| State |
Entry |
Exit |
Combat Forces |
Population |
Losses |
| Japan |
1877 |
1877 |
300000 |
37000000 |
15000 |
| Samurai |
1877 |
1877 |
25000 |
100000 |
6000 |
Three years later, the last major armed uprising--but the most serious
challenge to the Meiji government-- took shape in the Satsuma Rebellion, this
time with Saigo playing an active role. The Saga Rebellion and other agrarian
and samurai uprisings mounted in protest to the Meiji reforms had been easily
put down by the army. Satsuma's former samurai were numerous, however, and they
had a long tradition of opposition to central authority. Saigo, with some
reluctance and only after more widespread dissatisfaction with the Meiji
reforms, raised a rebellion in 1877. Both sides fought well, but the modern
weaponry and better financing of the government forces ended the Satsuma
Rebellion. Although he was defeated and committed suicide, Saigo was not branded
a traitor and became a heroic figure in Japanese history. The suppression of the
Satsuma Rebellion marked the end of serious threats to the Meiji regime but was
sobering to the oligarchy. The fight drained the national treasury, led to
serious inflation, and forced land values--and badly needed taxes--down. Most
important, calls for reform were renewed.
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