With the development of capitalism in the latter half of the Meiji era, labor problems will become more serious.
In the early 30s of the Meiji era, labor unions were formed in steel and railway businesses, and labor disputes began to take place, so the government 1900 . ( Meiji 33 ) Security Police Act to limit workers' unity Will be promulgated.
By this law, Japan's first socialist party Social Democratic Party Has been banned.
Dissatisfaction with the Meiji government
After that, socialists will continue their activities such as developing anti-war movements in the media.
After the Russo-Japanese War, the labor dispute became fierce, 1906 (Meiji 39) . Japan Socialist Party Will be formed, but will be ordered to dissolve the following year.
1908 (Meiji 41) At that time, the Second Katsura Cabinet Intensified the crackdown on the socialist movement, 1910 (Meiji 43) Arrests many socialists for attempting to assassinate Emperor Meiji.
This is a treason incident The following year, Kotoku Shusui Twelve of them were sentenced to death.
Later, the government set up a special high police officer at the Metropolitan Police Department to strengthen the crackdown on socialism.
However, Russo-Japanese War The subsequent chronic recession was not dispelled, workers' poverty and rural poverty became more serious, and dissatisfaction with the government continued to grow. Also, in the press world, criticism of the military proliferation policy, which ignored the fiscal deterioration, was increasing.
The demise of the Emperor Meiji and the beginning of the Taisho era
1912 (Meiji 45) amid growing public dissatisfaction Emperor Meiji Demise Taisho era Begins.
The Cabinet at that time was Second Saionji Kinmochi Cabinet was.
Japan's finances at that time were Russo-Japanese War debt In addition to 1906 (Meiji 36) Railway Nationalization Debt Because of that, the finances were a car of fire. As a result, they were trying to overcome financial difficulties by imposing heavy taxes on the people, but there were increasing calls for tax cuts not only in rural areas but also in urban areas due to the heavy taxes.
Based on public support Seiyukai's Saionji Cabinet Administrative reorganization and spending restraint are important issues However, the Army complains that it is difficult to budget for the advance into the continent.
Saizonoji refuses this request, but the Army goes out of control.
At that time, there was a rule that the Minister of the Army and the Minister of the Navy had to be active military personnel, and the Army had the minister resign and did not replace him from the army. As a result, the Cabinet will no longer function The Second Saionji Cabinet will resign To do.
The elders wondered what to do with the next cabinet, but in the end, Katsura Third Katsura Cabinet is born To do. However, because this was a disregard for public opinion, Yukio Ozaki of the Rikken Seiyukai and Tsuyoshi Inukai of the Rikken Kokumint were the main players in the [ Constitutional Protection * . ] [ Defeat the clan 】 Constitutional Protection Movement Will be expanded.
* To carry out politics based on the Constitution.
This movement is supported by a wide range of people and quickly spreads.
Riots and demonstrations will begin to appear around the Diet. Under these circumstances, it is said that a member of the Diet called Katsura by the window and pointed to the people who gathered before the Diet to resign, and the Katsura Cabinet resigned altogether.
Such [strong> protect the constitutional system The movement called First Constitutional Movement The event that forced the Katsura Cabinet to resign Taisho Political Change Is called.
Yamamoto Cabinet and Siemens scandal
The Taisho Political Crisis forced the Cabinet to resign, and the next prime minister was [ overthrowing the clan . The people were hoping for someone who could do it, but the next prime minister was the Navy Minister . [ Gonbei Yamamoto 】was.
It was a disappointing appointment, but the opposition Seiyukai Hara Takashi Promises cooperation by suppressing repulsion.
And the de facto Seiyukai Cabinet with most of the ministers at the Seiyukai. Was born.
As a result, the constitutional movement Reforms that have been received will proceed. The Minister of the Army and Navy has promoted revisions to the military minister's active military officer system and relaxation of strict bureaucratic recruitment conditions, which do not have to be active military.
The Yamamoto Cabinet went well like this, but one incident occurs.
Siemens scandal when it was discovered that Navy personnel had been bribed by the German company Siemens when purchasing a warship. Will occur.
The anger of the people who found out that there was a Navy soldier who was bribed by the warship he bought while suffering from heavy taxes was unimaginable.
The Rikken Doshikai, which had a conflict with the Seiyukai, will attack Prime Minister Yamamoto and enliven the opposition movement. The Seiyukai, which is the cornerstone of the Cabinet, protects Yamamoto, but the budget bill is rejected by the House of Lords, and the Yamamoto Cabinet collapses . To do.
Establishment of the Second Okuma Shigenobu Cabinet
With the rise of the national movement, the elders who chose the next prime minister were in trouble.
If all goes well, Seiyukai Governor Hara Takashi Was qualified, but Yamagata Aritomo, who hated political parties, refuses.
A white arrow stands for such an unexpected person.
Shigenobu Okuma who retired from politics at the age of 76 at that time was. At the time of the Meiji Restoration, he was the person who led the Meiji government with Ito, the hero of the Freedom and People's Rights Movement, and the Rikken Kaishintō . Is the person who launched. Rikken Doshikai and Kuomintang at that time Is following that trend.
Such Okuma is political change in 1887 He was said to have betrayed the government and could not become an old man. However, he was also the founder of Waseda University today and was a charismatic favorite among the public.
In this way, the elders of Yamaken and others tried to dispel the distrust of the people by making Okuma the prime minister. This operation triggered the Taisho Political Crisis two division expansion problem However, it will be a very successful personnel affair that will pass without great opposition.
This Second Okuma Shigenobu Cabinet Under these circumstances, Japanese diplomacy will be tested in the world.
1914 , World War I Outbreaks ...