Final answer:
The Meiji government refused extraterritoriality to assert full sovereignty and establish Japan as equal to Western powers, as part of the broader modernization during the Meiji Restoration.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Meiji government refused extraterritoriality due to a strong desire to establish Japan as an equal among Western powers and to assert full sovereignty over its own land and legal system. By the late 19th century, Japan had actively adopted many aspects of European civilization, including its military and legal systems. This modernization, along with reforms like the codification of laws and the overhaul of the police and judicial systems, positioned Japan to reject the notion of extraterritoriality, which infringed upon its sovereignty. Extraterritoriality was seen as a vestige of Western superiority and imperialism, allowing foreigners to be tried in their own courts rather than the Japanese legal system, effectively placing them above Japanese law.
Resisting extraterritoriality was part of a broader movement that saw the Meiji Restoration transform Japan's society, military, and economy. The new government's efforts to end extraterritorial rights demonstrated Japan's determination to be recognized as a modern, independent nation, free of unequal treaties that had been imposed by foreign powers.