Creating an Outline

Below is a template of what your outline should include. Notice the basic structure of the body
paragraphs. You should be writing a claim that supports your overall thesis, followed by several
pieces of evidence, and analysis to explain how that evidence supports the claim.

A. Introduction: [Provide some basic background about your topic here. Think about writing an
ID: explain the who, what, where, and when (context); bullet points]
a. Who
i. Japan declined United States president’s political proposal
ii. US wanted trading agreement
iii. Japan fear of drown in European development.
b. What
i. flash switch from a handicraft to industry and machine manufacturing
b. Were
i. Worldwide
c. When
i. 18th century, from 1750 to 1840.
d. Thesis: (Remember, this will serve as the last sentence of the first paragraph.)
Japan made rapid steps to industrialize after the Meiji Restoration of 1868. To create a
potential nation as the Western powers, the Meiji Restoration had as goals to have an
economic and political modernization, and a social-military development.
A. Claim (Body paragraph) #1: Meiji Restoration’s first goal was to industrialize in order to
accomplish an economic modernization that would boost the whole country’s profits and so
its government and citizens economic situation.
a. Evidence #1: “The government sometimes confused businesses with inconsistent
policies. But more often, it supported them to establish domestic industries (and drive
out foreign companies). Big business groups started to form.”
i. Analysis:
1. Government to boost the profitability
2. Wanted economy to equal or exceed western economic power.
b. Evidence #2: “Mitsui Zaibatsu--a big merchant family in the Edo period. Its original
business was kimono (Japanese dress) distribution and money changing. In Meiji,
gained the status of a treasury depositary of the central government (very profitable)
 and succeeded in internal organizational reform. Banking, coal mining and trading
("Mitsui Trading Company") became the main business areas.”
i. Analysis:
1. The Meiji Restoration
a. supported and provided resources to businesses and citizens
b. wanted to grow into powerful economy using their own
traditions / culture
c. business families - Mitsui Zaibatsu - grew rapidly
i. Kimono dress selling
B. Claim (Body paragraph) #2: For development, the country had to go through substantial
changes not only in its economic situation but in its political side by establishing a national
constitution and parliament which is every nation's heart; these ones define how the country
grows and so its citizens life quality.
a. Evidence #2: “The emperor's position as the sovereign leader of Japan had been
reasserted… in theory. In reality, the Japanese government was now controlled by the
emperor's new samurai advisors.”
i. Analysis:
1. Worried too much freedom = violence and instability
b. Evidence #1: The Meiji Constitution was promulgated in 1889 and, after an election,
the first imperial parliament was convened in 1890. Japan became the first non-
Western country with a functioning constitution (outside the West, Turkey also had a
constitution, but it was short-lived).
i. Analysis:
1. Meiji constitution helped Japan become “the first non-Western country
with a functioning constitution”
2. changed how free the country was
a. create an organized system
b. Achieve main objective: money and so power.
C. Claim (Body paragraph) #3: To have a social-military modernization Japan went through a
change in its policies that would sow how Westernized Japan was. This was needed to
remain with national pride and join the status of “first-class countries.”
 a. Evidence #1: “Inoue's intent with the Rokumeikan was to impress Western visitors,
by creating a faultless Western atmosphere in which diplomats and foreign dignitaries
would feel themselves not among "natives" but among cultural equals.”
i. Analysis:
1. show how Japan was Westernized
2. government built a ballroom named Rokumeikan in Hibiya
a. invited foreign diplomats for evening balls.
b. Evidence #2: “Another feature of Meiji foreign policy is expansionism. To protect
Japanese independence and interest against Western intervention, it was considered
necessary to construct a zone of influence around Japan.”
i. Analysis:
1. government excited alliance with Korea
2. still had the closed-door policy
3. conclude a treaty with diverse levels of benefits for each of them but
Japan beneficiated the most.
D. Conclusion
Japan made rapid steps to industrialize after the Meiji Restoration of 1868. To create a potential
nation as the Western powers, the Meiji Restoration had as goals to have an economic and
political modernization, and a social-military development.