Simone Lawson
Gunboat diplomacy, a term originating from the nineteenth-century period of imperialism, refers to the use of naval power to intimidate less powerful nations into granting concessions. A notable example of this is the Perry Expedition to Japan, which occurred in the 1850s. Commodore Matthew Calbraith Perry, under orders from President Fillmore, aimed to end Japan's 220-year-old isolationist policy and open its ports to American trade, even if it required the use of force. On March 31, 1854, Perry and the Japanese signed the Treaty of Kanagawa, which opened diplomatic relations and ports to American ships, and established an American consulate in Shimoda. This treaty, which lasted for 40 years, fostered an economic partnership that continues to this day and led to the eventual collapse of the Tokugawa shogunate and the restoration of the Emperor.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of Treaty | Treaty of Kanagawa, also known as the Convention of Kanagawa |
| Date | 31 March 1854 |
| Treaty Signatories | Commodore Matthew Calbraith Perry (US), and Hayashi Akira (Japan) |
| Treaty Terms | Opened the ports of Shimoda and Hakodate to American ships, provided for the care of shipwrecked sailors, and established an American consulate in Shimoda |
| Purpose | To force an end to Japan's 220-year-old policy of isolation and to open Japanese ports to American trade |
| Tactics | Displays of naval power, gifts, cultural exchanges |
| Outcome | Established diplomatic relations between Japan and the Western Great Powers, led to the collapse of the Tokugawa shogunate and the restoration of the Emperor, and fostered an economic partnership that continues today |
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What You'll Learn
The Convention of Kanagawa
The treaty was the result of an encounter between an elaborately planned American mission to open Japan and Japan's unwavering policy of forbidding commerce with foreign nations. The Fillmore administration, led by U.S. President Millard Fillmore, sought to force the opening of Japanese ports to American trade and to protect the rights of American whalers. Commodore Matthew C. Perry, under orders from President Fillmore, arrived in Tokyo Bay with a fleet of warships in July 1853 and demanded that the Japanese open their ports to American ships. Perry then left Japan to give the Japanese government time to consider his demands, returning in February 1854 with a larger fleet, demonstrating American military might.
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Commodore Perry's role
Commodore Matthew Calbraith Perry played a significant role in the gunboat diplomacy that led to the opening of Japan to the West. In the mid-19th century, Japan was a closed society, resistant to diplomatic and commercial contact with foreign powers. However, Commodore Perry, under orders from President Millard Fillmore, was determined to end Japan's isolation and open its ports to American trade, even if it meant using gunboat diplomacy or the threat of force.
Perry's expedition to Japan was carefully prepared. He read extensively about the country and consulted with Japanologist Philipp Franz von Siebold, who had spent years living and working in Japan. Perry also chose his officers, many of whom he had served with in the Mexican-American War, and brought along a variety of gifts, including a miniature steam locomotive, a telegraph apparatus, agricultural tools, clocks, and liquor, to impress upon the Japanese the superiority of Western culture.
In 1853, Commodore Perry first arrived in Japanese waters with a small squadron of U.S. Navy ships. He sailed to the Ryukyu and Bonin Islands, claiming territory for the United States and demanding assistance. He then sailed to Edo (Tokyo) Bay, carrying a letter from President Fillmore addressed to the Emperor of Japan. Perry's display of military power and his entry into forbidden waters convinced the Japanese authorities to accept the letter.
Commodore Perry returned to Japan in 1854 with a larger force of eight vessels and 1,600 men. By this time, the Tokugawa shogunate had decided to accept the demands in Fillmore's letter. On March 31, 1854, Perry signed the Convention of Kanagawa, which opened the ports of Shimoda and Hakodate to American ships, provided for the care of shipwrecked sailors, and established an American consulate in Shimoda. This treaty laid the groundwork for future trade agreements and diplomatic relations between Japan and the Western powers.
Perry's role in opening Japan to the West was significant. His expedition led directly to the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and the Western powers and eventually contributed to the collapse of the Tokugawa shogunate and the restoration of the Emperor. The use of gunboat diplomacy, or the threat of force, to achieve foreign policy objectives set a precedent that would be later known as gunboat diplomacy.
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Japan's isolation
Japan's long period of isolation, or sakoku, lasted from 1639 to 1853. The sakoku policy was a series of directives implemented over several years during the Edo period (also known as the Tokugawa period) that enforced self-isolation from foreign powers. The directives included banning the religion of Christianity, prohibiting Japanese people from travelling overseas or returning from trips abroad, and restricting foreign trade. The concept of sakoku largely stemmed from Japan's mistrust of foreigners and desire to protect itself from external influence and potential threats to stability, such as the spread of Christianity.
Despite the sakoku policy, Japan was not completely isolated from the outside world. There was extensive trade with China through the port of Nagasaki, and the Dutch were permitted to maintain a trading post on the island of Dejima in Nagasaki harbour. Western scientific, technical, and medical innovations flowed into Japan through "Dutch learning" (rangaku). There was also limited trade with Korea, the Ainu people, and the Ryūkyū Kingdom.
During the isolation period, Japan enjoyed internal peace and saw the development of many cultural touchstones that persist today. These include haiku poetry, kabuki drama, woodblock prints, the tea ceremony, landscape gardening, and the cultivation of bonsai trees. It was also a period of mass urbanisation, with Edo (now Tokyo) growing from a remote fishing village to the world's largest city.
However, there were also strict social hierarchies, with the emperor at the top, followed by the shogun, and various classes of commoners and outcasts below. The outcasts, known as eta, hinin, or "non-humans," were those who performed tasks that were considered impure or unclean by Shinto and Buddhist beliefs, such as butchery, tanning, and dealing with the diseased. They were subject to discrimination and segregation, and these prejudices have unfortunately persisted to the present day.
In the mid-19th century, Japan's isolation came to an end as a result of gunboat diplomacy and the increasing desire of Western powers to open trade routes with Japan. The Perry Expedition of 1853-1854, led by Commodore Matthew Calbraith Perry under orders from President Millard Fillmore, successfully ended Japan's isolation by forcing the shogunate to accept American demands for the opening of Japanese ports to American trade. This led to the signing of the Convention of Kanagawa in 1854, which opened the ports of Shimoda and Hakodate to American ships and established an American consulate in Shimoda. The treaty also provided for the care of shipwrecked sailors.
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US-Japan trade
Gunboat diplomacy, a tactic used by Western powers to intimidate less powerful nations into granting concessions, was employed by Commodore Matthew Calbraith Perry under orders from President Millard Fillmore to force an end to Japan's 220-year-old policy of isolation. Perry's expedition to Japan included eight vessels and 1600 men, a display of military force that successfully pressured the Japanese to sign the Convention of Kanagawa on March 31, 1854, which opened the ports of Shimoda and Hakodate to American ships and established an American consulate in Shimoda. This treaty laid the groundwork for future trade agreements and diplomatic relations between the United States and Japan, marking the beginning of Japan's burgeoning trade routes with the world.
The use of gunboat diplomacy in Japan was a notable example of how Western powers used their superior military capabilities to establish economically advantageous relationships. The mere presence of a warship or fleet of ships off the coast of a negotiating country was often enough to exert pressure and imply a threat of warfare if terms were not agreed upon. In the case of the Perry Expedition, the show of force was effective in achieving the objectives of the United States without the need for actual military conflict.
The Convention of Kanagawa, signed during the Perry Expedition, was a landmark treaty that remained in place for 40 years and fostered an economic partnership between the United States and Japan that continues to this day. The treaty opened two Japanese ports to American ships and provided for the care of shipwrecked sailors, addressing the needs of American whalers in waters off Japan. It also led to the establishment of an American consulate in Shimoda, further solidifying diplomatic relations between the two nations.
The success of gunboat diplomacy in Japan can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, Japan had been isolated from the Western nations for two centuries, limiting their knowledge of Western military capabilities. Secondly, Japan lacked the cannons and fortifications that could have posed a significant threat to Perry's expedition. Finally, Japan's ruling Tokugawa shogunate decided to accept the demands in Fillmore's letter, recognizing the potential consequences of refusing to cooperate, as demonstrated by the British use of military action to compel the opening of China.
Following the Perry Expedition, the United States and Japan continued to develop their trade and diplomatic relations. Townsend Harris, the first U.S. consul assigned to a Japanese port, arrived in Shimoda in 1856 and worked to convince the Japanese to sign a more extended treaty. This led to the signing of the Harris Treaty in 1858, marking the first true commercial treaty between the two nations. The expansion of trade between the United States and Japan during this period influenced a cultural trend known as "Japonisme," where aspects of Japanese culture influenced art in Europe and America.
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Gunboat diplomacy tactics
Gunboat diplomacy refers to the use of conspicuous displays of naval power to pursue foreign policy objectives, threatening warfare if negotiations do not go as desired. This tactic was particularly popular during the nineteenth-century period of imperialism, when Western powers such as the United States and European nations employed gunboat diplomacy to intimidate less powerful nations into granting concessions.
Gunboat diplomacy is characterised by the demonstration or display of military force in a threatening manner to encourage a country's cooperation. This can include sending a fleet of battleships to perform a practice battle just off the coast of the target country, reminding them of their military inferiority and the potential for destruction if they do not comply. The mere presence of a powerful naval fleet can be enough to influence the actions of foreign governments, and it is rarely necessary for these ships to take more aggressive action.
Commodore Matthew Perry's expedition to Japan in 1853 is a classic example of gunboat diplomacy. Perry sailed a fleet of four solid black warships into Tokyo Bay, and without a navy of its own, Japan quickly agreed to open its ports to trade with the West for the first time in over 200 years. This expedition led to the signing of the Convention of Kanagawa, which opened the ports of Shimoda and Hakodate to American ships and established an American consulate in Shimoda.
Gunboat diplomacy can also involve the use of military force to create or remove a fait accompli, change the policy or character of a target government, or buy time for policymakers. It is considered a form of hegemony, or the political, economic, and military dominance of one country over others. While gunboat diplomacy has evolved since the 19th century, it continues to be employed by powerful nations, particularly those with strong naval forces, to exert their influence and protect their interests.
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Frequently asked questions
The Treaty of Kanagawa, also known as the Convention of Kanagawa, was signed on March 31, 1854, by Commodore Matthew Calbraith Perry and the Japanese representative Hayashi Akira.
The treaty aimed to end Japan's 220-year-old policy of isolation and open its ports to American trade. It also provided for the care of shipwrecked sailors and the establishment of an American consulate in Shimoda.
The Treaty of Kanagawa established diplomatic relations between Japan and the Western Great Powers, leading to the collapse of the Tokugawa shogunate and the restoration of the Emperor. It also fostered an economic partnership that continues to this day.
Gunboat diplomacy refers to the use of naval power to intimidate less powerful nations into granting concessions. It was a common tactic employed by Western powers during the imperialist period of the 19th century. In the case of Japan, the United States sought to gain access to Japan's coveted natural resources, particularly coal and whale oil.
Gunboat diplomacy was successful in Japan due to the country's isolation and lack of military preparedness. However, it did not always succeed elsewhere, such as in Korea, where the Americans faced heavy resistance and a defiance of their encroachment on Korea's isolationist policy.
