Final answer:
The major goal of the Meiji Restoration was to modernize Japan's economy to compete with Western nations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The major goal of the Meiji Restoration was to modernize Japan's economy to compete with Western nations. Japan, realizing the need to catch up with the Industrial Revolution and prevent colonization, sent scholars abroad to learn from the United States and Western Europe, and brought Westerners to Japan to spread their knowledge. The Meiji Restoration led to the rapid industrialization of Japan, building a strong nation that would take its place on the world stage.