C: Japan 15. Contact and Change in Meiji Japan p. 326

Question 1

What was the first western military force to enter Japan in 1853?

Did other countries try to enter before this?

What was different about this time?

Answer 1

Commodore Matthew Perry’s ships from the United States arriving in Uraga Harbour to proceed toward Edo, the Japanese capital.

Yes, other countries tried to enter before: Russians, British, and Americans in the early 1800s.

This time, Japan would lose its battle to remain a closed society since the Japanese feudal system was crumbling, and people were starving. Japan was open to negotiations and signed the Treaty of Kanagawa.

Question 2

Treaty of Kanagawa

Answer 2

1854

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