Ii Naosuke vs Robert Schuman

Ii Naosuke was appointed tairo under Shogun Tokugawa Iesada. He took power during a succession dispute and used his authority to force through the shogunate's choice of successor, Tokugawa Iemochi, against the wishes of powerful daimyo.

Ii Naosuke signed the Treaty of Amity and Commerce with the United States, opening five Japanese ports to foreign trade and granting extraterritorial rights to Americans. This unequal treaty was signed without imperial approval, sparking widespread opposition and weakening the shogunate's legitimacy.

To suppress opposition to the treaty and his political maneuvers, Ii Naosuke launched the Ansei Purge, arresting and executing or exiling dozens of rival daimyo, court nobles, and samurai. This brutal crackdown silenced dissent but created deep resentment against the shogunate.

Ii Naosuke was assassinated by a group of ronin samurai from Mito and Satsuma domains outside the Sakurada Gate of Edo Castle. His death marked a turning point, weakening the shogunate's authority and accelerating the collapse of the Tokugawa regime.

Schuman served as Prime Minister from November 1947 to July 1948, leading a coalition government during the early Fourth Republic. His government focused on economic recovery, the Marshall Plan, and maintaining stability amid labor unrest and the onset of the Cold War.

As Foreign Minister from 1948 to 1953, Schuman drove European integration, including the ECSC and the proposed European Defence Community. He also supported NATO and the Council of Europe, shaping France's post-war foreign policy toward reconciliation with Germany and European unity.

As French Foreign Minister, Schuman proposed the Schuman Declaration on May 9, 1950, calling for the pooling of French and German coal and steel production under a supranational authority. This led to the creation of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), the foundation of the European Union.

Schuman served as the first President of the European Parliamentary Assembly (predecessor to the European Parliament) from 1958 to 1960. He continued to advocate for European federalism, though his influence waned as de Gaulle's more nationalist policies gained prominence.