Final answer:
The Meiji Restoration in Japan was a period of rapid modernization and westernization in the late 19th century. Key events such as the opening of Japan and the fall of the Tokugawa Shogunate led to the Meiji Restoration, which involved disbanding the samurai class, implementing a nationwide military draft, and seeking knowledge and guidance from Western countries.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Meiji Restoration period of Japanese politics was influenced by several key events. The opening of Japan in 1854 and the fall of the Tokugawa Shogunate in 1867 created a dialogue between Japan and the West, which made Japan anxious about foreign imperialism. In response, Meiji officials understood that Japan needed to rapidly modernize in technology and industry to prevent colonization. As a result, Japan embarked on a course of modernization and westernization in the late 19th century.
One of the key steps taken during the Meiji Restoration was the disbandment of the samurai class and the implementation of a nationwide universal military draft in 1873. This helped to centralize power and create a strong national government. Additionally, Japan sent scholars abroad to learn from Western countries and brought Western advisers to Japan to spread their knowledge, resulting in the construction of factories and the modernization of the army and navy.