Download I - WLWV Staff Blogs

1-6 Notes 3: American Imperialism in East Asia
What were America’s imperialist goals? How was America successful in meeting these goals?
Industrialization led to an increase in demand for luxury goods in the United States and Europe. Merchants
wanted to trade with East Asia for spices, perfumes, silks, and furniture.
China before Imperialism
In 1800, China was ruled by the Qing dynasty of the Manchus. This was a prosperous dynasty that rapidly
declined due to a combination of internal problems and external pressures. By 1800, Europeans had been
regularly trading with China for over 200 years, but they were restricted to a single port city at Guangzhou
(Canton). Much of this trade was controlled by the British who wanted to expand beyond their singular port.
China was a large, self-sufficient country and it traded mostly with itself. China saw itself as the Middle
Kingdom – the highest civilization in the world surrounded by barbarians. The Qing rulers favored an
isolationist policy, though Christian missionaries were allowed into the kingdom.
England Solves their Trade Problems with China
The English wanted luxury goods (silk, spices, and porcelain) and tea from China. It is estimated that the
average London worker spent 5% of their household budget on tea. Since China was self-sufficient, England
was importing more goods from China than China was importing from England. This was in opposition to the
current economic theory of mercantilism at the time.
mercantilism: an economic system of imperialist countries that had the imperialist country export more goods
to their colonies than they imported from those colonies
To change the trade balance to their favor, the English needed to find a good that they could provide that China
did not have. They found this in their colony of India – opium. The English began exporting opium to China
even though Chinese officials made it illegal. The English fostered their trade: they bribed officials, helped the
Chinese work out elaborate smuggling schemes to get the opium into China's interior, and distributed free
samples of the drug to innocent victims. The cost to China was enormous. The drug weakened a large
percentage of the population (some estimate that 10 percent of the population regularly used opium by the late
1800’s), and silver began to flow out of China to pay for the opium.
China Fights Back + Carving Up the Melon
Because opium addiction was severely injuring China, the Chinese government decided to take action. The
Chinese government tried to confiscate foreign stores. The confiscation of British opium under the new laws
was too much for the English who decided to punish China for interfering with their trade. This was the
beginning of the first Opium War (1839-1842). The non-industrialized Chinese lost both the first and second
Opium Wars.
After the two Opium wars, European countries began to exert a stronger influence over China. Treaties were
signed that gave rights to the Europeans and removed China’s rights to govern European activity in their
country. This became known as the “treaty system.” Along with being forced to agree with strong European
influence, pieces of China itself were also being carved away by European nations.
The Open Door Policy
By 1898, most of China had been partitioned into “spheres of influence” which were controlled by European
powers. The United States realized that they had missed the boat since they did not control any piece of China.
To protect American trade with China into the future, the United States suggested creating an “Open Door
Policy” in China. This policy would leave China independent (European countries could not completely take
over pieces of it) and it would allow all countries free trade with China.
1-6 Imperialism and WWI
Page 9
January 25, 2010
1-6 Notes 3: American Imperialism in East Asia
What were America’s imperialist goals? How was America successful in meeting these goals?
The United States sent their policy out to the other nations that had influence in China. None of these nations
agreed to sign it, but since none of the nations disagreed with the policy, the U.S. announced that the Open Door
Policy was enacted.
China tried to strengthen itself after this, but conservatives in the government put a stop to this. By 1911, China
was very weak and could not withstand a revolt led by followers of Sun Yat-sen; the Qing dynasty collapsed.
The Revolution of 1911 ended imperial rule in China. China is now ruled by a communist system, although
aspects of capitalism have recently been introduced into the economy.
Japan before Imperialism
Japan was ruled by the Tokugawa shogunate. This was a hierarchical system of government and society with
four distinct classes – the warriors, farmers, artisans, and merchants. Japan traded with the English and Dutch
and allowed Christian missionaries during the 1500’s.
In 1639, the shogun (ruler of Japan under the emperor) isolated Japan from the outside world. Christianity,
foreign trade, and the building of ocean traveling ships (long distance) were outlawed. A policy of strict
isolationism took over as even foreign books were banned. Some of the reasons for this include a fear that the
teachings of Christianity would cause the Japanese people to follow the leadership of the Pope or Jesus instead
of the shogun – also some Jesuits destroyed shrines which angered some Japanese. Only a tiny Dutch
(Netherlands) settlement was allowed in the city of Nagasaki.
America Visits Japan
The closure of Japan to foreign traders was a challenge to the imperialists so Commodore Matthew Perry was
sent to Japan in 1853 to try and establish trade between Japan and the United States. Matthew Perry sailed four
ships into Edo Bay in July 1853 – 2 steam-powered sailing ships which were pulling 2 sloops.
On this trip Perry delivered a message from the president of the United States, Millard Fillmore, and left shortly
thereafter. Perry returned in March 1854 with nine ships to receive the Japanese response. On this trip, Perry
and his crew stayed longer in Japan and exchanged gifts with important noblemen. The high point of these
activities was a treaty signed on March 31, 1854 in Kanagawa which met all of the U.S. government’s requests.
The Treaty of Kanagawa guaranteed good treatment of castaways, opened two Japanese ports for provisions
and refuge, and laid the groundwork for Japan’s reluctant acceptance of an American “consul”—which broke
down the remaining barriers to Japan’s incorporation in the global political economy. In 1858, U.S. consul to
Japan, Townsend Harris, signed the Harris treaty that called for the opening of several new ports for US trade
and residence along with an exchange of ministers. After Japan had agreed to this with the Americans,
European countries soon came to sign similar treaties as well.
After being “opened” by America, Japan decided to quickly westernize themselves – this process was known as
the Meiji restoration. Japan had seen what Europeans had done to China and wanted to keep that from
happening in Japan. Therefore Japan began to change their system of government, import technological ideas
such as the railroad and telegraph, and strengthen and modernize their defense system. This process led Japan to
become a world power in a short amount of time. By 1894, they had defeated China in the first Sino-Japanese
War over Korea. Japan’s increasing desire for world power would lead to conflict in the 20th century.
1-6 Imperialism and WWI
Page 10
January 25, 2010