“Commodore Perry’s expedition was the most important reason for the fall of the Tokugawa Shogunate.” Discuss.

The question requires that candidates offer a considered and balanced review of the statement. Candidates may refer to the political impact of the expedition and the subsequent unequal treaties that caused discontent among the daimyo, and which stoked the succession crisis of 1857 to 1858. There may be discussion of the economic consequences of the treaties, such as the arrival of cheap imports. In the long term, candidates may argue that the door had been opened to further unequal treaties, which prompted the growth of the anti-Western Sonno Joi movement, which further weakened the Shogunate. While other relevant factors, for example an unrepresentative, stagnant government system, long-term problems arising from over-population and frustration at the weakness of the bakufu, may be referred to, the bulk of the response will remain on the issue raised in the question. Candidates may agree, partly agree or disagree with the statement.

Candidates were required to offer a considered and balanced review of the statement that Commodore Perry’s expedition was the most important reason for the fall of the Tokugawa Shogunate. This was a popular question; however, it was not always addressed well as many candidates dismissed the importance of Perry's expedition immediately and wrote only about the longer term reasons.