Is Our Isolation Over?
By: Natalie Whelan
August 26, 1956
Over a year ago, Commodore
Matthew Calbraith Perry arrived on our isolated shores. His coming created
change and amusement in Japan. Born
in South Kingstown, Road Island on April 10, 1794, Perry was sent on a mission
by President Millard Fillmore to establish trade with Japan- a country that
is and has been isolated from the outside world and other neighboring countries
(3). “Some
argued that contacts
with the West would hurt Japan. Others pointed to U.S military superiority
and recommended
concessions” (World
History 785). Hong Li, a resident of Japan, believes that having
relations with the West is not a good idea. Li states, “The West will bring modern ideas into our ancient
traditions and we will lose our known culture to western influence.” This was the main perspective of many
people living in Japan during this period of time. However, in July of that same year, Perry
lead a squadron of four ships into Tokyo Bay and presented the letter of Millard
Fillmore to
Japanese Representatives (5). This letter from Fillmore held a thinly veiled
message, cooperate or force will be used on Japan. The two goals the letter had in mind for Japan were: to better
the treatment of shipwrecked sailors, and to open foreign relations between
the United States and Japan (2). The
Japanese seemed to be reluctant to the President’s wishes, however we knew
that the United States was willing to trade and establish a friendship with
us.
The change needed
in Japan was immense, solely because it has been a country cut off from the
everyday necessities of other countries around. Perry’s main goal was “to
bring a singular
and isolated people into the family of civilized nations” (World History
785). The conclusion of trading with the West was not quite apparent
yet, however the force of Perry’s squadron “helped” the Japanese decide.
Perry’s return in February of 1854 included seven ships- four sailors
ships and 3 steamers as well as one thousand, six hundred men (1).
The Japanese did
not have a lot of time to think about whether or not we wanted to trade with
the United States because of the forceful acts of Commodore Perry. So with that, on March 8, 1954 Perry
and the Japanese government began to negotiate in order to establish a stable
trade agreement. The Treaty of Kanagawa
established “permanent” friendship between the two countries. This treaty stated and guaranteed that
there was open opportunity for trade between Japan and the United States, and
that the Japanese would have to save shipwrecked Americans as well as provides
fuel for American ships (1). The Harris Treaty
called for the opening of several new ports to U.S. trade and residence, as
well as an exchange of ministers (5).
These treaties signaled the end of Japanese isolation, however the
different feelings towards uniting with the United States was upsetting many
Japanese people, including the Satsuma and
Choshu, an important role in the Japanese government (2). The potential to rebel has reached its
highest peak. Hopefully peace is retained throughout the community of Japan and
the decision to include western influence into Japanese tradition is positive.
Works Cited
1. “Fact Sheet: Commodore Matthew
Calbraith Perry” 27
November 2001, <http://www.history.navy.mil/branches/teach/pearl/kanagawa/friends4.htm.
> 27 January 2003.
2. Kamachi, Noriko. Culture and
Customs of Japan. Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 1999.
3. “Matthew Perry.” World Book
Encyclopedia. 2000 Ed.
4. “Matthew Calbraith Perry” 22
June 2000, <http://www-cgsc.army.mil/navelm/leaders/perry.asp
> 27 January 2003.
5. Spieglvogel, J.
Jackson. World History: The
Human Odyssey. Cincinnati: West Educational Publishing, 1998.
Pictures
1. Boat. <http://www.picturehistory.com/find/p/12467/mcms.html
>(January 2003).
2.
Commodore Matthew Perry. <http://members.tripod.com/~MickMc/perry.html
>(January 2003).
3.
Perry in Tokyo. < www.grifworld.com/perryinjapan.jpg
> (January 2003).
