Rōjū / Masahiro Abe before Perry's arrival Feels the need for reforms in the shogunate and embarks on it. This reform is Ansei Reforms It is called Kyoho Reform, Kansei Reform, Tenpo Reform of the three major reforms of the Shogunate. It is said to be the next reform.
The contents of the reform are to build turrets in Shinagawa and Uraga to strengthen the defense power of Edo from the threat of the sea near Japan by other countries, and to alleviate the bombardment training with air guns and live ammunition as military training to various clan. Did.
And, the talented Tozama Daimyo is admitted to participate in the shogunate , We have created a mechanism to solicit opinions widely. Former Mito feudal lord, Tokugawa Nariaki, Satsuma feudal lord, Shimazu Nariakira, Echizen feudal lord, Yoshinaga Matsunaga Etc. were selected as counselors. In addition, we also focused on training talented shogunate history.
Japan-US Treaty of Amity and Commerce signed
In this way, Masahiro Abe promoted human resources on a merit-based basis without being bound by conventional customs.
By intervening in politics with a foreign lord who had no voice in the shogunate until now, the authority of the shogunate will be lost, and this reform will become a factor to change the shogunate. ..
January 1854 , Perry came back and sought a strong response from the national book.
The shogunate succumbed to this attitude and will conclude the Convention of Kanagawa in March. Please check the following article for the contents of the treaty.
In 1856, Harris, who had been dispatched as Consul General of the United States, was forced to conclude a commercial treaty. Naosuke Ii, the elder at that time, signed the Japan-US Treaty of Amity and Commerce in 1858, despite the opposition of Emperor Komei and many other debaters.
Conflict over the 14th Shogun and Ansei Purge
While concluding a series of unequal treaties with other countries, the issue of succession of the 13th Shogun Iesada arises.
The influential feudal lords recommended Yoshinobu of the Hitotsubashi family, who had been regarded as capable for many years, and the Fudai daimyo, centered on the Ii family, recommended the Kii feudal lord, Tokugawa Iemochi. This confrontation became the composition of the Shogunate reforms and the conservative Tokugawa dictatorship.
Under such circumstances, the signing of the trade treaty by Naosuke Ii will bring the wrath of the Hitotsubashi faction daimyo and Emperor Komei. However, Naosuke pushes this through with a strong stance, decides Tokugawa Iemochi as the next general, and suppresses those who criticize the method.
That is the 1858 Ansei Purge is.
Many people in the Hitotsubashi faction who confronted Naosuke Ii were guilty of defeat and death due to this crackdown.
The opening of the country, which started with the arrival of Perry, created a new domestic confrontational structure as well as an opportunity to review the rule system of the Shogunate. The composition will be transformed into a confrontation between the Samurai faction and the Joi faction.