Analyze how the meiji restoration was similar and different from the changes instituted by otto von bismarck in germany. 150-200 words.

Both the Meiji Restoration in Japan and the efforts of Chancellor Otto von Bismarck in the German Empire were focused on unifying, strengthening and modernizing the government and economy of their nations.  

Bismarck led the way in uniting the many German states and principalities into a single, powerful German Empire, created in 1871.  In Japan, prior to the Meiji Restoration, shogun rule (rule by military leaders) held control over part of the country, but feudal warlords maintained much power in their own lands.  In 1868, shogun rule was ended and the emperor was restored to full power over the country.

A push for rapid industrialization characterized both Germany and Japan in the latter portion of the 19th century.  A key difference, however, was that the various German states had already begun industrializing before Bismarck came to power in Prussia and led the creation of the united German Empire. Bismarck's government strongly backed and increased industrialization efforts.   In Japan, before he period known as the Meiji Restoration, Japan was not focusing on industrialization.  Feudal arrangements persisted.  But  the new emperor took the name "Meiji," meaning "enlightened rule."  And under the reign of Emperor Meiji, which lasted till 1912, Japan aggressively pursued  modernizing and westernizing it economy and way of life.

explanation: j

superior technology and improved medical knowledge to foster imperialism. quinine enabled europeans

to survive tropical diseases and venture into the mosquito-infested interiors of africa and asia. the combination

of the steamboat and the telegraph enabled the western powers to increase their mobility and to quickly respond

to any situations that threatened their dominance. the rapid-fire machine gun also gave them a military advantage

and was in convincing africans and asians to accept western control. the following table summarizes the

causes of the new imperialism:

causes of new imperialism

economic military/political humanitarian/religious technological

need for markets need for military bases white man’s burden new medicine

raw materials national security spread of christianity new weapons

source of investments source of

pride—nationalism

social darwinism

(superiority of western

society)

transportation

i