The Tokugawa became weak, and new nationalistic leaders began to take control in Japan. These new leaders wanted to .

As Tokugawa rule weakened, leaders of the Meiji Restoration sought to strengthen Japan so it could compete with powerful Western nations. They adopted new technologies and government, military, and educational systems, so their goal was to modernize Japan. Protecting traditions alone or returning to an agrarian society would not have built the modern nation they wanted.

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