A movement to change politics through speech rather than force spread, and eventually a constitution and parliament were established. This marked the beginning of Japan as a constitutional state.
Basic Knowledge
In 1874, Itagaki Taisuke and others submitted the Memorial Calling for the Establishment of a Popularly Elected Assembly, beginning the Freedom and People's Rights Movement. In 1880, the League for Establishing a National Assembly was formed, and in 1881 the government issued the Imperial Edict on the Establishment of a National Assembly(promising to open it in ten years). In the same year, Itagaki Taisuke formed the Jiyuto, and the following year Okuma Shigenobu formed the Rikken Kaishinto. Ito Hirobumi studied the German (Prussian) constitution, established the cabinet system in 1885, and became the first prime minister. On February 11, 1889, the Constitution of the Empire of Japan was promulgated as a constitution granted by the emperor to the people.
1874 Memorial Calling for the Establishment of a Popularly Elected Assembly (Itagaki Taisuke)
1877 Satsuma Rebellion (Saigo Takamori, the last former-warrior uprising)
1881 Imperial Edict on the Establishment of a National Assembly; Jiyuto formed
1882 Rikken Kaishinto formed (Okuma Shigenobu)
1885 Cabinet system established; Ito Hirobumi becomes first prime minister
1889 Constitution of the Empire of Japan promulgated (February 11)
1890 First Imperial Diet; Imperial Rescript on Education
Further Study (Background and Effects)
The Constitution of the Empire of Japan was based on sovereignty of the emperor, who held supreme command of the army and navy. The parliament had two houses: the House of Peers and the House of Representatives. The people were called “subjects,” and freedom and rights were recognized “within the limits of the law.” In the 1890 first general election for the House of Representatives, voters were men aged 25 or older who paid at least 15 yen in direct national taxes, only about 1.1% of the total population. The Imperial Rescript on Education, issued in the same year, taught loyalty to the emperor and patriotism and became the center of prewar education.
- Itagaki Taisuke=Jiyuto / Memorial Calling for the Establishment of a Popularly Elected Assembly
- Okuma Shigenobu=Rikken Kaishinto / Waseda University
- Ito Hirobumi=first prime minister / constitution drafting / Prussian model
- Constitution of the Empire of Japan=granted constitution・sovereignty of the emperor
- Voters: men aged 25 or older paying at least 15 yen in direct national taxes(1.1% of the total population)
- 1877 Satsuma Rebellion=last former-warrior uprising (Saigo Takamori)
Points of Caution (Easily Confused)
① The Constitution of the Empire of Japan(granted, 1889, sovereignty of the emperor) and the Constitution of Japan(popularly enacted, 1946, popular sovereignty) are frequently compared. ② Distinguish the Jiyuto(Itagaki, radical French model) from the Rikken Kaishinto(Okuma, moderate British model). ③ The Satsuma Rebellion(armed rebellion) and the Freedom and People's Rights Movement(movement through speech) used opposite methods. ④ Ito Hirobumi used the Prussian (German) constitution as a reference, not the French or British constitution.
Practice
- Who submitted the Memorial Calling for the Establishment of a Popularly Elected Assembly in 1874?
- The Constitution of the Empire of Japan was modeled on the constitution of which country?
- State the tax qualification for voters in the first general election for the House of Representatives.