Quest For Knowledge Mini History Lesson For Today: On March 31, 1854, the Treaty of Kanagawa was signed between the U.S. and Japanese Governments. Up until this point the Japanese had taken up a decidedly isolationist stance, officially closing their country to foreigners in 1683. This left the country essentially devoid of much of the modern technology - such as railroads, steamships, and industrial factories - that was becoming commonplace in the western world. In 1853, the U.S. government, headed by President Millard Fillmore, desired to re-establish diplomatic relations with Japan, as it would create a new avenue for American trade goods. Fillmore soon sent Commodore Matthew Perry to the country to attempt to establish relations. At first, Perry was shunned by the Japanese and they refused to even speak to him. Eventually, spurred on by letters from Fillmore himself, the Japanese government opened up to Commodore Perry. The two sides quickly began drafting a treaty which would open up the port cities of Shimoda and Hakodate to American trade, in addition to establishing an American consulate in Japan. This treaty was signed on March 31 by Perry and representatives of the Japanese government, making the U.S. the first western nation to re-establish a diplomatic relationship with the eastern nation of Japan.
Posted on: Tue, 01 Apr 2014 02:25:11 +0000
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