Name: __________________________________
Date: _________________
Mr. Armstrong
SS8 | AIM #: __________
Commodore Mathew Perry & the Treaty of Kanagawa
By the 1852, the U.S. had been trading in the Orient for several years. That
year, President Millard Fillmore sent Matthew C. Perry to Japan to open
diplomatic and trade relations. Perry surmised Japan's traditional isolation
policy could be changed if he didn't take "no" for an answer, and came with a
superior naval force to press his demands. On July 2, 1853, Perry arrived in
Tokyo Bay. After threatening to deliver the president's message by force, if
necessary, the ruling Shogun government relented and asked for time to
consider the president's offer. In 1854, Perry returned to Japan with seven ships and 1,600 men.
After more than a month of negotiations, the Treaty of Kanagawa was concluded on March 31 of
that year; the pact assured the 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 relations.
Essential Questions:
1.
Why was Perry sent to Japan?
2.
What did Perry use to intimidate Japan into signing the Treaty of Kanagawa?
3.
What did the Treaty of Kanagawa assure?
LETTER FROM U.S. PRESIDENT MILLARD FILLMORE AND U.S. NAVY
COMMODORE MATTHEW C. PERRY TO THE EMPEROR OF JAPAN (1852 1853)
Selected Letter:
From
Commodore
Matthew
C.
Perry [Sent
in
Connection
with
the
Delivery
of
a
White
Flag]
July
14,
1853
“For
years
several
countries
have
applied
for
trade,
but
you
have
opposed
them
on
account
of
a
national
law.
You
have
thus
acted
against
divine
principles
and
your
sin
cannot
be
greater
than
it
is.
What
we
say
thus
does
not
necessarily
mean,
as
has
already
been
communicated
by
the
Dutch
boat,
that
we
expect
mutual
trade
by
all
means.
If
you
are
still
to
disagree
we
would
then
take
up
arms
and
inquire
into
the
sin
against
the
divine
principles,
and
you
would
also
make
sure
of
your
law
and
fight
in
defence.
When
one
considers
such
an
occasion,
however,
one
will
realize
the
victory
will
naturally
be
ours
and
you
shall
by
no
means
overcome
us.
If
in
such
a
situation
you
seek
for
a
reconciliation,
you
should
put
up
the
white
flag
that
we
have
recently
presented
to
you,
and
we
would
accordingly
stop
firing
and
conclude
peace
with
you,
turning
our
battleships
aside.” – Commodore Mathew Perry
Essential Questions:
1. “SOURCE” this document:
- Author:
- Letter addressed to:
- Date:
- Relevance/ Topic:
2. What is the overall tone of this letter? Highlight a line to support your answer.
3. What is the letter demanding?
4. What does the author threaten Japan with if it does not cooperate?
5. What does Commodore Perry offer the Japanese? Why?