Causes and Course of the First Sino-Japanese War (1894–1895)
- The war began over control of Korea, which both China and Japan viewed as strategically vital.
- Japan, modernized under the Meiji reforms, had built a strong army and navy modeled on Western powers.
- China’s military lagged behind due to failed reforms like the Self-Strengthening Movement.
- The immediate cause was the Donghak Rebellion (1894) in Korea, prompting both nations to send troops.
- Japan’s superior organization and technology led to quick victories on land and sea, including at Pyongyang and the Yalu River.
Definition
Donghak Rebellion
a peasant uprising in Korea that triggered foreign intervention and war.
Definition
Modernization
- The process of updating technology, industry, and infrastructure to meet new economic and social needs.
The First Sino-Japanese War (1894–1895)
Japanese Strategy and Victory
- Japan’s navy, trained along British lines, quickly destroyed China’s Beiyang Fleet.
- The Japanese army used railways and telegraphs effectively to coordinate campaigns.
- The fall of Port Arthur (1894) and Weihaiwei (1895) marked major turning points.
- Japan’s victory showed the success of Meiji military reforms and national unity.
Results of the War
- The Treaty of Shimonoseki (1895) forced China to cede Taiwan and the Liaodong Peninsula and recognize Korean independence.
- Japan gained the right to trade in Chinese ports and received a large indemnity.
- However, the Triple Intervention by Russia, France, and Germany forced Japan to return Liaodong, fueling resentment toward the West.
- The victory signaled Japan’s arrival as a modern power and exposed China’s weakness.
The Russo-Japanese War (1904–1905)
- Tensions grew as both Japan and Russia sought influence in Manchuria and Korea.
- After failed negotiations, Japan launched a surprise attack on the Russian fleet at Port Arthur in February 1904.
- The war was fought on land in Manchuria and at sea in the Tsushima Strait, where Japan achieved a decisive naval victory.
- Japan’s modern army and efficient supply systems outperformed the larger but poorly organized Russian forces.
- The war ended with the Treaty of Portsmouth (1905), mediated by the United States.
