How Did America Move Towards Asia
America’s Push Towards Asia
As America fell under the spell of industrialism, our leaders had begun to set their eyes on a new goal of conquering western land, specifically Asia. Western countries were the perfect place to establish trade, they were able to produce silks, pottery, and unique spices which America was unable to access.
Up until the 1840’s China was completely self-reliant relying solely on the countries natural resources and self made goods. During 1840 Great Britain found a product which China was unable to resist, opium. Opium is a plant that when mixed with tobacco can be made in to many forms of drugs but is mostly used to make heroin. China’s government soon began to recognize how addictive the drug could become, China then …show more content…
stopped trade with Great Britain.. Great Britain became enraged when they heard of the postponed trade and later declared war against China, these wars were known as the Opium Wars. The United States and Great Britain’s strength and technology was unparalleled to the Chinese during these times, the United States and Britain then forced trade upon China. Two years later the United States forced China to sign an agreement which would completely establish trade with America. This was the first time that Asian countries had ever become open to trade with America and had been open to the Open Door Policy.
Matthew C. Perry was essential to America’s expenditures to the west and was largely apart of the Open Door Policy which influenced global economies and world trade. Many people thought that this policy was unneeded, David Ricardo was an economist and philosopher who believed that each country should focus on the strengths of that particular country. That way each country can freely trade the product which they produce best. One would argue that this policy is better because it allows countries to prosper and be peaceful in times of national clashing, all trading countries could shut off trade if the country was disobedient in being peaceful worldwide. American leaders wanted countries to adopt Matthew Perry’s Open Door Policy to extend trade to other countries allowing the American economy to flourish. Perry was a leader of a naval fleet which sailed to Japan in hopes that they would also be open to trade. Matthew Perry arrived at a Japanese harbor in 1853 expecting Japan to be welcoming and accepting to the Open Door Policy, when Japan declined the offer Perry became aggravated, after sitting on the Japanese conclusion he threatened to bomb Japan’s largest city Tokyo, the nation was then forced to accept the treaty and allow free trade. Japan would quickly learn from their previous mistakes, in the next 10-15 years they started by adopting national economic strategies and building their military, only to become one of the top national powers among the world. These wars and trade allowances brought many ethnic differences and a cultural loss, this was originally the very reason that Japan, China, and other western self-reliant countries were foremost against trade.
During the mid-1890’s tensions between the United States and Cuba began to rise as president Mckinley took office. During this time there was a large battle to be the number one newspaper and publishing firm in New York City between Joseph Pulitzer and William Hearst, these companies became so competitive that they would dramatically lie to their readers for gained interest in the companies articles. As rumors spread throughout America of the terrible things that were occurring in Cuba, people began to demand the government step into help Cuban people, this war was known as the Spanish-American War. The Spanish-American war was a very quick and hard fought war. The conditions during this war were very harsh, in Cuba during the summer of 1898 it was extremely hot while the American soldiers were left unprepared by the government. They were sent into war with heavy wool gear and equipment which left the soldiers under extreme fighting conditions. Despite these conditions American soldiers were able to fend off Spanish forces and retake Cuban independence, not only was independence gained, but America now had gained control of Cuba and nearby Caribbean islands.
The United States began sweeping the western islands and instilling their Open Door Policy among western islands. The United States was militarily forceful while establishing power over the western frontier and was relentless while doing so.
As the United States continued to expand westward Japan had won its first war against Russia and established themselves as a nationally known power.
This was very crucial for the United States expansion to the west because of the threat of Russia. Russia also had a goal to expand throughout Asia, this created a race throughout Asia between the U.S. and Russia . President Teddy Roosevelt knew that the Russia was the only thing holding them back from obtaining China. Since China was beginning to slightly adapt to Russian, American, and Japanese heritages and cultures. While Russia was still regrouping from the war with Japan, America’s strategic focus was now to fully empose the Open Door Policy into Asia and create more economic markets and furthermore make the United States an even greater power. While the United States had finally reached their goal of establishing an open economic market in the western countries, Japan had begun to establish their imperialist government throughout Asia after the battle of Japan and China in World War 1. After the United States military and cultures begin to back out of Asia, China shadowed Japans heritages, cultures, and economy as China became a dictatorship under Chiang
Kai-shek.
Over the years 1840-1920 one could argue that China was practically bullied by neighboring and western countries, these countries had forced Asia to trade with an open market and adopted foreign cultures through military enforcement that the people of Asia did not want. LIke Japan, China also learned from their mistakes in the last 80 years, becoming one of the largest economies in the world and building a large military and into world power. As China began to find themselves through worldwide madness, America had finally reached their goal of economically expanding into Asia
Cited Sources: “Lecture Notes”
"Opium Wars." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 11 Dec. 2013. Web. 14 Nov. 2013.
"The Open Door Policy: Doing Business in China." The Open Door Policy: Doing Businessin China. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2013. http://www.history.navy.mil/branches/teach/ends/opening.htm. “Commodore Perry & The Opening of Japan”
As America fell under the spell of industrialism, our leaders had begun to set their eyes on a new goal of conquering western land, specifically Asia. Western countries were the perfect place to establish trade, they were able to produce silks, pottery, and unique spices which America was unable to access.
Up until the 1840’s China was completely self-reliant relying solely on the countries natural resources and self made goods. During 1840 Great Britain found a product which China was unable to resist, opium. Opium is a plant that when mixed with tobacco can be made in to many forms of drugs but is mostly used to make heroin. China’s government soon began to recognize how addictive the drug could become, China then …show more content…
stopped trade with Great Britain.. Great Britain became enraged when they heard of the postponed trade and later declared war against China, these wars were known as the Opium Wars. The United States and Great Britain’s strength and technology was unparalleled to the Chinese during these times, the United States and Britain then forced trade upon China. Two years later the United States forced China to sign an agreement which would completely establish trade with America. This was the first time that Asian countries had ever become open to trade with America and had been open to the Open Door Policy.
Matthew C. Perry was essential to America’s expenditures to the west and was largely apart of the Open Door Policy which influenced global economies and world trade. Many people thought that this policy was unneeded, David Ricardo was an economist and philosopher who believed that each country should focus on the strengths of that particular country. That way each country can freely trade the product which they produce best. One would argue that this policy is better because it allows countries to prosper and be peaceful in times of national clashing, all trading countries could shut off trade if the country was disobedient in being peaceful worldwide. American leaders wanted countries to adopt Matthew Perry’s Open Door Policy to extend trade to other countries allowing the American economy to flourish. Perry was a leader of a naval fleet which sailed to Japan in hopes that they would also be open to trade. Matthew Perry arrived at a Japanese harbor in 1853 expecting Japan to be welcoming and accepting to the Open Door Policy, when Japan declined the offer Perry became aggravated, after sitting on the Japanese conclusion he threatened to bomb Japan’s largest city Tokyo, the nation was then forced to accept the treaty and allow free trade. Japan would quickly learn from their previous mistakes, in the next 10-15 years they started by adopting national economic strategies and building their military, only to become one of the top national powers among the world. These wars and trade allowances brought many ethnic differences and a cultural loss, this was originally the very reason that Japan, China, and other western self-reliant countries were foremost against trade.
During the mid-1890’s tensions between the United States and Cuba began to rise as president Mckinley took office. During this time there was a large battle to be the number one newspaper and publishing firm in New York City between Joseph Pulitzer and William Hearst, these companies became so competitive that they would dramatically lie to their readers for gained interest in the companies articles. As rumors spread throughout America of the terrible things that were occurring in Cuba, people began to demand the government step into help Cuban people, this war was known as the Spanish-American War. The Spanish-American war was a very quick and hard fought war. The conditions during this war were very harsh, in Cuba during the summer of 1898 it was extremely hot while the American soldiers were left unprepared by the government. They were sent into war with heavy wool gear and equipment which left the soldiers under extreme fighting conditions. Despite these conditions American soldiers were able to fend off Spanish forces and retake Cuban independence, not only was independence gained, but America now had gained control of Cuba and nearby Caribbean islands.
The United States began sweeping the western islands and instilling their Open Door Policy among western islands. The United States was militarily forceful while establishing power over the western frontier and was relentless while doing so.
As the United States continued to expand westward Japan had won its first war against Russia and established themselves as a nationally known power.
This was very crucial for the United States expansion to the west because of the threat of Russia. Russia also had a goal to expand throughout Asia, this created a race throughout Asia between the U.S. and Russia . President Teddy Roosevelt knew that the Russia was the only thing holding them back from obtaining China. Since China was beginning to slightly adapt to Russian, American, and Japanese heritages and cultures. While Russia was still regrouping from the war with Japan, America’s strategic focus was now to fully empose the Open Door Policy into Asia and create more economic markets and furthermore make the United States an even greater power. While the United States had finally reached their goal of establishing an open economic market in the western countries, Japan had begun to establish their imperialist government throughout Asia after the battle of Japan and China in World War 1. After the United States military and cultures begin to back out of Asia, China shadowed Japans heritages, cultures, and economy as China became a dictatorship under Chiang
Kai-shek.
Over the years 1840-1920 one could argue that China was practically bullied by neighboring and western countries, these countries had forced Asia to trade with an open market and adopted foreign cultures through military enforcement that the people of Asia did not want. LIke Japan, China also learned from their mistakes in the last 80 years, becoming one of the largest economies in the world and building a large military and into world power. As China began to find themselves through worldwide madness, America had finally reached their goal of economically expanding into Asia
Cited Sources: “Lecture Notes”
"Opium Wars." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 11 Dec. 2013. Web. 14 Nov. 2013.
"The Open Door Policy: Doing Business in China." The Open Door Policy: Doing Businessin China. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2013. http://www.history.navy.mil/branches/teach/ends/opening.htm. “Commodore Perry & The Opening of Japan”