Evaluate the political and economic reasons for the crisis of the Bakumatsu period (1853–1868) in Japan.

The question requires that candidates make an appraisal of the political and economic reasons for the crisis of the Bakumatsu period in Japan, weighing up their importance or otherwise. Candidates may offer equal coverage of political and economic reasons, or they may prioritize their evaluation of one of them. However, both aspects must be a feature of the response. Political reasons could include the lack of political representation of the emergent merchant class, the political impact of Commodore Perry’s visits and subsequent treaties and weak leadership during the crisis of 1857–1863. Economic reasons could include the impact of drought and population increase on formerly prosperous peasants and the samurai, and the impact of unequal trade treaties. It may be argued that the frustrated daimyo were supported by social classes who were suffering economically, showing how political and economic reasons were combined. Candidates’ opinions or conclusions will be presented clearly and supported by appropriate evidence.

The question required that candidates make an appraisal of the political and economic reasons for the crisis of the Bakumatsu period in Japan. This was a relatively popular question. There was excellent knowledge demonstrated of the economic and political problems facing Japan in the time period before the Bakumatsu crisis. Knowledge of political reasons was generally stronger than economic factors and some candidates also drifted too far into social problems. There were also many candidates who needed much closer focus on how these factors led to the crisis of the Bakumatsu period rather than just a discussion of the problems themselves.