The Meiji Restoration, known to some as the Meiji Enlightenment, was largely a political response to the "unequal treaties" imposed on Japan at the of the Tokugawa Era by the United States.

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A previously displaced role of emperor was essentially reinstated, continuing the reign of the Japanese imperial family.

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The Meiji Restoration marks the opening of Japan's borders to the outside world after about 250 years of isolation.

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Japan experienced imperial restoration, the end of the shogunate, military reform, and industrial and economic growth.  Japan's previous set in stone social hierarchy was abolished.

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Japan formed a military under the Meiji rule, and later imposed a universal conscription law (compulsory service).

This era was wrought with rebellions, specifically from the Samurai.

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This was Japan's era of industrialization.  While agriculture was still essential, growing industry allowed for the economy to slowly improve.

The Meiji Constitution was proclaimed in 1889 on February 11.

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The unequal treaties were eventually revised in 1894, as Japan was becoming a recognizable world power for the first time in Japanese history.  This, coupled with the 250 years of isolation, is an important aspect as to Japan's upcoming expansion. Japan had developed extreme ethnocentrism largely due to these two important aspects of Japanese history.

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