US Involvement in Asia 1800s

**US in the Pacific**

Opening Japan

 

•     In 1854, U.S. Commodore Matthew Perry sailed to Japan with a fleet of modern ships

•     Perry threatened the Japanese with war if they didn't negotiate a trade treaty similar to the Dutch

U.S.   Business Interests in Hawaii

 

•     1875-Reciprocity Treaty

•     1887-Rights to Pearl Harbor established

•     1890-McKinley Tariff

•     1893-American businessmen backed an uprising against the Queen

•     Sanford Ballard Dole proclaims the Republic of Hawaii in 1894

A Filipino Double Standard

 

•     The United States gave Cuba its independence rather quickly (Teller Amendment, anyone?), but did not do so in the Philippines.

•     As a result, a revolt broke out (led by Emiliano Aguinaldo) against continued U.S. rule in 1899, in which the outnumbered and outgunned Filipinos used brutal guerilla tactics

Savage Fighting

 

•     Americans used "water cures" to force captives to talk, concentration camps for Filipino civilians, and wiped out whole villages.

•     Filipino used much more brutal tactics which shocked American troops and people back home.

 

Turning Attention to Ruling

 

•     Fighting was greatly reduced by 1901.

•     Pres. McKinley appointed a commission to oversee the Philippines, headed by William Howard Taft.

•     Millions of $ flowed in to construct roads, sanitation, public health and educational institutions.

 

China: Background

 

•     By 1894-5, China was incredibly weak, and could not stand up to European and Japanese powers who all forcibly took portions of the country as "leased" spheres of influence

American Concerns

 

•     Back home, American businessmen were worried that they were losing market share in China, and religious leaders fretted over lost strongholds and opportunities

•     In 1899, Sec. of State John Hay asked European powers present to agree to an "Open Door Policy."

The Open Door Policy

 

•     The Open Door Policy called for owners to respect equal trading rights for all nations within their Chinese spheres of influence

•     This guaranteed that the U.S. and others would be able to continue normal trade

•     Chinese territorial integrity was also assumed

Effects of the Open Door Policy

 

•     European powers grudgingly accepted

•     American trade was protected

•     American's reputation for morality and decency was upheld against the greedier imperialist powers, China liked us (society thought)

Enter the Boxer Rebellion

 

•     In 1900, a group of intensely patriotic Chinese, resentful of foreigners, China's economic decline and the weakness of their rulers, began brutally attacking foreigners (killing at least 200) and Chinese Christians in 北京

•     Terrified foreigners gathered for mutual protection to hold out until western troops arrived

The U.S. Joins the Fight

 

•     The U.S. was one of 8 countries to rush troops (2500) and ships (2) to crush the Boxers

•     18,000 troops in all were sent, working together to restore order

•     China was forced to pay damages; the U.S. returned some for further goodwill

Gaining Respect: Mediating the Russo-Japanese War

 

•     In 1904-1905, Russian and Japan fought a small war in eastern Asia over land and resources that Japan won.

•     President Theodore Roosevelt was asked by Japan to mediate the conflict and help both countries to agree to peace through the Treaty of Portsmouth (1905).

•       For his efforts, he became the first American to win the Nobel Peace Prize.