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Difficulty: MediumGlobal Spread of Industrialization

The following passage is an excerpt from the travel journals of a Japanese official visiting Great Britain in 1872:

"The black smoke rising from the chimneys in Manchester forms a dense cloud in the sky... If one asks the source of Britain’s immense wealth, the answer is always found in coal, iron, and the steam-powered machines that multiply the productivity of human labor. In the past, we believed that national strength depended solely on agriculture and the virtue of the ruler. However, having witnessed these Western workshops, we see that the true foundation of their power lies in the industrial arts and trade. If Japan is to maintain its independence and match the power of the West, we must establish our own factories, develop our mineral resources, and learn to construct these engines of wealth ourselves."

Which of the following developments in late-nineteenth-century Japan represents the most direct implementation of the views expressed in the passage?

  1. A
    The immediate transition of Japan to a socialist economy that outlawed private ownership of factories to protect urban laborers.
  2. B
    The development of a domestic Japanese economy based primarily on electricity, petroleum, and chemical manufacturing during the mid-nineteenth century.
  3. The Meiji government's state-sponsored construction of infrastructure, coal mines, and modern manufacturing plants.Answer
  4. D
    The adoption of early modern mercantilist trade policies designed to maintain a strict balance of trade by banning the import of foreign machinery.

Answer

The Meiji government's state-sponsored construction of infrastructure, coal mines, and modern manufacturing plants.
The option describing state-sponsored construction of infrastructure, coal mines, and factories is correct because during the Meiji Restoration, the Japanese state took the lead in financing and building early industrial facilities, shipyards, and railways, using Western expertise and technology to build national strength and avoid Western colonization.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the provided historical source to identify the author's main argument.
The author, a Japanese official in 1872, argues that Britain's wealth and power stem from industrial manufacturing (coal, iron, steam) rather than agriculture, and that Japan must build its own factories and develop resources to stay independent.
Understanding the source's core message is necessary to connect it to the correct historical outcome.
2
Evaluate the historical context of late-nineteenth-century Japan (the Meiji Restoration).
The Meiji government engaged in a state-led modernization campaign, importing Western technology and directly funding early industrial and infrastructural projects.
This step contextualizes the ideas in the passage within actual historical developments.
3
Compare the options to determine which one reflects the state-sponsored industrialization policies of Meiji Japan.
The option describing state-sponsored construction of infrastructure and factories directly matches the government's actions, while the other choices present historical inaccuracies or misconceptions.
This allows the selection of the correct option based on historical evidence.

Key Concept

State-sponsored industrialization in Meiji Japan as a response to Western power.
Estimated Time:1m 30s
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Topics

Global Spread of Industrialization

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