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The Rise Of The Late And Early 20th Century

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The period surrounding the late and early 20th century was the most dramatic era in modern history. It was a period where Western ideals were pushed by motivated empires with ambitions of wealth and expanding territory and, while impossible to distinguish the most influencing factor that led to the Westernization of nations on a global scale, it is easy to determine key points that played important roles in world history. With Western cultures emerging with both technological and military advantage over secluded and obsolete empires, it was only a matter of time before the West inspired and impacted subjugated nations to build an empire of their own. Countries such as Japan, Russia, as well as Europe’s scramble for Africa are prime examples of existing legacies from the imperialistic era of the late 19th century and onto the early 20th century. A balance of imperial expansion and their eventual collapse were the key components utilized by Western nations to modernize and westernize the world between the periods of 1850 and 1950. Perhaps the most dramatic example of a country highly influenced by Western ideals was Japan in the early 20th Century. Initially, Japan faced severe social issues, primarily with crop failure, economic turmoil, and a rising merchant class in the late 19th century under the Tokugawa rule. To further exacerbate domestic issues, Japan was also under pressure from European nations who wanted to open trade ports in Japan. These demands were

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