Colin Greenup

Dr. Ellefson
History 220
28 October 2014
Japan and the Perry Expedition
During the second half of the 19th century, Japan started to experience a shift from
their traditional Asian ways to a more Western style. This includes their shift into becoming
an imperial power in Asia, as well as their rapid modernization. But what exactly caused
their sudden change in practices? One major influence for them was their experience during
the Perry expedition. Their contact with Perry introduced them to the Western style of
making unequal treaties through gunboat diplomacy, as well as pushing them from being a
feudal nation to a more modern nation.
During this time, Japan was still using the feudal system of running their government,
but had slowly started to become a more modern nation due to the rise of the merchant class.
As the merchants gained more and more influence due to the increase in trade and commerce
taking place as the daimyo travelled to and from the capital every year in accordance with the
law. The elite warrior class had become weakened, and the end of the feudal system was in
sight. The Perry expedition helped give one last push to becoming a more modern nation.
When Perry arrived, he presented a letter to the Japanese explaining his proposition that
Japan open up her ports and allow the United States to refuel all ships that pass through
there. He also demands that any American sailors that are shipwrecked and washed upon
Japans shores be treated with hospitality rather than the hostility that has been shown.

Lastly, he notes that he has many ships of war already coming to Japan, and in any
unfriendly intentions are shown, many more will come.
This forced Japan to open up her ports, bringing in even more commerce and further
hurting the warrior class, as well as introducing gunboat diplomacy. After Japan had
experienced gunboat diplomacy, they realized that it could be used in their favour against
countries that they sought to take control of, like Korea. This resulted in the beginning of
industry and militarization in Japan. As Japan became more militarized, they started to
implement the practices they learned from the Americans on their neighbors. This was the
final thing that pushed Japan into being a modern imperial power rather than a late-feudal
country. However, they were not a prominent imperial power until much later.
The effect that the Perry expedition had on Japan was substantial. By showing Japan
what gunboat diplomacy was, Japan was able to make the decision to use the practices that
were used against them by the Americans and move away from being a feudal country into
becoming a more modern, industrialized, imperial power.