At first the Meiji Government kept the class system, introducing the peerage system by transferring the samurai class, the previous ruling class, into one of the classes of the new system as Shizoku (literally, the warrior class), but the major political changes the government took, including Haihan-chiken (abolition of feudal domain and establishment of prefectures), Conscription Ordinance and Chitsuroku-shobun (measures to abolish hereditary stipends) were significant blows to the privileged class.
明治政府は華族制度の創設や武士身分の士族への編入など、当初は旧来の身分制度をある程度継承したものの、廃藩置県・徴兵令・秩禄処分といった政策の強行は特権身分に対して大きな打撃を与えた。