form of government in which the true leaders are the Shogunate, led by the Shogun, and the Emperor served as a more symbolic leader. Beginning with the start of the Meiji Era in 1868, the Han System was slowly taken apart. All of the feudal lords of Japan were required to return their authority/lands to Meiji. The operation of replacing the Han System was accomplished in several stages, resulting in the substitution of the feudal system with a new oligarchy. (Britannica). -
Meiji marries Ichijo Haruko
Emperor Meiji marries Ichijo Haruko, making her Empress Shōken. She would help modernize Japan by using her high level of influence to westernize and modernize the style of dress and overall behavior of women. She was also one of very few women to attend educational lectures, which would also somewhat catch on with other women, although mostly among the upper class. She wouldn't necessarily influence Japanese politics, but she would influence Japanese culture. (Encyclopedia of World Biography). -
The First Kentucky Derby
On May 17, 1875, the horse Aristides and rider Oliver Lewis won the first ever Kentucky Derby. Around 10,000 people showed up to the 1.5 mile race in Churchill Downs, Kentucky. It was the start of the very famous horse race and still continues to this day, in 2017. (Americas Library). -
Alexander Graham Bell patents the telephone
On May 5, 1876, Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone in a machine shop in Boston. Bell got the idea by wanting to improve upon the telegraph, as you with the telegraph you still were required to get your message delivered from a telegraph station. Bell called his device the "harmonic telegraph", and it worked by converting vibrations through a metal plate, into a wire, across the wire, through another metal plate, then through an earpiece. His invention woukd be contested by... -
Alexander Graham Bell patents the telephone (cont)
...many others, but Bell would repeatedly sue to protect his invention. And eventually he went on to establish American Telephone and Telegraph (AT&T). (history.com) -
Harley Proctor introduces Ivory Soap
In 1863, James N. Gamble created a light, white, and odorless soap. This new soap was sold in bar form and, unlike the competitors, i could float in water and be used for the laundry. He sold it under the name "P&G White Soap", but it wasn't until 1878 when Harley Gamble used around $10,000 to sell it under the catchier name of "Ivory Soap" that the public caught on. To this day, Ivory soap is a prominent player in the soap industry, with zero chemicals used. (www.washingtonpost.com). -
Meiji's son, Prince Yoshishito, is born
Prince Yoshishito is born of Meiji himself and the concubine Yanagihara Naruko. Prince Yoshishito would eventually go on to become Emperor Taishō. During his reign as Emperor Taishō (known as the Taishō Period), he would greatly expand the influence and borders of the Japanese Empire. The birth of Prince Yoshishito would have a very large effect on Japan in World War I. (Encyclopedia of World Biography). -
The Canadian Pacific Railway is completed
In 1871, the British Columbia was adopted into the Canadian Confederation, among the promise that a transcontinental railway would be built fro the east coast to the west coast of Canada, and the promise was fulfilled. While it was being built, the Canadian Pacific Railway Company established towns, hotels, and restaurants along the way. Overall, the Canadian Pacific Railway played a large role in the establishment and industrialization of Canada (www.thecanadaencyclopedia.ca) -
Meiji Constitution is enacted
The Meiji Constitution is enacted on February 11, 1889. The Meiji Constitution would bring very great change to Japan. It called for a constitutional monarchy and a Parliament with a Prime Minister at the head, called the Diet. It was based heavily off of Western government models and the conservative practices of Prussia. The Emperor would take most of the power, while still saving some room for democratic devices. The Constitution would be used until 1947. (Modern Japan: a Brief History). -
The First Sino-Japanese War
From July 25, 1894 to April 17, 1895, the Qing Empire and Empire of Japan fought the First Sino-Japanese War. The war was mostly fought over the influence of Korea, which would greatly strengthen the economy of a nation. After a year of Japanese successes and Chinese defeats, ending with the capture of Waihaiwei, the Chinese initiated a peace. The war resulted in the Treaty of Shimonoseki, in which Chinese prestige would be crippled and the Japanese Empire would expand. (The Pacific Century). -
The Russo-Japanese War
The Russians would seek a warm-water port for it's navy and trade, so they sought to control the Yellow Sea and the Korean Peninsula. But Japan saw this as a threat to their expansion of influence, so they decided to declare war. After much fighting in the Korean Peninsula, Yellow Sea, and Manchuria, the Japanese would defeat the Russian Empire. The war would result in the Treaty of Portsmouth, which would secure Japan's position and an eminent world power. (History Learning Site). -
Roald Amundsen reaches the South Pole
On December 14, 1911, Roald Amundsen reaches the South Pole in his German-steel ship, the Vilm. He was the first person to reach the South Pole, beating fellow explorer, Robert Scott. Amundsen used sleds and dogs to create historic outposts at eighty, eighty-one, and eighty-two degrees South. (Biography in Context). -
Meiji dies
Meiji dies of uremia, a condition involving waste in the blood, on July 30, 1912. At the time, he was also suffering from diabetes, nephritis, and gastroenteritis. This would end one of the most famous and influential eras in all of Japanese history. (Britannica).
