|
1853 |
US Commodore Matthew G. Perry arrives in Uraga bay |
|
1854 |
Shogunal Grand Councilor Abe seeks opinions of daimyō Perry returns to sign treaty of Kanagawa |
|
1856 |
US emissary Townsend Harris arrives in Japan |
|
1858 |
Harris Treaty signed (without Imperial approval), opening treaty ports, guaranteeing extraterritoriality, fixing import duties Shogunal succession dispute settled by appointing 12 year old. |
|
1858-1860 |
Ansei Purge: Shogunal Grand Councilor Ii Naosuke carries out arrests and executions of anti-Shogunal activists including Yoshida Shōin and Tokugawa Yoshinobu. Assassination of Ii Naosuke puts end to Ansei purges. |
|
1863 |
Under influence of pro-Imperial/anti-foreign daimyo, Emperor sets deadline for expulsion of foreigners. Inexplicably, Shogunate accepts the order. |
|
1864 |
Chōshū (mod. Yamaguchi) domain acts on Imperial order, firing on foreign vessels in Shimonoseki strait. Western powers respond with attack on Shimonoseki. Battle in Kyoto between Chōshū activists and Satsuma-Aizu coalition leads to expulsion of Chōshū forces from Kyoto First Bakufu punitive expedition against Chōshū: overwhelming force, which leads to temporary surrender and supremacy of conservative clique in Chōshū |
|
1864-1866 |
kobu-gattai: Union of Court and Camp, aka reconciliation of Bakufu and Imperial House, negotiations ongoing. |
|
1866 |
Sakamoto Ryoma, with Okubo Toshimichi and Saigo Takamori, brokers peace and alliance between Satsuma and Chōshū 2nd Chōshū expedition smaller, defeated by numerically inferior but better armed and trained Chōshū forces |
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1867 |
Tokugawa Yoshinobu becomes Shogun, initiates reforms. Accepts offer from Satsuma of surrender/abdication, but forming coalition refuses Meiji Emperor takes throne at age 15 |
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1868 |
Pro-Imperial Satsuma-Chōshū-Tosa-Hizen forces overwhelm Shogunal defenses at Edo, proclaim Meiji Ishin: Meiji Restoration |
|
1869 |
Aizu campaign marks end of military conflict |
© 2005 – Jonathan Dresner