Kenny Yuen
GH2 H4
HW #10
Pg 704
2. Understanding Ideas : Why did the Japanese want to expand their influence during the late 1800s?
4. Summarizing Ideas : What new economic and social problems were created by Japanese modernization?
2. The Japanese wanted to expand their influence because it would provide both new sources of raw materials for the country’s growing industries and new markets for the products of those industries. Another reason was that it would show the nations of the West just how far Japan had progressed.
4. Some economic problems were that it brought about a higher standard of living and improved medical care to Japan, spurring population growth. Cities also grew rapidly, and every piece of available land was put into use for agriculture. Even then, an increased food supply couldn’t support the constant population growth. Japanese people emigrated away from Japan to Korea, Taiwan, Hawaii, and thousands more to the United States. Another problem was that Japan’s rapid industrialization used up most of its raw materials and needed to import them.