AP Success - AP World History: Labor in Meiji Japan Analyzed
"In the midst of the mountains everybody knows, Where the sound one hears is the sound of waterfalls One finds the Fuji Cotton-Spinning Company of Suruga I came here as a punishment for defying my parent Now I toil at Suruga, Never to defy my parents again. People come to Suruga, Thinking they will save money, But one cannot make any money here. We don’t sleep at night, we work the evening shift. Our life spans are shortened. All of the us are wretched, all.... Though the regulations are unjust, This factory was a built on regulations. And if they are broken it’s an offense.... Stealthily I creep to the gate To be abused by the gatekeeper. Weeping, I flee to the dormitory."
In the Midst of Mountains Everybody Knows, Japanese Factory Song, 1880s
Question 1
The source 'In the Midst of Mountains Everybody Knows' primarily reflects which of the following aspects of the Meiji period in Japan?
The cultural renaissance and revival of traditional arts.
The expansion of democratic rights for Japanese citizens.
The successful modernization of Japanese military forces.
The challenges faced by factory workers during industrialization.
Question 2
The reference to 'punishment for defying my parent' in the source suggests which of the following about Japanese society during the 1880s?
Parental authority was declining due to the influence of Western individualism.
Filial piety and obedience to parents were highly valued cultural norms.
Children were often sent to factories as a form of legal punishment.
Factory work was considered an honorable and desirable occupation.
Question 3
The mention of 'regulations' in the factory song most likely indicates that the factory was:
A place where workers had significant input into the conditions of their labor.
An example of a cooperative business model owned by the workers themselves.
Operated under strict rules that governed workers' behavior and productivity.
Managed in a way that prioritized workers' health and well-being over profits.
Question 4
The experience described in the factory song can best be used as evidence of which of the following broader historical processes?
The global spread of Enlightenment ideals about individual rights and liberties.
The decline of agrarian societies and the return to a feudal economic system.
The rise of nationalism and the creation of a unified national identity.
The social and economic disruptions caused by the Industrial Revolution.
Question 5
The factory worker's lament about the inability to 'save money' and 'shortened life spans' suggests which of the following about the economic impact of industrialization on laborers?
Workers often faced exploitation and harsh conditions that limited their ability to improve their economic status.
Industrialization provided workers with ample opportunities for savings and financial security.
The government implemented successful policies to redistribute wealth and protect workers' rights.
Labor unions were effective in negotiating higher wages and better working conditions for factory workers.
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