US-Japan Relationship

May 2011Nickolas Harris

Investigate US-Japan Relations 1850-Present• A brief history of Perry and the

Black Ships• US and foreign Influences• Japans unique changes to foriegn

Imports, ideas.

1852 Late 1800s 1914-1920 1938-1945 1946--> Perry Meiji Restoration WWI (WWII) Post WWII

FIRST CONTACT

1852: Commodore Perry Arrives to the ports of Uraga Harbor

1854: Arrives to the Ports of Shimoda

1858: The Harris Treaty

Commodore Perry

Perry`s Arrival“Official” end of “sakoku” and Opening of Japan

-US forcefully opens ports-The first official contact with American diplomats.-The signing of the a Nibei`s Washin Jyouyakualso known as the “Kanagawa Treaty”.

Results:Japans realization that they are far behind the

West, which causes some disturbance amongst the Japanese.

People begin to consider embracing Western influences to catch up.

Black Ships

The Ships Americans took to the harbors of Tokyo in 1852 than to Kanagawa in 1854

*Significance:The ships superior navel power was utilized during negotiation to pursuade the Japanese officials to sign the “unequal treaties”.

Images of Mathew Perry

The BLACK Ships

What was the Image of Perry and the Black Ships

Discuss within your tables.

Images US Sailors had of the Japanese (pt.1)

Images US Sailors had of the Japanese (pt.2)

What was the Americans had of the Japanese?

Discuss within your tables.

Post Perry 1855-WWI 1910An episode of Friendship and Rivalry

Japan begun trading with other nations, and begun to sway away from traditional culture as the wealthy and Japan begun to wear western attire and the military begun training with western artilerary.

Meiji Restoration 1868-

• Following the visit from Perry, Japan was determined to catch up to the West. This meant to catch up in various industries, whether it be energy, military, economics and transportation.

• This period is also known as the Meiji Restoration

American Influence on theMeiji Restoration

The Treaty of Amity and Commerce-Opened up Japan to the United States to trade-Brought an end to Japans closed policy

The Harris Treaty-Endorsed by Townsend Harris-Gave the United States a powerful bargaining position regarding trade, the treaty was signed by the Shogun, and not the emperor.

UnEqual Treaties

Unequal Treaties: At the time the rest of Europe was creating

treaties with China, known as the “unequal treaties”, which was symbolic the Eastern-Western Foreign Relations at the time.

In Japan, the Harris Treaty created great havoc, because it was signed by the military and not the emperor.

1878 Relationship begins to Turn Sour

After a period of non-diplomacy, Japan begins to pressure the US to repremend previous treaties. However, the US declines to make major changes to their treaty regarding trade

Despite being allies in WWI, relationships between the US and Japan were appearing to not be one which would be easily repremended.

Bad Timing The same period Japan was going through the Meiji Restoration, the US was going through a Civil War

(1861-1865)

Japanese Aggression in The East

Throughout the early stages of the post WWI period, Japan continues to pursue further territory in China and Russia.

The US unhappy about this Japanese aggression in these territories begin to completely cut ties off with Japan.

Eventually in the 1930`s the US begins a full Embargo, which than elicits the infamous day of the bombing of pearl harbor.

Mukden Incident• However, as Japan begun to increase

influence at the international scale, there relationship with not only the United States, but most Western nations turned sour.

• Japan was bitter that Europeans were taking over Asian soil, and Europeans were bitter that Japan was not conceding to European colonization.

• The Muden, or Manchurian incident, was the starting point of WWII

Pearl Harbor

“Day of Infamy”

1941 Japan attacks Pearl Harbor

The War between the United States and Japan (The Pacific War) begins.

Key Events Prior to 1946

1852 First Visit1854 Opening of Japan1868-1912 Meiji Restoration 1914-18 US and Japan are allies in WWI1919 Japan increases territory beyond China into

parts of Siberia1931-32 Manchurian Incident1941 Pearl Harbor (Japan declares War)1945 Japan Surrenders to the United States

Post WWI Relations--Key Point---

*The section pertaining to the US and Japans Pacific Wars, and the trails that preceded have been omitted, because we have already covered those items before the Hiroshima field trip

1945-> A New Chapter Begins of US-Japan Relations