The initial steps taken during this period became a key part of the reforms and changes made during the rule of Emperor Meiji.
When the shōgun and Emperor happened to both die at the same time, the bakufu (shogunate government) created the Keiō Reform to keep Japan from falling into disunity or disarray.
It Westernized many aspects of the system of bureaucracy, the military, and the economy, focusing on governmental promotions by merit (not by birth) and trade policies with other nations.
The bakufu hoped that these Reforms would somehow end the Rebellions of Satsuma and Chōshū – which did not happen.
In addition to the death of the shōgun Iemochi and the death of Emperor Kōmei, intervening factors exacerbated some of the conditions which the shogun intended to ameliorate.