History Assignment
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The end to the Samurai Period
The flintlock gun
The flintlock gun had a lot to do with the ending of the Samurai. Portuguese traders came to Japan with guns to sell. These guns were very effective against Samurai, a close combat based fighter. These warriors would be weakened or taken out with a single shot. The gun worked as gunpowder was poured down into the muzzle, followed by a lead ball called a musket. The ball is rammed into the back of the gun with a ramrod. Another small amount of gunpowder is poured into the pan lid, located in front of the hammer. The hammer is them pulled back firmly and released. The flint at the end of the hammer strikes the frizzen and created a huge spark, able to launch that lead ball with lots of power and speed. These shots can range from about 75 to 100 meters.
The closing of Japanese Society
Throughout the Edo period, Japan closed all of their trade routes and closed Japan to all foreigners and forced all Japanese people to stay in Japan. This was mainly because of the flintlock gun. Japan decided to do this as they did not want any of the old Japanese traditions like Samurai to fade away from existence. This also led to the Tokugawa shoguns to gain more power.
The treaty of Kanagawa
An admiral who goes by the name of Commodore Perry first arrived in Japan from America in 1853. America was furious with Japan being closed, they were mainly mad because they closed the trade routes and forced Japan to open up their walls or they would take military force. Once Admiral Perry and his army of ships (known to Japan as the “black ships”) left Japan’s border, they built their walls higher. Once Admiral Perry returned, Japan had formed a treaty that gave America what they wanted. Once the borders opened, the Tokugawa shogun quickly collapsed. The Japanese thought that the shogun would protect them. Once the Tokugawa shogun were defeated, many others, like samurai attempted to fight off foreigners. This lead to Japan being taken over by foreigners in 1854.
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