In the mid-19th century, the United States began to take a more active interest in China. This was due in part to the increasing economic opportunities in China, as well as the growing power of European countries in the region. In 1844, the United States and China signed the Treaty of Wanghia, which established formal diplomatic relations between the two countries. The treaty also granted the United States extraterritorial rights in China, which meant that American citizens in China were not subject to Chinese law.
The United States continued to expand its relations with China in the latter half of the 19th century. In 1858, the United States and China signed the Treaty of Tientsin, which further expanded American extraterritorial rights in China and opened up additional ports to American trade. In 1868, the United States and China signed the Burlingame Treaty, which guaranteed the rights of American citizens in China and established a permanent American legation in Beijing.
By the end of the 19th century, the United States had become a major power in China. American trade with China had grown significantly, and American missionaries and educators were active throughout the country. The United States also played a role in the international politics of China, including the Boxer Rebellion of 1900 and the Chinese Civil War of 1949.