Final answer:
The Meiji Restoration was the transformative reform program in Japan beginning in 1868, ending the shogunate and modernizing the country.
Step-by-step explanation:
The massive reform program launched in Japan after the changes in the country's governance is known as the Meiji Restoration. This period is named after Emperor Meiji, characterized by significant political, social, and industrial transformation. Commencing around 1868, the Meiji Restoration marked the end of the Tokugawa shogunate and the restoration of imperial rule, signaling a pivot towards modernization and westernization. The Meiji Restoration began in 1868 and marked a period of modernization and industrialization in Japan. The movement aimed to strengthen Japan against foreign influence and involved reforms in various aspects of the country's governance and society.
Key steps towards unification and modernization included studying the British model for industrial development, the creation of the Charter Oath which is often regarded as Japan’s first constitution, restructuring of the military, and reformation of the tax system. Discontented samurai who rebelled against these profound changes were defeated in the Satsuma Rebellion, strengthening centralized imperial authority and further consolidating reforms.