Chapter – 7

Paths to Modernisation

In this post we have given the detailed notes of Class 11 History Chapter 7 (Paths to Modernisation) in English. These notes are useful for the students who are going to appear in Class 11 board exams.

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Chapter 7: Paths to Modernisation

Introduction

• This chapter tells the story of how East Asian countries—Japan, China, Taiwan, and Korea—became modern.
• Modernisation means changing from old ways to new ones with industries, technology, education, and strong governments.
• In the 1800s, Japan and China faced big challenges from Western countries (like Britain and the USA) who wanted trade and power.
• Japan modernized quickly and became strong, while China struggled and took longer.
• Taiwan and Korea also have their own stories of modernisation, tied to Japan and China.

Section 1: East Asia in the 19th Century

China’s Situation:

• Ruled by the Qing dynasty, which started in 1644 and was strong for a long time.
• By the 1800s, Qing weakened because Western countries forced China to trade (e.g., Opium Wars).
• Lost wars, faced civil wars (fights inside the country), and couldn’t stop foreigners from taking control.
• Example: Britain took Hong Kong after the Opium War (1842).

Japan’s Situation:

• A small island country, isolated from the world under the Tokugawa shogunate (1603-1867).
• No trade with most countries except limited contact with the Dutch.
• Suddenly opened up in 1853 when the USA forced it to trade.

Big Changes:

• China fell apart and couldn’t modernize fast.
• Japan changed quickly after 1868, built a strong army and industries, and even started its own empire (took Taiwan in 1895, Korea in 1910).
• Japan beat China in a war (1894-95) and Russia (1905), proving it was powerful.

Section 2: Japan’s Path to Modernisation

Japan Before Modernisation

• Political System:
  • Emperors ruled in name, but real power was with shoguns (military leaders) since the 12th century.
  • Tokugawa Shogunate (1603-1867):
    • Country split into 250 areas called domains, each ruled by a daimyo (lord).
    • Shogun controlled daimyo by making them live in Edo (now Tokyo) part-time so they wouldn’t rebel.
    • Samurai were warriors who worked for shoguns and daimyo, like a special elite group.
• Changes Before 1868:
  • Late 1500s: Peasants lost weapons, only samurai could carry swords (stopped fights).
  • Daimyo had to live in their domain capitals, making towns grow.
  • Land was measured to collect taxes fairly, helping the economy.
• Economy and Culture:
  • By 1600s, Edo was the biggest city in the world, bigger than any in Europe.
  • Other big cities: Osaka and Kyoto, plus smaller castle-towns (over 50,000 people).
  • Trade grew—merchants sold goods, people used money more.
  • Arts like theatre and books became popular; people could rent books cheaply in Edo.

The Meiji Restoration (1868)

• Why It Happened:
  • 1853: US Commodore Matthew Perry came with “black ships” and forced Japan to open trade.
  • Japan saw China lose to Britain in the Opium War (1839-42) and feared the same fate.
• What Happened:
  • 1868: People overthrew the shogun, Emperor Meiji took power.
  • Capital moved from Kyoto to Edo, renamed Tokyo (“eastern capital”).
• Goals:
  • Slogan: “Fukoku Kyohei” (Rich country, strong army).
  • Wanted to avoid being controlled by the West, like India or China.
• Big Changes:
  • Education: New schools started in the 1870s, compulsory for all by 1910, taught modern subjects and loyalty to the emperor.
  • Army: Modern military created, all men over 20 had to serve.
  • Government: New laws, courts, and a system to stop rebellions (censorship, controlled political groups).
  • Emperor’s Role: Seen as a god-like figure (descendant of the Sun Goddess) but also a leader of Western-style change (wore military uniforms).

Modernizing the Economy

• Steps Taken:
  • 1870-72: Built first railway from Tokyo to Yokohama.
  • Bought machines from Europe, hired foreign experts to teach workers.
  • Sent Japanese students abroad to learn.
  • Gave money and tax breaks to companies like Mitsubishi and Sumitomo to build ships and factories.
• Zaibatsu:
  • Big businesses run by families, controlled Japan’s economy until after World War II.
• Population and Cities:
  • 1872: 35 million people; 1920: 55 million.
  • Encouraged migration to Hokkaido, Hawaii, and Brazil to reduce pressure.
  • Cities grew—1925: 21% lived in cities; 1935: 32% (22.5 million).
• Workers:
  • 1870: 700,000 in manufacturing; 1913: 4 million.
  • Most worked in tiny workshops (less than 5 people), not big factories.
  • Over half were women at first; men took over by the 1930s.
  • 1886: First strike by women workers.

Aggressive Nationalism

• Meiji Constitution (1889):
  • Made a parliament (Diet), but only a few could vote, and the emperor/military had more power.
• Military Power:
  • Army and navy answered only to the emperor, not the government.
  • 1899: Only active generals could be ministers.
• Wars:
  • 1894-95: Beat China, took Taiwan.
  • 1904-05: Beat Russia.
  • 1931: Invaded China.
  • 1941-45: Fought in World War II (Pacific War).
• Problems:
  • Military wanted more land, democracy weakened, people who disagreed were silenced.

Daily Life Changes

• Family Life:
  • Old way: Big families with many generations under one boss (patriarch).
  • New way: Small “nuclear” families—husband worked, wife stayed home.
• New Things:
  • 1920s: Cheap houses (200 yen down, 12 yen/month), trams, parks, department stores.
  • “Moga” (modern girl): Young women with new styles and ideas about equality.
  • Entertainment: Radio (1925), movies (from 1899), theater (e.g., actress Matsui Sumako).
• Writing:
  • Used Chinese characters (kanji) plus two Japanese alphabets (hiragana, katakana).
  • Helped spread knowledge fast.

Environment and Protests

• Problem: Fast growth hurt nature—cut trees, polluted rivers.
• Tanaka Shozo (1841-1913):
  • Farmer’s son, elected to parliament, led protests (e.g., 1897 against Ashio Mine pollution).
  • Forced government to act.

After World War II

• Defeat (1945):
  • August 1945: US dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
  • Japan surrendered, lost its empire.
• US Occupation (1946-52):
  • Removed military power, broke up zaibatsu, gave land to farmers.
  • New constitution with “no war” rule (Article 9), women voted in 1946.
• Recovery:
  • Economy grew fast (“miracle”), helped by US support and wars (Korea, Vietnam).
  • 1964: Tokyo Olympics and bullet trains (200 mph) showed Japan’s success.
• Environment Issues:
  • 1960s-70s: Pollution (e.g., mercury in Minamata) led to protests and strict laws.

Section 3: China’s Path to Modernisation

Early Challenges

• Qing Dynasty (1644-1911):
  • Strong at first, but weak by 1800s.
  • Lost to Britain in Opium Wars (1839-42, 1856-60), forced to allow opium trade.
• Opium Trade:
  • Britain grew opium in India, sold it in China, took silver to buy tea/silk.
  • Hurt China’s economy and people.
• Reforms:
  • Leaders like Kang Youwei and Liang Qichao tried to modernize government and army, but failed.

Establishing the Republic (1911)

• Sun Yat-sen (1866-1925):
  • Studied medicine, inspired by democracy, led revolution.
  • 1911: Overthrew Qing, became first president of Republic of China.
• Three Principles:

• 1. Nationalism: Kick out foreigners and Manchus (Qing rulers).
  2. Democracy: Government by the people.
  3. Socialism: Fair wealth and land for all.
• Problems:

• • Warlords (local leaders) took power, country stayed weak.
• May Fourth Movement (1919):
  • Students protested foreign control after World War I.
  • Wanted science, democracy, and end to old traditions (e.g., foot-binding).

Rise of the Communist Party (CCP)

• Founded (1921):
  • Inspired by Russia’s revolution, wanted to end inequality.
• Mao Zedong (1893-1976):
  • Focused on peasants, not just city workers.
  • 1928-34: Built a base in Jiangxi, redistributed land.
  • 1934-35: Long March (6,000 miles) to Yanan to escape Guomindang.
• War with Japan (1937-45):
  • CCP and Guomindang fought Japan together, but CCP grew stronger.
• Victory (1949):
  • CCP beat Guomindang, founded People’s Republic of China.
  • Guomindang leader Chiang Kai-shek fled to Taiwan.

New Democracy (1949-65)

• Goals:
  • United all classes, took control of economy, ended private land.
• Great Leap Forward (1958):
  • Wanted fast growth—people made steel in backyards, formed communes (shared farms).
  • Failed: Steel was bad, food shortages killed millions.
• Ideas:
  • Mao wanted a “socialist man” who loved country, people, work, science, and sharing.

Cultural Revolution (1965-78)

• What Happened:
  • Mao attacked old culture and critics with Red Guards (students).
  • Sent educated people to villages, valued ideology over skills.
• Impact:
  • Chaos—schools closed, economy hurt, Party weakened.
• Change:
  • By 1975, focus shifted to industry and discipline.

Reforms from 1978

• Deng Xiaoping (1904-97):
  • Kept CCP in charge, opened economy to markets.
• Four Modernisations:
  • Improve science, industry, agriculture, defense.
• Results:
  • China became rich and strong, but inequality grew.
  • 1978: “Fifth Modernisation” poster demanded democracy.

Section 4: Taiwan and Korea

Taiwan

• History:
  • 1949: Chiang Kai-shek set up Republic of China in Taiwan after losing to CCP.
• Growth:
  • Built industries, traded with China, but China claims Taiwan as its own.
• Today:
  • Better relations with China, but independence is a big question.

Korea

• Japanese Rule (1910-45):
  • Japan took Korea, banned its culture, used Koreans as workers.
• Liberation (1945):
  • Japan lost World War II, Korea freed, split at 38th parallel (North: Soviet, South: US).
• Korean War (1950-53):
  • North attacked South, US helped South, China helped North.
  • Ended in 1953, still divided.
• South Korea’s Growth:
  • 1960s-70s: Park Chung-hee led fast industrial growth (textiles, steel, ships).
  • 1970: New Village Movement improved rural life.
  • 1997: IMF crisis—ran out of foreign money, citizens donated gold to recover.
• Democracy:
  • 1961: Park’s military coup.
  • 1987: June Democracy Movement won direct elections.
  • 2016: Protests removed President Park Geun-hye.

Key Definitions

• Modernisation: Changing to a society with industries, technology, and new ideas.
• Shogun: Japan’s military ruler under the emperor.
• Daimyo: Lords who ruled Japan’s domains.
• Samurai: Japan’s warrior class.
• Zaibatsu: Big family businesses in Japan.
• Meiji Restoration: 1868 event when Emperor Meiji took power to modernize Japan.
• Opium Wars: Wars (1839-42, 1856-60) where Britain forced China to accept opium.
• Long March: 1934-35 CCP’s 6,000-mile journey to escape Guomindang.
• Cultural Revolution: 1965-78 Mao’s campaign to erase old ideas in China.
• Four Modernisations: Deng’s plan to improve science, industry, agriculture, defense.

Important Dates

• Japan:
  • 1603: Tokugawa shogunate starts.
  • 1853: Perry arrives.
  • 1868: Meiji Restoration.
  • 1870-72: First railway.
  • 1889: Meiji Constitution.
  • 1894-95: War with China.
  • 1904-05: War with Russia.
  • 1931: Invades China.
  • 1945: Atomic bombs.
  • 1964: Tokyo Olympics.
• China:
  • 1644: Qing dynasty begins.
  • 1839-42: First Opium War.
  • 1911: Republic founded.
  • 1919: May Fourth Movement.
  • 1921: CCP founded.
  • 1934-35: Long March.
  • 1949: People’s Republic of China.
  • 1958: Great Leap Forward.
  • 1965: Cultural Revolution starts.
  • 1978: Deng’s reforms.
• Korea:
  • 1910: Japan takes Korea.
  • 1945: Korea freed.
  • 1950-53: Korean War.
  • 1961: Park’s coup.
  • 1987: June Democracy Movement.
  • 1997: IMF crisis.

Extra Topics

Historical Writing

• China: Sima Qian (145-90 BCE) was a famous early historian.
• Japan: Meiji government (1869) wrote history to show their success.
• Both valued books and records, helping us learn about them today.

Geography and Culture

• China:
  • Big country with rivers (Yellow, Yangtse, Pearl), mountains.
  • Han majority, many languages (e.g., Cantonese), diverse food (dim sum, spicy Szechuan).
• Japan:
  • Islands (Honshu, Kyushu, Shikoku, Hokkaido), earthquakes.
  • Mostly Japanese, small Ainu and Korean groups, eat rice and fish (sushi).

Intellectual Ideas

• Japan:
  • Fukuzawa Yukichi: Wanted Japan to be like the West.
  • Miyake Setsurei: Focus on Japanese values.
  • Ueki Emori: Pushed for democracy and women’s rights.
• China:
  • Kang Youwei, Liang Qichao: Used old ideas for new reforms.
  • Sun Yat-sen: Mixed Japanese and Western ideas.
  • Mao: Focused on peasants and equality.

Women’s Roles

• Japan: Women worked in factories, “Moga” showed new freedom.
• China: Mao ended forced marriages, but Guomindang limited women to home roles.

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