Question

questions 16-18 refer to the image and text below.
lithograph 1855 - commodore matthew perry’s landing in yokohama
“i have directed commodore perry to assure your imperial majesty that i entertain the kindest feelings towards your majesty’s person and government, and that i have no other object in sending him to japan but to propose to your imperial majesty that the united states and japan should live in friendship and have commercial intercourse with each other.”
letter from president millard fillmore to the emperor of japan november 1852

1. the event depicted above can best be described as which of the following?

a. american economic imperialism
b. american military intervention to encourage trade with china
c. american political intervention to prevent japanese imperialism
d. american isolationism

1. based on the interaction between the two states in the sources above, what technology enabled the united states to dictate terms to japan?

a. cannon
b. compass
c. gunpowder
d. steam ships

1. based on your knowledge of world history, which statement best exemplifies the economic relationships between the western powers (europe and america) and japan prior to the events above?

a. japan allowed trade in religious ideology with the west but did not embrace western consumer products.
b. japan maintained isolationist policies that restricted trade to only the dutch.
c. japan participated in free trade with china and russia only.
d. japan restricted trade with the west to a series of cities located in easy to protect bays on the coast.

Explanation:

Question 16

• Option a: The event of Commodore Perry's mission to Japan was to open Japan for American trade, which is a form of economic imperialism as the US sought to expand its economic influence.
• Option b: The event was with Japan, not China, so this is incorrect.
• Option c: The US was not intervening to prevent Japanese imperialism; Japan was isolationist at the time.
• Option d: Isolationism is about a country staying out of foreign affairs, but the US was engaging with Japan, so this is incorrect.

• Option a: Cannons were not the key technology enabling the US to dictate terms.
• Option b: The compass is for navigation, not for exerting power to dictate terms.
• Option c: Gunpowder is a component of weapons, but the steam ships (option d) were the advanced technology that showed US naval power and enabled Perry's expedition to pressure Japan. Steam ships were a symbol of Western technological superiority at the time.

• Option a: Japan's isolationist policies restricted most foreign trade, including religious ideology and consumer products, so this is incorrect.
• Option b: Prior to Perry's arrival, Japan's isolationist policy (sakoku) restricted trade mainly to the Dutch (and some Chinese), making this correct.
• Option c: Japan did not have free trade with China and Russia; it was highly isolationist.
• Option d: Japan's trade restrictions were not limited to coastal cities for the West; it was mostly limited to the Dutch at a single port (Nagasaki).

Answer:

a. American economic imperialism

Question 17