Grace said 3/8...

Hello Ms. Separ!

I hope this isn't too long!

Hello, fellow classmates! I hope you were as excited as I was to learn something new in our WHAP class today: Japan 1750-1914



Let’s recap on what we’ve learned in the previous time period, 1450-1750.

1540 – Arrival of the Portuguese (Like they did in China, the Portuguese brought Christianity and guns to Japan, which the Japanese definitely weren’t fond of.)

1600s – Unification of Japan (under the Tokugawa Shogunate).

1635 – First Seclusion Edict (or First Seclusion Act, forbade Japanese from leaving the country, banned all foreigners except the Dutch and Chinese from entering, and prohibited the practice of Christianity)

1640s – Pax Tokugawa (Although there was peace, there was no Scientific Revolution or industrialization in Japan at this time.)

1680s – Edo Period (Edo = Tokugawa capital, modern-day Tokyo)



In 1852, U.S. President Fillmore wrote a letter to the emperor of Japan. The whole purpose of this letter was to establish friendship, commerce, a supply of coal and provisions, and protection with Japan. One year later (1853), U.S. Commodore Matthew Perry arrives in Japan to deliver the letter to the emperor. The U.S. gives Japan one year to make a decision.



Advantages of accepting President Fillmore’s requests: increase in trade, new technology, industrialization, and a possibly ally.



Disadvantages of accepting President Fillmore’s requests: Christianity is likely to spread, chance of losing culture and Shintoism, and imperialism.



Based on India, Africa, Philippines, and China’s history with Westerners, resistance isn’t the successful option. Japan kept this in mind, and chose to open their doors when Perry returned in 1854 with The Black Fleet.



In Japanese history, we’ve seen that the Japanese have the ability to adopt and adapt. For example, when the Portuguese came over to introduce guns and Christianity, they saw what the effects were, and ended up mostly isolating themselves to prevent such ideas. In 1750 to 1914, they’re aware of colonization in Africa, India, and China, so that influences them to agree to U.S. terms, and engage in trade and use modernized technology.



NEXT UP: Because I enjoyed reading her previous fun and understandable blog, Jut will go next [:

HOMEWORK: Compare the Treaty of Nanking (August 1842) and the Treaty of Kanagawa (March, 1854).



Grace Barrett-Snyder