Comparing Manifest Destiny And Isolationistic Japan

During the 1800s, the island nations of Great Britain and Japan depended on their location to move them forward. Although they share many geographical similarities, they began handling their government policies very differently. While Japan's isolationist policies kept it locked in the past, imperialist Britain charged forward into a bright and powerful future. It would take the weakening of one Japanese government to bring about the rise of another, a government that would be far more modern and progressive than the last. Overall, when handled to their advantage, the geography of these island nations seemed to positively influence them.

In the passage above,we can read that Perry’s whole intension of entering Japan was to create trade with Feudal Japan. This was because America were supposedly the first nation to enter trade and relations with them,in which if they were to enter the treaty,America could take heaps of resources Japan possessed,which other countries didn’t at the time,giving the USA a massive

Each strove to maintain a centralized government. For Japan the leader was to be called an emperor or empress who could only be a part of the royal family if they were related to the Shinto sun goddess. As for Europe, the leader was to be called a king or a queen. Like Japan, not just anybody could become royalty. Kings and queens came from a long descent of an Imperial family. Tradition was that the first born son of the king would become the next ruler following the kings death. However, if no legitimate son were born then the daughter would become queen. In Europe, the royal family and institution was usually

The Isolation Policy or Sakoku was a policy adopted in 1641, during the time in which the Tokugawa shogunate was in power, the Edo period (1603 - 1868). It was enacted by shogun Tokugawa Iemitsu. The policy, as the name suggests, meant that Japan was isolated from the most of the world. The bakufu (military government), accomplished this state of isolation by closing the borders, though contact with China and the Netherlands was still maintained through a single port in Nagasaki. The policy also meant that Japanese citizens could not leave the country. This isolation was to last until 1854, during which time the shoguns (military leaders) managed to keep Japan relatively peaceful.

In the year 1853, Perry sailed to the Tokyo harbor aboard the frigate Susqueahanna on July 8. The intentions of Commander Matthew Perry in Japan were merely to force a trade agreement between the government of the previously named country, and the United States; during this period, all western powers were desperately pursuing to open new markets to sell their goods abroad. At the time, the Japanese government did not have on disposition a naval force that could somehow stop Commander Perry. By all means, the Commander was able amplify any demand he wanted by force. Later on, other world powers such as Britain, France, Russia, and Holland opted to follow Perry’s trail to Japan, it could be said that Japan was merely a pawn in the hands of a pretty much crooked deal with the world.

In 1854, great achievement came. Commodore Perry and the Japanese Representatives of the Tokugawa Shogunate signed the Convention between the United States and America. These discussions lead to the opening of coal trade companies, American shipping ports and naval academy’s in Japan. These were Japan’s first reintroduction into Western influence.

By industrializing, Russia was able to extend its influence in eastern Asia and seizing new territories in northern China. Japan reformed after seeing China’s foreign power so they kicked out all foreigners and built its own military. In Japan, an American commodore, Matthew Perry threatened to bomb Japan in 1853, unless Japan allowed access to trade for the Americans which created military superiority of the West. Therefore, Perry won the right to have the Americans to trade which allowed two ports to open with other European countries of Britain, Holland and Russia. In Japan, they had many signs of improvement with the Western influence of new banks to fund trade and private investment capital, railways and steam vessels improved national communication and helped with trade since Japan lacked many resources.

On July 8th, 1853, four US Navy warships, commanded by Commodore Matthew C. Perry, intruded into the Bay of Edo, the former Tokyo. The intimidating fleet of Black Ships, getting their names from the black color of the vessels and the smoke from the steam-powered engines, displayed the formidable military power of the U.S. Navy and forced Japan to end its 220 years of Sakoku(鎖国), the policy of national seclusion. The Personal Journal of Commodore Matthew C. Perry, a three-volume original report narrated by Commodore Perry, documents the fleet’s two expeditions to Japan from 1853 to 1854. This journal serves as one of the most important and comprehensive primary sources for the studies of Japan–United States relations during the 19th century.

The Japanese pursuit for an empire in South East Asia helped changed the balance of world power away from Europe, by taking their most lucrative colonies. Soon after the Japanese defeat in World War II, most of the colonies won their independence from their European masters. This essay will be arguing that despite the vast geographical distance and cultural, racial differences, as well as the different time periods involved, Japanese and European intentions were very similar, and that these similarities contributed to the weakening of Imperialism as a doctrine. To do so, this essay will be examining the reasons for the Japanese

Western Influence on Japan Japan, as a nation, is a continually changing society. Ever since western nations became involved with Japan, its changes over recent times have increased at a substantial rate. Japan now faces cultural, economical and social differences as a result of the western involvement. The involvement was initiated by the Japanese themselves, beginning during the Meiji Period1 through current times.

Throughout the course of East Asian history, Japan has been largely influenced by the Asian mainland. From ancient times to the medieval period, significant contributions to Japan can be seen coming from both Korea and China. Both of these countries diffused elements of their cultures to form the basis of Japanese society – namely China. These foreigners would influence various aspects of society including technology, philosophy, politics, and religion.

The relationship between Japan and the United States drastically changes throughout time, however, its beginnings stemmed from an abrupt socio-political change caused by Matthew Commodore Perry. His actions of forcing economic relations with Japan and the United States spurred the Meiji Reformation. The Meiji Reformation opened Japan’s market to the world and lead to Japan into a rapid period of modernization in technology and industry. As such, America and Japan became valuable trading partners, Japan requiring the natural resources to sustain its industrial growth and America selling its colonial consumer goods to a broader market. For this reason of such expeditious progress, there was a recession in the Japanese economy which lead to mass

The Meiji Restoration occurred soon after when commodore Matthew Perry opened up Japan to its ports to trade with United States. Japan knew the expansion of imperialism by Europeans and United States while still trading with Dutch. In 1853, Commodore Matthew Perry first visited Japan to open up the port and showed

The Japanese had prior knowledge that they were behind the world when American Commodore, Matthew C Perry, arrived to Japan to try to issue a treaty that would open up opportunities for Japanese ports to trade. “On July 8, 1853, American Commodore Matthew Perry led his four ships into the harbor at Tokyo Bay, seeking to re-establish for the first time in over 200 years regular trade and discourse between Japan and the western world (history.state.gov)” The Japanese constructed railroad tracks to grant the payload of goodness and transportation of people, improved ports to aid in the expansion of trade with other countries, enlargement of aid with other commonwealth, and put together a telegraph and postal system which allows the spread of news faster. The leaders of the Meiji Restoration helped restore imperial rule in order to strengthen Japan. The Restoration rapidly moved up industrialization, which soon lead up to Japan’s advance in in military power in 1905. After Japan’s advance in military power, the daimyo, (“Daimyo, any of the largest and most powerful landholding magnates in Japan from about the 10th century until the latter half of the 19th century (britannica.com).” was demanded that the entirely all the land they own, was to be returned to the emperor. This action was intensely severe due to the lack of land. By this taking place, it forced to give the land back to emperors. Giving back the land was not

Initially, Japan was very isolated and intentionally so. They resisted having trade interactions with western powers and remained cut off for some time but eventually succumbed to American and European trade. It began when the U.S. Government sent a fleet of ships to Tokugawa in 1853 led by Commodore Matthew Perry. Although this event did not bring about much change in the nation but was an omen of events to come. The natives were well aware of the coming change as well. “Upon seeing Perry's fleet sailing into their harbor, the Japanese called them the ‘black ships of evil mien (appearance).’ Many leaders wanted the foreigners expelled from the country, but in 1854 a treaty was signed between the United States and Japan which allowed trade at two ports.” Later Japan would go on to embrace further trade with western powers which led to great progress across the country. Japan had become a “modern superpower” Developments in political, technological and infrastructural fields quickly became integral aspects of Japanese society. “the rapid transformation of Japan into a modern industrial power, with a constitution, a parliament, a national, compulsory education system, a modern army and navy, roads, trains, and telegraph — in less than 50 years.” Along with the great progress came a swift and drastic change in government systems. Much like many