Lee,+William+KAG+TL

Timeline:

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1. Matthew Perry's visit to Japan (1858):

Cause: U.S had trading relationships with most of the Asian Countries; China, India, Philippines, etc. were trading with the United States. However, Japan, one of the closest nation in Asia to United states, was under isolationism. Perry wanted to change Japan, and as Japan was a military-based country, he tries to get their attention through the show of greater power.

Effect: Japan became a open country; this modernized Japan, letting the Japanese accept the technology of the West and the politics of the West. As they learned from the diplomatic techniques from Perry, they see Korea, another isolationist country near Japan that they can use to benefit, similarly to what the Unites States have done.

2. Meiji Restoration (1868):

Cause: Commodore Perry's coming influenced the samurai to rebel against the old fashioned Tokugawa Shogunate. Emperor Meiji came into power due to different groups of Samurai supporting the reign of the emperor. Yet, the actual power was with a group of people that tried to modernize Japan. This led to the creation of a new, oligarchic government, and a rise to modernization in the name of Meiji Restoration.

Effect: The Leaders of the Meiji wanted to improve Japan. Also, they have learned from the Americans that trading leads to fastest economical growth. To them, Korea, a country of a isolationist nature, and of weak military power seemed like a good country for them to take control over and trade with, to lead Japan into greater improvements towards its society.

3. Treaty of Ganghwa (1876):

Cause: Sherman Incident, where a US ship was attacked and the crews were killed by Koreans, started the spark, letting Japan to have a reason to gather military forces around Korea. This led to the repeating of Perry's diplomacy: Japan was able to create a biased treaty, in the name of Amity, to benefit in trade. Japan was finally able to fondle with Korea's foreign relations.

Effect: Japan was able to trade, therefore induce the ideals of modernization into Korea. This was the first step towards the annexation of Korea; the first time when Japan was directly involved in Korea's diplomatics.

4. Sino-Japanese War (1894):

Cause: Due to Japan's excessive imports of Korean rice, and through exports of Japanese goods, to the point of Korea's bankruptcy, Korean Government asked the Chinese Government for military support in pushing the Japanese out of Korea. As this would benefit China in having a friendly relationship with a border country that would be loyal, China sends military forces into Korea. Japan, seeing this, sent their military in turn.

Effect:Japan won the war, and that was one less opponent for Japan to keep an eye on; Japan had more freedom in controlling Korea. Their winning of the war also gave the Japanese a reason to keep a military force in Seoul, the Capital of Korea. Japan not only had control of the Korean Trading system, but also suppressed the politics of Korea.

Russo-Japanese War (1904):

Cause: Queen Min, for a balance of power inside Korea, calls help of the Russians. She thought that she could keep the power balance in Korea between Japanese and the Russians, and in turn could demolish each other from Korea. Russian came in with an army, and had a clash in Korea, called the Russo-Japanese War.

Effect: Russia lost, giving Japan the ultimate control over the Korean Peninsula. As Korea was on their hands, they were free to put military and modernize Korea without the influence and disturbance of others. The Annexation of Korea began.

Bibliography:

"Matthew Perry." World History: The Modern Era. ABC-CLIO, 2012. Web. 15 May 2012.

"Meiji Restoration." World History: The Modern Era. ABC-CLIO, 2012. Web. 15 May 2012.

"Modern History: The Meiji Restoration and Modernization." Asia for Educators | Columbia University. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 May 2012.

"Perry & Opening of Japan." Naval History and Heritage Command. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 May 2012.

"Russo-Japanese War." World History: The Modern Era. ABC-CLIO, 2012. Web. 15 May 2012.

"Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895." World History: The Modern Era. ABC-CLIO, 2012. Web. 15 May 2012.

"Treaty of Ganghwa - New World Encyclopedia." Info:Main Page - New World Encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 May 2012.