Why did meiji government decide to modernise
1. In order to avoid colonization by Western powers: The Meiji government saw the rapid colonization of Asia by Western powers and realized the importance of modernizing in order to strengthen the country and prevent colonization by foreign powers.
2. To strengthen the country's defenses: The Meiji government realized that Japan's traditional samurai-based military was no match for modern Western armies, and that modernizing and industrializing the military was necessary to defend the country.
3. To improve the economy: The Meiji government recognized that Japan's economy was lagging behind Western countries and that modernization was necessary to improve economic development and increase the country's wealth.
4. To catch up with Western countries: The Meiji government saw the rapid industrialization and modernization taking place in Western countries and realized that Japan needed to catch up in order to compete on the global stage.
5. To enhance cultural and social development: The Meiji government also recognized that modernization was necessary to improve the country's cultural and social development, including education, healthcare, and infrastructure. By adopting Western technologies and practices, Japan could improve the overall quality of life for its citizens.
Overall, the Meiji government decided to modernize in order to strengthen the country both economically and militarily, to avoid colonization by Western powers, and to improve the overall quality of life for its citizens.