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How did the Meiji government change the social position of samurai?

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Map showing the territorial expansion of the Japanese Empire from 1870 to 1942 across East and Southeast Asia and the Pacific. The map uses color codes to indicate the original Japanese territory in 1870, subsequent acquisitions, and the farthest extent of Japanese occupation and conquest by 1942, including parts of China, Korea, Manchuria, Southeast Asia, and numerous Pacific islands. An inset map displays the broader reach of Japanese control at its peak. — Empire of Japan The Empire of Japan, 1870–1942.

The Meiji government fundamentally dismantled the samurai class as part of its broader effort to abolish feudalism and modernize Japan. This transformation involved several key measures:

Social Reclassification: In 1869, the government replaced the old feudal hierarchy with a new system. Samurai were reclassified into shizoku (upper and middle) and sotsuzoku (lower, a rank soon abolished), while the rest of the population, including former pariah groups, were designated as commoners (heimin).1
Economic Dispossession: The government replaced the samurai's traditional stipends with interest-bearing, nonconvertible bonds. Because many samurai lacked commercial experience and faced high inflation, these assets often lost their value, leading to widespread impoverishment.1
Loss of Privileges: The government enacted laws to strip the samurai of their unique status symbols, such as their traditional hairstyles and the right to carry two swords, which had long served as the badge of their class.21
End of Military Monopoly: The 1873 introduction of nationwide conscription ended the samurai's traditional monopoly on military service, effectively rendering their warrior role obsolete.1

These changes triggered several rebellions during the 1870s, which the newly formed national army suppressed.21