Who is admiral matthew perry

At the time, many Americans believed that they had a special responsibility to modernize and civilize the Chinese and Japanese.

In the case of Japan, missionaries felt that Protestant Christianity would be accepted where Catholicism had generally been rejected. Other Americans argued that, even if the Japanese were unreceptive to Western ideals, forcing them to interact and trade with the world was a necessity that would ultimately benefit both nations. In the s, the Far Eastern squadron of the U.

Navy sent several missions from its regional base in Guangzhou Canton , China, but in each case, the Japanese did not permit them to land, and they lacked the authority from the U. Government to force the issue. In , President Millard Fillmore authorized a formal naval expedition to Japan to return shipwrecked Japanese sailors and request that Americans stranded in Japan be returned to the United States.

He sent Commodore John Aulick to accomplish these tasks, but before Aulick left Guangzhou for Japan, he was relieved of his post and replaced by Commodore Matthew Perry. Perry first sailed to the Ryukyus and the Bonin Islands southwest and southeast of the main Japanese islands, claiming territory for the United States, and demanding that the people in both places assist him.

He then sailed north to Edo Tokyo Bay, carrying a letter from the U. President addressed to the Emperor of Japan. By addressing the letter to the Emperor, the United States demonstrated its lack of knowledge about the Japanese government and society. At that time, the Japanese emperor was little more than a figurehead, and the true leadership of Japan was in the hands of the Tokugawa Shogunate. Perry arrived in Japanese waters with a small squadron of U.

Navy ships, because he and others believed the only way to convince the Japanese to accept western trade was to display a willingness to use its advanced firepower. Perry to the Emperor of Japan Japan's Response Upon seeing Perry's fleet sailing into their harbor, the Japanese called them the "black ships of evil mien appearance.

Primary Source Documents Following are the texts of three letters from the United States to Japan asking that Japan open its doors to trade. What was Japan like when Perry arrived? What other countries made treaties with Japan at this time? What were some of the terms of the treaties? What were some of the problems caused by the foreign trade resulting from the treaties?

Pretend you are a newspaper reporter for a New York paper at the time of Perry's arrival in Japan. Write an article describing his arrival and the Japanese reaction. He agreed to offer assistance to shipwrecked sailors and provide fuel and other provisions to American ships at two Japanese ports: Hokodate in the north and Shimoda in the south.

These ports were distant enough from Edo that he could maintain the isolation of the capital. But on the issue of allowing foreign trade, Abe stood his ground and refused. Perry reluctantly accepted this concession because he believed he had achieved the first step in opening the door and trade would follow. Four years later, the United States and Japan signed a commercial treaty establishing formal trade relations.

Was Perry bluffing when he threatened to use force? We will never know what he would have done if the Japanese bakufu had refused to negotiate. His strategy of intimidation was more effective than even he realized at the time, because he was unaware of the extent to which Japan was both militarily unprepared and politically divided, leaving the country vulnerable to attack.

For Japan, the agreement led to a period of social and political upheaval. Lord Abe resigned his post in and passed away two years later at the age of Perry died soon after, in These two leaders changed the course of history for Japan and the United States.

This turn of events ushered in political change, military buildup, and social transformation for the Japanese people that set the nation on a course toward becoming a military and industrial world power.

It also opened the door to eastern migration. Growing American industries like the railroads also helped to spur Japanese immigration to Hawaii and California in the late nineteenth century, supplying a pool of cheap immigrant labor.

Given that his visit had set in motion an imperial rivalry in the Pacific that culminated in World War II, it is not surprising that it was torn down during the war.

President Millard Fillmore and U. Navy Commodore Matthew C. Perry to the Emperor of Japan Feifer, George. New York: Smithsonian Books, Herring, George C.

From Colony to Superpower: U. Foreign Relations since Morison, Samuel Eliot. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, Schroeder, John H. Upcoming Events Explore our upcoming webinars, events and programs. View All Events. Invest In Our Future The most effective way to secure a freer America with more opportunity for all is through engaging, educating, and empowering our youth.