With regard to the citizens, the government lifted various restrictions on freedoms that existed during the Edo period whereby the social standing system was abolished and replaced by one that made all people equal, as well as various other reforms such as freedom to travel across the country, freedom to choose occupations, freedom to have closely cut hair and freedom to carry a sword in belt.
国民には、江戸時代の自由の制限をなくし、身分の撤廃を行い四民平等とし、日本全国の行き来の自由を認め、職業の選択の自由や、散髪帯刀の自由など様々なことを改革していった。