why were the samurai rebelling

Because they were losing right to kill commoners, rape women, oppress peasents. Looting peasents was the only way they knew to earn money which became illegal. It was the reason of rebellion. It had nothin to do with tradition as this movie depicts.

Samurai were the most overrated warriors in history of mankind. The real honorable warriors who dont get their due are Sikhs, Rajputs and Marathas.

In the movie it is explained, and others have explained it above, so I wont repeat.

The real (historical) reason is here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satsuma_Rebellion

SpiltPersonality

The rebels were objecting to the use of cloned soldiers (seen en mass at the end of the movie). When the Imperial Forces used their death star... er gattling gun, a new hope was formed between the rebel alliance and Yoda... er, I mean the Emperor.


I can't imagine why.

Tradition, dispute them being horrible majority they wanted to keep the honor in fighting and the change brought upon them... It's like if you could remove nukes now would you not fight for it? Or taxes xD

Simply put, the new modernization meant that the shoguns could no longer oppress the majority of Japan & the new consolidated emperor was going to be the only one worshiped as a god...albeit a god that served a parliament

In short, they wanted as little equality for the Japanese people as possible.