The Effects of Western Influence in China and Japan

Question

This activity will help you meet this educational goal:
You will explain the effects that Western influence had on the governments and societies of China and Japan.

Directions
Read the instructions for this self-checked activity. Type in your response to each question, and check your answers. At the end of the activity, write a brief evaluation of your work.

Activity
In this activity, you will review important events in Chinese and Japanese history during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. You’ll also examine how certain events related to Western imperialism affected China and Japan.

Part A
Question
Drag each tile to the correct box.

Match each event in Chinese and Japanese history with its description.

Tiles
Taiping Rebellion
Treaty of Nanjing
Open Door Policy
Russo-Japanese War
Boxer Rebellion
100 Days of Reform
Treaty of Kanagawa
Meiji Restoration
Pairs
peasant revolt against Qing dynasty in China
that lasted 14 years but failed to topple the government
arrowBoth
1900 uprising in which Chinese nationalists
attacked foreign missionaries and businesspeople;
was suppressed after foreign intervention
arrowBoth
signed after Opium Wars; forced China to open
more ports to British trade and established
extraterritoriality rights for British citizens
arrowBoth
1899 informal policy that gave foreign nations
equal access to trading rights in China
arrowBoth
1854 policy that opened two Japanese ports
to US merchant ships
arrowBoth
resulted in Japanese victory; demonstrated power
of new Japanese military to the world
arrowBoth
campaign led by Qing emperor Guang Xu
to modernize China and compete with Western nations
arrowBoth
marked the end of shogun rule and feudalism
and the establishment of imperial Japan
arrowBoth
Correct!
Part B
Think about how foreign imperialism affected government and society in China and Japan in the nineteenth century. In two short paragraphs, compare and contrast how each country responded to Western influence. Each paragraph should be 50–75 words.

Space used(includes formatting): 442 / 30000
Submitted!
Show Sample Answer
Self-Evaluation
How did you do? Rate your work on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 as the highest score. Then write a brief evaluation of your work. Note what you learned and what challenged you.

Answer 1

Part A: Matching Events with Descriptions

Pairs:

1. Taiping Rebellion - peasant revolt against Qing dynasty in China that lasted 14 years but failed to topple the government
2. Boxer Rebellion - 1900 uprising in which Chinese nationalists attacked foreign missionaries and businesspeople; was suppressed after foreign intervention
3. Treaty of Nanjing - signed after Opium Wars; forced China to open more ports to British trade and established extraterritoriality rights for British citizens
4. Open Door Policy - 1899 informal policy that gave foreign nations equal access to trading rights in China
5. Treaty of Kanagawa - 1854 policy that opened two Japanese ports to US merchant ships
6. Russo-Japanese War - resulted in Japanese victory; demonstrated power of new Japanese military to the world
7. 100 Days of Reform - campaign led by Qing emperor Guang Xu to modernize China and compete with Western nations
8. Meiji Restoration - marked the end of shogun rule and feudalism and the establishment of imperial Japan

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Part B: Comparison of Responses to Western Influence

In response to Western influence, China faced significant challenges, resulting in internal strife and social upheaval. The Qing dynasty attempted to modernize through initiatives like the 100 Days of Reform, yet imperialism led to widespread resentment among the populace. The Taiping and Boxer Rebellions demonstrated the social unrest caused by foreign domination, though these revolts ultimately failed to restore sovereignty and stability.

Conversely, Japan embraced Western influence more proactively during the Meiji Restoration. The Japanese government recognized the need for modernization and transformed its military and economy. Japan sought to compete with Western powers, culminating in victories such as the Russo-Japanese War. This willingness to adapt resulted in a stronger national identity and a shift from feudalism to a modern imperial state.

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Self-Evaluation

I would rate my work a 4 out of 5. I successfully matched the historical events with their correct descriptions and provided a clear comparison of how China and Japan responded to Western influence. I learned about the differing approaches each country took to imperialism, highlighting Japan's proactive modernization versus China's struggle with internal rebellion. It was challenging to condense complex historical narratives into short paragraphs, but this exercise helped me synthesize information effectively.