The ruling body of Japan, during the 19th century, transitioned from rule under the Tokugawa dynasty to rule under the rulers of the Meiji Restoration. This change of power brought about the end of feudal Japan and the beginning of modernized Japan. The Tokugawa dynasty fell due to foreign encroachment, Tokugawa political and economic instability, and the changing roles and actions of Japan's daimyo and samurai. These tensions proved that a state of affairs was likely to bring about the fall of the dynasty. No civil war, battle, or event that occurred in Japan before July 14, 1853 would result in such radical change as afterward. that day. On July 14, 1853, Commodore Matthew Perry of the United States Navy delivered a letter from President Millard to the Emperor's representatives. When Perry delivered President Millard's letter, Japan would face an unpleasant reality: Japan was weak. After years of little to no contact with foreigners, Japan lagged behind European nations. They were behind economically, militaristically and technologically. When Perry arrived in Japan, he arrived on black-painted steamships ("black ships"). Japan was frightened by these ships. They realized that their own antiquated coastal batteries were almost useless against them and that Edo and the coastal shipping which supplied it were defenseless. And the Japanese navy was still made up of wooden ships. The United States also realized that it was more powerful than Japan. President Millard's letter placed demands on Japan that could not be easily ignored due to the military power of the United States. The demands were trade, at least for a short trial period, humane treatment of a... middle of paper ... the eternal aspects of Western civilization as they sought to keep within themselves their interior. the life and elements they considered intrinsically Japanese. The Tokugawa dynasty did not recognize this and attempted to distance Japan from the influence of Western civilization. It is precisely this weakness and derision that demonstrated the need for reform. Foreign encroachment, Tokugawa political and economic instability, and the changing roles and actions of Japan's daimyos and samurai were all factors that led to the fall of the Tokugawa dynasty. Foreign encroachment was the main reason for the fall, and was also a main cause of the political and economic instability of the Tokugawa and the changing roles and actions of Japan's daimyos and samurai. Without foreign encroachment, the other factors would have been weaker and not strong enough to bring down the Tokugawa dynasty..