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.
Board | CBSE Board, UP Board, JAC Board, Bihar Board, HBSE Board, UBSE Board, PSEB Board, RBSE Board |
Textbook | NCERT |
Class | Class 11 |
Subject | History |
Chapter no. | Chapter 7 |
Chapter Name | Paths to Modernisation |
Category | Class 11 History Notes in English |
Medium | English |
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:
- Nationalism: Kick out foreigners and Manchus (Qing rulers).
- Democracy: Government by the people.
- 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.
We hope that Class 11 History Chapter 7 (Paths to Modernisation) notes in English helped you. If you have any query about Class 11 History Chapter 7 (Paths to Modernisation) notes in Hindi or about any other notes of Class 11 History in English, so you can comment below. We will reach you as soon as possible…
Category: Class 11 History Notes in English