Who Is Commodore Matthew Perry's Opening To Foreign Influence In Japan

Treaty of Kanagawa- allowed us ships to refuel at 2 ports in Japan and increase relations between the 2 countries

By 1852. the United States had been trading in the Orient for several years. President Millard Fillmore sent Perry to Japan to open diplomatic and trade relations. He was resilient in his negotiations with Japan and would not take “no” for an answer. On July 2, 1853, Perry arrived in Tokyo Bay. He threatened to bring the President’s message by force if necessary. On July 14, steam frigates Susquehanna and Mississippi moved close to the shore and landed 400 seamen and marines. Perry proceeded to the council house with special escort and pomp and presented his documents personally to Princes Iduzu and Iwami and was given receipt of delivery. Perry left after three days he left and told them he would return for an answer to the letter. Seven months later he returned to Japan with a larger and more powerful squadron. His return was faced with a totally different reception. The Japanese people were more receptive and cordial. They exchange gifts and entertainment and the treaty was negotiated, opening to ports to American commerce. After months of negotiations, the Treaty of Kanagawa was concluded on March 31, 1854. The treaty assured good treatment of shipwrecked U.S. seamen, permitted U.S. ships to fuel and supply at two Japanese ports and arranged for a U.S. diplomat to reside in Japan to further trade

Perry initially delivered President Fillmore's request for a treaty to a representative of the Japanese emperor in July 1853. Perry returned with a larger force in 1854, arriving in Edo (Tokyo) Bay, and obtained the signature of Japanese authorities to the Treaty of Kanagawa on 31 March 1854. As a result of this treaty of permanent friendship, a U.S. consul was stationed at Shimoda, U.S. vessels were allowed access to the ports of Shimoda and Hakodate to obtain provisions, and shipwrecked seamen from U.S. vessels were to receive the assistance of Japanese authorities. This treaty led to significant commercial trade between the United States and Japan, contributed to opening Japan to other Western nations, and ultimately resulted in the modernization of the Japanese state. Upon th completion fo his mission in Japan, Commodore Perry returned to his home in Newport, RI, was awarded the

For that reason, President Fillmore sent Matthew Perry to persuade Japan to open its borders to America; this allowed America to acquire an important trading partner whilst its route to expansion beyond the American

Japan was an isolated country for over two hundred years. This led the United States to send Commodore Matthew Perry overseas in hopes to convince Japan to be more accessible. Commodore Matthew Perry knew that his task would be challenging because of Japan’s reluctance to interact with other countries and its belief that it was the greatest country of all. As a result of Perry’s mission, Japan changed politically, socially, and economically.

When the US came to Japan’s shores in 1853, there was no other way than signing the treaty and opening up Japan for trade. The US displayed a superior military force that Japan could not match.

When Commodore Perry arrived with a squadron in Edo Bay in 1853, the Japanese realized that they were very behind and needed to modernize and industrialize. The Tokugawa shogunate ended and the Meiji period began, during which many reforms were introduced and Japan industrialized. The Meiji government abolished feudalism and replaced the daimyo in 1871 with a system of nationally appointed perfects, district administrators chosen from different regions. Political power was centralized and the emperor and his close advisors began to expand the power of the state. The Japanese government also sent samurai officials to Western Europe and the United States to study economics, politics, and technology. The goal of the samurai was Japan’s domestic

Two of the most apparent external influences for Japan to enter into World War Two would have to the opening of japan to trade from Commodore Perry, and economic and trade sanctions imposed by the United States thereafter. On July 8, 1853, Commodore Perry arrived in Tokyo bay with regards to re-establish commerce with Japan that had been non-existent in 200 years. In reading “Breaking Open Japan” Feifer said “Japan had long been open to new ideas from abroad” (Fiefer 17). The United States were particularly interested in commercial trade with Japan. First and foremost was the opening of Pacific ports in American control, the annexation of California, and the opening of trade with Chinese ports. In creating an American port in California it created a stream of pacific shipping as well as the need to secure coaling stations on the Pacific trade route. Japan also contained large amounts of coal deposits thus increasing the interest from the United States since coal was the natural resource of the 19th century. Secondly the United States economic sanctions after the period of opening proved to be the nail in the coffin for U.S/Japanese relations.

After centuries of dictatorship The Daimyo and samurai were successful in defeating all odds at taking control of Japan. The year 1868 marked mayor turning point as The Meiji restoration begun. The beginning of a modernization and industrialization era for japan had arrived Japan’s leaders was determined to transform japan for the best and established prosperity among the people. The Japanese did not expect Commander Mathew Perry backed by the United Sates Navy to show up at their doorstep and demanded that, japan change their ways they continued to introduce western culture as well technology to japan, with no surprise the Commander was portrayed evil and ready to conquer. Even though the Japanese were not very welcoming to the U.S, I think that their challenge was to destroy the barricade between the two and develop a relationship.

The men in the trading boats are bending down low as to gain more control over their oars and thus the direction of their boats in the dangerous and rough sea, as well as to drive their elongated and low vessels through the vicious waves. While Hokusai’s print takes inspiration from Western painting techniques and incorporates the distinctive European color named Prussian blue, it also highlights Japanese pictorial tradition. While adopting the low horizon line typical of Western painting, the master woodblock printmaker used in the foreground the traditionally flat and powerfully graphic forms of Japanese art to depict the threatening wave, mainly using curved

Isolation in Japan was becoming difficult as when a natural disaster struck or an epidemic broke out they had no one to help them in their circumstances. This then led Japan to be forced into a treaty with the Dutch, allowing them once again to trade with the Japanese. Thus began ancient Japan’s growth in new ideas and technologies. Later on Japan was then forced into another treaty with the Americans who traded weapons and war strategies. Ancient Japan’s armies were now becoming stronger and adapting to new weapons such as guns, this led to more treaties and trade.

One of the most important factors that contributed to the fall of the samurai during the Meiji restoration was the influx of trade and commerce in Japan at the end of isolationism. The decision to emphasize trade and commerce during this time period was made by the Japanese government, the bakufu. However, it marked a weakness that would lead to the downfall of the government and many high officials, which in turn affected the samurai greatly. During the beginning of the Tokugawa or Edo period, the Japanese established extreme control over interactions with foreign neighbors They expelled the Spaniards in 1624, the Portuguese in 1638, and after 1640, all foreign trade had been eliminated except for a small port that was left open for limited trade with the Chinese and Dutch under extreme supervision (Norman, 13). Moreover, all foreigners were required to leave the country. The bakufu believed that the expulsion of foreigners would protect their ability to trade as well as lead to a society that functioned more

Prior to 1858 and the arrival of Commodore Matthew Perry to the shores of Japan, the

Nevertheless, Perry’s attempt to open Japan and US trading with one another was groundbreaking and

I think the artist is able to communicate the bad condition of the ship and its crew is in. The mood of the work is scary and gloomy. The design and intensity of the waves, the changing weather, and the ships in the ocean seem to make the scene come alive. It really conveys a since of naturalism in the painting the way it depicts the environment around the ship.