Changes

===Decline and Fall===

===Decline and Fall===

The period of the shogunate's decline and fall is known as the [[Bakumatsu period]], which is typically said to begin in [[1853]], with the arrival of Commodore [[Matthew Perry]] and the [[Black Ships]].

The period of the shogunate's decline and fall is known as the [[Bakumatsu period]], which is typically said to begin in [[1853]], with the arrival of Commodore [[Matthew Perry]] and the [[Black Ships]]. Though most of the Western powers had similar interests in Japan, and similar geographic position of bases, colonies, or trade routes in East Asia and/or the Pacific, it has been argued that it was the acquisition of California in [[1848]] and the desire for a refueling station conveniently located between [[San Francisco]] and [[Shanghai]] that contributed to the US being the one to put sufficient force behind the effort to make it successful.<ref>Schirokauer et al., 161.</ref>

<!--Please expand. As there are (or will be) separate articles for Bakumatsu, Meiji Restoration, etc, there is no need for an extremely extensive, thorough, or detailed treatment here, but all the key points should be covered.-->

<!--Please expand. As there are (or will be) separate articles for Bakumatsu, Meiji Restoration, etc, there is no need for an extremely extensive, thorough, or detailed treatment here, but all the key points should be covered.-->