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Background
Circumstances leading to the adoption of a constitution in 1889:
The 1st phase, 1870-1881
Split of the Meiji leadership in 1873 - It was the unity among different
samurai leaders from a few feudal clans in late Tokugawa times that
succeeded in bringing about the Restoration in 1868. This leadership unity
was broken in 1873.
Two national issues divided the Meiji leaders:
1. The question of the composition of the new modern army to be created Some conservative and traditionalist leaders, led by Saigo Takamori, argued
that the samurai should form the core of the new army, while other more
progressive leaders favoured an army composed of the conscripted peasants
in which the samurai would only be a minority.
2. The problem of national defence against Western imperialism - It was
Saigo, supported by Itagaki Taisuke, who urged a military expedition against
Korea. They argued that an external war would bring internal unity for the
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