The US “Opens” Japan to Trade DBQ Part 1
Class Set, Do Not Keep
Background: Commodore Perry Arrives in Japan
On July 8, 1853, residents of Uraga on the outskirts of Edo, the sprawling capital of feudal
Japan, beheld an astonishing sight. Four foreign warships had entered their harbor under
a cloud of black smoke, not a sail visible among them. They were, startled observers
quickly learned, two coal-burning steamships towing two sloops under the command of a
dour and imperious American. Commodore Matthew Calbraith Perry had arrived to force
the long-secluded country to open its doors to the outside world.
Commodore Perry's arrival was the first contact the Japanese had ever had with the
United states. Two hundred years before, the great military leader of Japan's ruling
Shoguns, Tokugawa Ieyasu had made a fateful decision to close Japan to outside influence.
With the exception of a handful of Chinese and Dutch merchant companies, Japan ended
all contact with the outside world. Unwelcome foreigners were killed on site. Japanese
citizens were kept from travelling abroad. Under this isolationist policy, the Japanese
enjoyed over two centuries of peace and economic stability. Warriors became
bureaucrats. Domestic trade flourished. Major highways laced the land. Lively towns
dotted the landscape, and great cities came into being. At the time of Perry’s arrival, Edo
(later renamed Tokyo) had a population of around one million. The very city that Perry’s
tiny fleet approached in 1853 was one of the greatest urban centers in the world—
although the outside world was unaware of this.
At this time, American fleets (large groups of ships) were already trading with nations
farther east like China and Vietnam. In cities like Canton, they purchased luxury goods
like tea, silk, and porcelain, the very items they could get in Japan.
So, Why did the US want access to Japan?
Background: In the days before the discovery of petroleum, whale oil supplied the fuel for the lamps that
illuminated the nights in American homes. In addition, the whale was the source of a boney substance called
baleen used in women's corsets, hairbrushes, buggy whips, collar stays and various other products. For
almost 400 years, Americans chased whales to near extinction, traveling the globe to find and extract
precious oil that was needed to fuel the growing American colonies, and later the expansion of the American
frontier and the products of the American industrial revolution. Rapid population growth and economic
expansion put ever-greater demands on the whaling industry resulting in longer voyages, rising costs, and
the depletion of its resource base.
Document A: Polynesian- Hawaian Weekly Newspaper, 1845, M.E. Bowles, Captain of the whaling
ship Jane
"The idea sometimes advanced by Captains of ships, who ought to know better, that 'there are now as
many whales as ever there were, that they had only been driven from particular grounds, &c.' is
preposterous (unlikely) in the extreme....That the poor whale is doomed to utter extermination, or at
least so near to it that too few will remain to tempt the cupidity (greed) of man, I have not a doubt."
Document B: Whale Chart, Japan in grey (detail, color added) by M.F. Maury, US Navy, 1851 New
Bedford Whaling Museum
Whale
sighting
Japan
1. Why would the Americans be interested in the waters off the coast of Japan?
Document C: “Japan” David Murray, Ph.D., LL.D., Late Advisor to the Japanese Minister of
Education, New York, 1896
Several causes contributed to the creation of a special interest in the United
States of America, concerning the opening of negotiations with Japan. One of
these was the magnitude (great size) to which the whale fishery had attained
(grown), and the large financial investments held in this industry by American
citizens. A second cause was the opening of China to foreign trade as a result of
the opium war. But the most active cause was the discovery of gold in
California in 1848, and the consequent development of that state as a centre of
trade. It was an early scheme to run a line of steamers from San Francisco to
the newly opened ports of China. To Hongkong the distance is about 6,149
nautical miles, and if a steamer is to traverse the whole distance without a
break, she must carry an enormous load of coal. The only remedy lay in
establishing a coaling station on the Japanese islands, and this could only be
effected when Japan abandoned her policy of seclusion and entered with a free
heart into the comity of nations.
Simplified: Several causes made the United States have a special interest in opening negotiations with
Japan. One of these was the great size of the whale fishing industry and the large financial investments
American citizens had made in that business. A second cause was the new access Americans had to trade
with China as a result of the Opium War. But the most important cause was the discovery of gold in
California in 1848, because it made California a center of trade. It was an early plan to run steamer ships
from San Francisco to the newly opened ports of China. To Hong Kong, the distance is about 6,149
nautical miles, and if a steam ship is to go the whole distance and back without stopping, she must carry
an enormous load of coal (for the steam engine). The only way to fix this was to place a coaling station on
the Japanese islands, but this could only happen when Japan gave up her policy of isolationism (staying
out of world trade) and joined other nations (in trade) with a free heart.
2. What are three advantages the United States will get if it can open trade with Japan?
Document D: President Millard Fillmore’s letter to the Emperor of Japan, 1852 (delivered to
Japan)
GREAT AND GOOD FRIEND: I entertain the kindest feelings toward your majesty's person
and government, and that I have no other object in sending him to Japan but to propose to
your imperial majesty that the United States and Japan should live in friendship and have
commercial intercourse with each other.
The Constitution and laws of the United States forbid all interference with the religious or
political concerns of other nations. I have particularly charged Commodore Perry to
abstain from every act which could possibly disturb the tranquility of your imperial
majesty's dominions.
…I am desirous that our two countries should trade with each other, for the benefit both of
Japan and the United States.
We know that the ancient laws of your imperial majesty's government do not allow of
foreign trade, except with the Chinese and the Dutch; but as the state of the world changes
and new governments are formed, it seems to be wise, from time to time, to make new
laws.
We have directed Commodore Perry to beg your imperial majesty's acceptance of a few
presents. They are of no great value in themselves; but some of them may serve as
specimens of the articles manufactured in the United States, and they are intended as
tokens of our sincere and respectful friendship.
Simplified: Great and good friend: I feel a warm friendship with you personally and with your
government, and I have no other plan in sending [Commodore Perry] to Japan except to suggest to you,
that the United States and Japan should be friends and trade with each other…..The Constitution of the
United States prevents us from interfering (trying to change) the religion or government of other
countries. I have specifically told Commodore Perry to stay away from any action that might possibly
affect those areas… I want our two countries to trade with each other, for the good of both Japan and the
United States…..We know that the old laws of your government to not allow you to trade with foreigners,
except the Chinese and the Dutch; but as the world changes and new governments are formed (the USA
was only 50 years old at this time), it would be wise, once in a while, to make new laws….We have told
Commodore Perry to beg you to accept a few gifts. They are not of any great value by themselves; but
some of them may give you an idea of the kinds of things manufactured (made in factories) in the United
States and they are given to you as a sign of our honest and respectful friendship.
3. What is the tone of this letter from President Fillmore to the Japanese government?
4. What is President Fillmore saying he wants from Japan?
5. What below the surface (hidden) message is Fillmore sending by calling American manufactured
goods “of no great value”?
The US “Opens” Japan to Trade DBQ Part 2
Class Set, Do Not Keep
Background: The Final Decades of the Shogunate
In the first half of the 19th century, the Tokugawa Shogunate (Japan’s
government made up of powerful samurai lords and a weak emperor) continued
to have many problems. Government funding was based on taxes placed on
agricultural goods, but the Japanese lords who ran the government made sure
these taxes were low so they could keep control of their wealth. This meant
the government never had enough money. What little money they could raise
was often spent in payments to the lords to keep them loyal to the government.
When famines and natural disasters struck in the 1830’s, the government was
not able to respond and the landless peasants became angry. They demanded
reforms, but these only weakened the government further. In addition to this,
Japan had a very ridged social structure with samurai lords on top, then
merchants, artists and peasants on the bottom. There was almost no social
mobility between the social classes, so there was little motivation to try new
things.
Japan did have a culture that celebrated education. Literacy rates were higher
in Japan than in western Europe. Japanese schools stressed Japanese culture
and literature. But Japan had closed their doors to trade for 200 years and
they had missed the industrial revolutions that other countries had gone
through. They did not have the guns, cannons and warships that the western
nations had. They did not have steam power or industrial factories. Most of
their goods, while of exceptional (very good) quality, were produced by hand
and were made of wood, silk or clay because they did not have large metal
deposits or open mines. Japanese weapons consisted of bows and arrows,
swords and leather armor.
In 1853, the American admiral Commodore Matthew Perry sailed into the port
city of Edo (Japan’s capital) in his industrialized, iron armored, steam-powered
warships, bristling with cannons and guns. He wanted Japan to abandon (give
up) their isolationist policy and trade freely with the US. In the end, Japan
agreed to do this, though they were not happy about it.
So: Why were the Americans successful in opening Japan?
Document E: “Commodore Perry Presents Gifts to the Japanese” 1835, Lithograph by Sarony &
Co., USA, 1855
Document F: Shiryo Hensanjo, University of Tokyo - Perry’s gifts, as depicted here by Japanese
artists, included a telegraph apparatus, tools, casks of liquor, firearms, headgear, umbrellas, a
stove, and a camera.
6. What kinds of manufactured goods did the Americans give the Japanese?
7. How might these goods make the Japanese feel about their own products?
Document G: “Japanese Junk,” Sarony & Co, USA, 1855 (a Junk is a kind of Japanese fishing boat)
Japan’s adoption of the
“closed country” policy
in the early-17th
century involved not
merely keeping
foreigners out, but also
keeping Japanese in.
Thus, severe
restrictions were placed
on shipbuilding, and
maritime activity was
restricted to sailing
small vessels in coastal
waters.
8. What is this ship
made out of?
9. How big is it? (you can count the number of sails to give you an idea of size. The more sails the bigger
the ship.)
10. What kinds of weapons might it have?
Document H: Gleason's Pictorial Drawing-Room, May 15, 1852, USA “Commodore Perry's "United
States Japanese
Squadron"
11. What are
these ships made
out of?
12. How big are
they?
13. What kinds of
weapons might
they have?
Document I: Japanese kyoka (poem)Unknown author,
1860
The steam-powered ships
break the halcyon slumber
of the Pacific;
a mere four boats are enough
to make us lose sleep at night.
Halcyon- Calm and peaceful; tranquil.
14. What emotion is this Japanese poem capturing?
Document J: Traditional Samurai armor made of boiled
leather, silk wood and iron, Tokugawa Period, 1600’s
15. How well would this armor protect a Samurai warrior
from a modern rifle? From a cannon ball?
Document K:
“Commodore
Perry prepares
his men to fire
on Edo Bay”
Dewey and Other
Naval
Commanders,
Edward S. Ellis,
A.M., New York,
1899
16. The Japanese agree to trade before Commodore Perry actually fires his cannons. However, what
would have happened to the capital city Edo, if Perry had attacked?
The US “Opens” Japan to Trade DBQ Part 1
Name:
Per.
1. Why would the Americans be interested in the waters off the coast of Japan?
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2. What are three advantages the United States will get if it can open trade with Japan?
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3. What is the tone of this letter from President Fillmore to the Japanese government?
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4. What is President Fillmore saying he wants from Japan?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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5. What below the surface (hidden) message is Fillmore sending by calling American manufactured
goods “of no great value”?
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So, Why did the US want access to Japan?
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The US “Opens” Japan to Trade DBQ Part 2
6. What kinds of manufactured goods did the Americans give the Japanese?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
7. How might these goods make the Japanese feel about their own products?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
8. What is this ship made out of?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
9. How big is it? (you can count the number of sails to give you an idea of size. The more sails the bigger
the ship.)
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
10. What kinds of weapons might it have?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
11. What are these ships made out of?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
12. How big are they?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
13. What kinds of weapons might they have?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
14. What emotion is this Japanese poem capturing?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
15. How well would this armor protect a Samurai warrior from a modern rifle? From a cannon ball?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
16. The Japanese agree to trade before Commodore Perry actually fires his cannons. However, what
would have happened to the capital city Edo, if Perry had attacked?
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
So: Why were the Americans successful in opening Japan? Please type your answer.
 Clear thesis answering the question
 At least 2 pieces of evidence with reference to primary source documents
1 piece of evidence for a C, 3 pieces of evidence for an A
 Explanation connecting evidence to thesis
 3 Transition Words
 Concluding thought at the end
 Spelling, complete Sentences