The Freedom and People's Rights Movement, which sought the rights of the samurai, was temporarily down, but it was reheated as a movement to open a parliament, and it expanded nationwide, involving local influential people such as landowners and urban commerce and industry. I went.
Political changes in the 14th year of the Meiji era triggered by internal conflicts in the government
Political association Patriotic Society Is 1880 League for the Establishment of the National Assembly Renamed to Kenkichi Kataoka / Kono Hironaka Is represented by Petition to open parliament And request the immediate opening of the Diet. However, the government refuses to do so and embarks on a crackdown on the Freedom and People's Rights Movement.
In spite of the government's crackdown, the movement spread all over the country, and white papers requesting the establishment of a parliament were submitted to the Senate from all over the country.
On the other hand, 1875 [ Apologize for the establishment of a gradual constitutional government The government, which had declared that it would shift to a constitutional government, also realized a government-led constitutional politics . Steer to. However, the government was lost in the assassination of Toshimichi Okubo, the most powerful man, and lacked a strong leader, causing internal conflict.
From Hizen who was dissatisfied with the despotism of the Sat-Chō clan Participation Shigenobu Okuma Enacted a constitution and opened a parliament, a parliamentary cabinet modeled after the United Kingdom Insist on introducing a system. To this, Iwakura Tomomi / Ito Hirobumi Sat-Chō Clan sect Is a German-style political system that empowers the monarch Insisted and confronted.
At that time, Pioneer's property withdrawal case Was happening, and the attacks on the government and the demand for the establishment of a parliament were intensifying. In this case, Kiyotaka Kuroda, a former Satsuma clan, tried to sell the government property of the Hokkaido Development Commission to Tomoatsu Godai, a political entrepreneur from the same clan, at an unreasonably low price.
The government, which saw Okuma as involved in this incident, was in 1881 ( Meiji 14 ). ) To expel Shigenobu Okuma. [ Political change in the 14th year of the Meiji era ]
At the same time, opening of the Diet Edict 1890 We promise to open a parliament in Japan and succeed in avoiding intense political criticism.
This political change in the 14th year of the Meiji By Hirobumi Ito Sat-Chō feudal clan administration established And establishment of a constitutional monarchy with strong monarchy Government-led preparations have been made towards.
Political party formation and my pseudo-constitution
Immediately after the apology of the Diet, a political party based on the League for the Establishment of the National Assembly was born. Itagaki Taisuke Liberal Party advocating French-style radicalism with the leader is. Based on radical scholars and wealthy farmers who insist on sovereign people and universal suffrage It was made.
On the other hand, Shigenobu Okuma was chased by the government. Is a Rikken Kaishintō To form.
British-style constitutional monarchy He insisted on Tongzhi Era, and mainly used urban commerce and industry and intellectuals as the support base.
For these parties, government party Was formed as Rikken Teisei Party is.
Genichiro Fukuchi played a central role in advocating conservative and sovereignty, but he did not become a force that could compete with the civil rights faction, and 1883 . dissolution I will do it.
In addition, the apology for the establishment of the Diet has gathered the expectations of the people and is actively [ private pseudo-constitution (private constitution) . ] Was made. However, this apology for the establishment of the parliament was the result of the Freedom and People's Rights Movement and was also a means for the government to divide the movement.
The government tampered with the moderates by promising to open a parliament, reduced the movement by splitting it with the radicals, and cracked down on the radicals.
With the addition of the government's repression and repression measures and the recession caused by Matsukata's finances, the members of the lower party rapidly evolved into the Chichibu Incident, which attacked usury and police.
The Chichibu Incident caused by the economic recession
Due to the government's policy of repression and repression and the recession caused by Matsukata's finances, some Liberal Party members and farmers with difficulty in living formed an organization called the Peasant Party and caused a riot. The biggest of these is the 1884 Chichibu Incident.
The Chichibu region was developed mainly in the sericulture industry, but there are many people who are in debt and lose land and household goods due to the recession. The debt repayment delinquency movement and the Liberal Party's radicals gradually intensified, and the Peasant-centered Peasant Party attacked usury.
As a result, the army will emerge, the riots will be suppressed, and the Freedom and People's Rights Movement will gradually decline.