Meiji Restoration of Japan

In the year of 1853, Commandore Matthew Perry showed up in Japan with 4 warships under his command in Tokyo with a request from the United States government to open its ports to trading and to establish diplomatic relations between the two nations. The Japanese were aware of western imperialist aggression in other parts of Asia and the presence of warships suggested that this request could be backed up with force. This made the Japanese sign the treaty of kanagawa with the United States. The Japanese were astounished of Matthew Perry's vessels. The Japanese never saw this type of creation and technology before. They called those Black ships because of the black smoke the ships threw out. The abolition of feudalism made possible tremendous social and political changes. Millions of people were suddenly free to choose their occupation and move about without restrictions. By providing a new environment of political and financial security, the government made possible investment in new industries and technologies. This made Japan's government to start building railways and shipping lines and much more. Japan started getting morwe industrialized with factories and started trading with other countries. Japan is an archipelago because an archipelago is a cluster of islands frequently formed by volcanic activity.