UCLA Asia Institute
Today in Asian History
March 4 1858
Matthew C. Perry, U.S. Navy Commodore, died. In 1853, Perry (b. 1794) led four
American warships into Edo (Tokyo) Bay. Perry brought a letter from the U.S.
president which called on the Japanese to open their country to trade and to
provide assistance for American ships and sailors in distress. He told the
Tokugawa government that he would return with a larger force in a year and
hoped that at that time the Tokugawa would consent to the American
"requests." In 1854 Perry did return and Japan's two and a half
century old policy of seclusion came to an end as the regime, mindful of the
British defeat of the Chinese in the Opium War (1839-42) and fearing
bombardment or blockade, elected to permit limited trade and the establishment
of an American mission in Japan (Kanagawa Treaty, signed March 31, 1854). The AI "Today in Asian History" page is compiled by
Clayton Dube.
He welcomes your comments and suggestions. Copyright ©
1998-2001 by the UCLA Asia Institute.
Search
the Asia Institute website (including the Today in Asian History pages).
Teaching and Research about Asia
