- 1784: The first American ship, the Empress of China, arrived in Canton, China. Trade was limited to a single port and subject to strict Chinese regulations, including a requirement that all trade be conducted through the Cohong, a group of Chinese merchants.
- 1839-42: The First Opium War between Britain and China led to the Treaty of Nanking, which gave Britain control of Hong Kong and opened five additional ports to foreign trade. The United States and other Western powers were granted the same privileges through the Treaty of Wanghia (1844).
- 1858-60: The Second Opium War resulted in the Treaty of Tientsin, which gave the Western powers even greater access to China, including the right to travel and trade in the interior.
- 1898-99: The Spanish-American War led to the United States acquiring the Philippines, which brought it into closer proximity to China. The Open Door Policy, announced in 1899, called for equal trading opportunities for all nations in China.
Attempts to Open Japan:
- 1600-1868: Japan was under a policy of isolation, known as sakoku, which restricted foreign contact and trade.
- 1853: Commodore Matthew Perry arrived in Japan with a fleet of American ships and forced the Japanese to sign the Treaty of Kanagawa, which opened up two ports to American trade.
- 1854: The Treaty of Shimoda expanded the provisions of the Treaty of Kanagawa and established diplomatic relations between the United States and Japan.
- 1858: The Harris Treaty further opened Japan to foreign trade and influence, leading to the end of the sakoku policy.
Key Differences:
- The United States was initially able to establish trade with China peacefully, through treaties and negotiations, while the opening of Japan required the threat of force.
- Japan's isolationist policies were more strictly enforced and lasted longer than China's, which had been eroded by the time of the American arrival.
- The United States had a closer geographic relationship with China, via the Philippines, than it did with Japan.
