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Commodore Perry: The American Who Opened Up Japan

Tyler Nelson

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Published in Commodore Perry In The Land Of The Shogun

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In 1853, Commodore Matthew Perry sailed his squadron of four warships into Tokyo Bay and forced Japan to open its doors to the West. This event, known as the "Perry Expedition," marked a turning point in Japanese history and had a profound impact on the course of world events.

Perry was born in South Kingstown, Rhode Island, in 1794. He entered the Navy at the age of 15 and quickly rose through the ranks. By the time he was 40, he was a commodore, the highest rank in the Navy at the time.

Commodore Perry in the Land of the Shogun

by Rhoda Blumberg

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In 1852, Perry was given command of the East India Squadron and Free Downloaded to sail to Japan and negotiate a treaty with the shogunate. The shogunate was the military government that ruled Japan at the time. Japan had been closed to foreigners for over 200 years, and Perry's mission was to convince the shogunate to open the country to trade.

Perry arrived in Tokyo Bay on July 8, 1853, with four warships: the USS Mississippi, the USS Plymouth, the USS Saratoga, and the USS Susquehanna. The ships were armed with the latest cannons and were the most powerful warships in the world at the time.

The Japanese were astonished by the size and power of Perry's ships. They had never seen anything like them before. Perry refused to leave until the shogunate agreed to negotiate a treaty. After several weeks of negotiations, Perry and the shogunate signed the Treaty of Kanagawa on March 31, 1854.

The Treaty of Kanagawa opened two Japanese ports to American trade and allowed American ships to refuel and repair in Japanese ports. It also gave the United States the right to establish a consulate in Japan.

The Perry Expedition had a profound impact on Japan. It forced Japan to open its doors to the West and began the process of modernization. Japan quickly adopted Western technology and ideas, and within a few decades it became one of the most powerful countries in the world.

Commodore Perry is a controversial figure in Japanese history. Some Japanese view him as a hero who opened Japan to the West and helped to modernize the country. Others view him as an imperialist who forced Japan to open its doors to foreign powers.

Regardless of one's opinion of Perry, there is no doubt that he was a significant figure in world history. His expedition to Japan marked a turning point in Japanese history and had a profound impact on the course of world events.