The Tokugawa Shogunate

Introduction

Teacher: Erik Thomas

Subject: World History

Grade Level: 9th (Freshman) Standard Level



The Tokugawa Shogunate, also known as the Tokugawa bakufu and the Edo bkufu, was the last feudal Japanese military government. It existed between 1600 and 1868. While there was still a Japanese emperor during this time, he had no power, the government was completely controlled by the military, and by one family in particular. 

The head of the government, or Shogun, was always a member of the Tokugawa family, beginning with Tokugawa Ieyasu and ending with Tokugawa Yoshinobu (in Japanese, the family name comes first).

The Tokugawa Shogunate was the last time in Japanese history that the nation was completely closed off to the outside world. After the fall of the Shogunate in 1868, Japan started to become a world power.

Task

The goal of this WebQuest is for the student to understand the political and cultural structure of Japan during the Tokugawa Shogunate.

Process

Use the following web resources to answer the questions below:

History.com

Britannica.com

SJSU.edu

Asia for Educators

  1. Describe the political structure of Japan under the Tokugawa Shogunate.

  1. Name some ways in which the Tokugawa Shogunate attempted to limit the influence of Western civilization in Japan. 

  1. What was the trigger that caused the downfall of the Tokugawa Shogunate, and opened Japan to the global community? 

  1. Why did the Japanese community believe that the Emperor should hold absolute authority over the nation?

Responses are to be placed in your file in the classroom folder.

Evaluation

Short Answer Test Assessment Rubric 
  No Answer

0 pts		 Needs Improvement

4 pts		 Adequate

6 pts		 Quality

8 pts		 Exemplary

10 pts
Content 

10 pts

No Answer



Did not answer question. 

Needs Improvement



Answers are partial or incomplete. Key points are not clear. Question not adequately answered. 

Adequate



Answers are not comprehensive or completely stated. Key points are addressed, but not well supported. 

Quality



Answers are accurate and complete. Key points are stated and supported. 

Exemplary



Answers are comprehensive, accurate and complete. Key ideas are clearly stated, explained, and well supported. 
Organization 

10 pts (Answers are clearly thought out and articulated.)

No Answer



Did not answer question. 

Needs Improvement



Organization and structure detract from the answer. 

Adequate



Inadequate organization or development. Structure of the answer is not easy to follow. 

Quality



Organization is mostly clear and easy to follow. 

Exemplary



Well organized, coherently developed, and easy to follow. 
Writing Conventions 

10 pts (Spelling, punctuation, grammar, and complete sentences.)

No Answer



Did not answer question. 

Needs Improvement



Displays over five errors in spelling, punctuation, grammar, and sentence structure.

Adequate



Displays three to five errors in spelling, punctuation, grammar, and sentence structure.

Quality



Displays one to three errors in spelling, punctuation, grammar, and sentence structure.

Exemplary



Displays no errors in spelling, punctuation, grammar, and sentence structure. 

Conclusion

The Tokugawa Shogunate was a long and successful period of Japanese history. The political and social structure created by Tokugawa Ieyasu maintained Japan as a strong nation until outside forces finally caused the Shogunate to lose power. However, this created the opportunity for Japan to become a part of the global community, and eventually, a world power.

Teacher Page

Teacher: Erik Thomas

Grade Level: 9th grade Standard

Subject: World History