The Need to Open JapanThe Americans wanted to be on good terms for three main reasons. The first was to set up a place where ships that ran on coal could refuel. The second was to have a safe place for ship wrecked sailors and whalers to wait in until they were rescued. (The Japanese had not been very kind to any shipwrecked sailors) The third was to open trade.
Perry's Expeditions"I was told there were ships on fire. I ran up the mountain to get a good look. The ships came nearer and nearer until the shape of them showed us they were not Japanese ships but foreign and what we had taken for conflict great at sea was really the black smoke rising out of their smoke stacks..." -Anonymous Eyewitness
Perry's first expedition with Japan in was not very successful. In July of 1853 he steamed into the harbor of modern day Tokyo with a squadron of steam ships outfitted with massive firearms. He demanded that the ports of Japan be open to America, that prisoners be treated well , and returned. The Japanese rejected his demands and Perry left. The second expedition was in the following February but he came with more ships, and more men. He threatened to move up the bay of Edo and onto the capital with his powerfully armed ships, and the Japanese relented and allowed him to begin negotiations. The TreatyThe Kanawaga treaty was signed March 31st 1854. This was a result of twenty-three days of constant negotiations. The ball was in Perry's court as Japan did not have a strong shogun, or the military might to resist Perry. The resulting treaty was very one-sided. American sailors were to be kept safe after shipwrecks, coal, water, and supplies were to be provided for American ships in several ports, a consulate was to be built in Shimado, and several years later the Japanese would finally allow for trade.
| Treaty of Kanagawa
|