Shin,+Seung+Hun+(Steven)+TL+JAK

Partner : Julia Kim

media type="custom" key="18073516"

Taewongun (1864 - 1873) Cause : Took place of Kojong since his son was too young to rule. He strongly forbid foreign invasions and influence. His goal was to close Korea off from others. Effect : King Taewon’gun made a contract with both Qing and Tonghak army. He eventually became weak and failed to close Korea off fro foreign invasions. Significance : The King's failure to close off Korea from foreigners made Japanese invasion of Korea more likely. Japanese saw this as an advantage of expanding more land.

Kanghwa Treaty (1876) Cause : The threat of Japanese invasion and insistence of those who supported opening of ports Effect : It damaged the economy and soon debased the Korean currency and people lost wealth with rice prices increasing. The people needed a reform Significance : Because Korea had a weak economy and was in great need of a reform, Japan saw this as a chance to take over Korea.

The Kapsin Coup (1884) Cause : The people saw it as a chance to promote their enlightenment policies and rose up under the leadership of Kim Ok-kyun. Effect : It formed a new government and established a 14 point reform. The Japanese soon saw a no possible way to changed Korea from within. Significance : Since the Japanese had no way to change or modernize Korea from within, they had to attack and change Korea from the inside.

Tonghak Rebellion (1892-1895) Cause : The strict tax systems and since the Koreans disapproved the external invasions by foreign powers and the internal corrupt politics with the lack of justice, they rose up and protested. Effect : They were defeated by the Japanese armies and the people forced the government to see the need for internal reform. Significance : The Japanese had an excuse to attack Korea with a greater control of Korean economy.

Sino-Japanese War (1894) Cause : The Japanese attacked China and started the Sin-Japanese War to drive the Chinese away and to reclaim their land of Korea. Effect : Since the Japanese won the war, it was able to establish a pro-Japanese government in Korea. They made new reforms, with new laws and tax systems. Significance : The Japanese became the strongest military in Asia and won the debate over whom would take over the Korean Peninsula.


 * __Works Cited:__**