Name
Date
REVIEW
CALIFORNIA CONTENT
STANDARD 11.4.1
The Open Door Policy
Specific Objective: List the purpose and effects of the Open Door Policy.
Read the chart to answer questions on the next page.
Background
• China remained closed to outsiders for many centuries. Trade with other countries was
prohibited or strictly limited.
• Throughout the 1800s, China suffered from internal conflicts and wars with other countries.
It became known as the “sick man of Asia” because of its weakness.
• China was defeated by Japan in the Sino-Japanese war in 1894.
• Britain, Germany, Russia, and France rushed to establish rights for trade with China.
Purpose of the Open Door Policy
Copyright © McDougal Littell/Houghton Mifflin Company
The United States at the time had three strong beliefs about foreign trade:
• The growth of the U.S. economy depended on exports. China was a huge potential market.
• The United States had a right to keep foreign markets open. It would use force if necessary.
• If one area was closed to U.S. products, people, or ideas, the United States itself was
threatened. The government believed it was protecting the nation by keeping markets open.
Events
• In 1899, U.S. Secretary of State John Hay established the Open Door policy. This policy
declared that other nations must share trading rights with the United States. Trade would
proceed through an “open door.”
• Other nations decided they had to agree. China was not consulted.
• Europeans dominated China’s largest cities. A group that Westerners called “Boxers”
(because they used martial arts) attacked foreigners in 1900, killing hundreds of Christian
missionaries and others. The Boxers were not part of the Chinese government.
• The United States joined with other trading countries and Japan to defeat the “Boxer
Rebellion” with troops in 1900. Thousands of Chinese were killed.
• The United States strengthened the Open Door policy by stating it would “safeguard for
the world” open trade with China.
Effects
• The principles of the Open Door policy were used to guide U.S. foreign policy for many
years. The United States continued to use persuasion and force to keep markets open.
CSS Specific Objective: 11.4.1: Review 55
Name
Date
PRACTICE
CALIFORNIA CONTENT
STANDARD 11.4.1
The Open Door Policy
Directions: Choose the letter of the best answer.
2
The main purpose of the Open Door
policy was to
4
A
help China against efforts by other
countries to establish colonies there.
A
B
keep other countries from trading
with China.
It established good relations between
China and the United States.
B
C
make sure the United States would
have access to China’s markets.
It prevented the United States from
getting involved outside of China.
C
D
allow the United States to establish
colonies in China.
It set a precedent for continuing U.S.
involvement in Asia.
D
It weakened U.S. ability to keep
trading markets open.
Which statement best describes the
Boxer Rebellion?
A
The Chinese government sent troops
to attack foreigners in Chinese cities.
B
The Boxers were supported by the
Japanese and attacked the Chinese
government.
C
The Boxers resented foreign influence
in Chinese cities and attacked
foreigners.
D
The United States supported the
Boxers who helped enforce the Open
Door Policy.
5
6
3
How did the Open Door policy affect
U.S. policy in Asia in the coming
years?
What best describes China’s role in
the Open Door Policy?
A
It allied itself with the Japanese
against westerners.
B
It was not consulted about what role
it should play.
C
It pledged to provide ready access to
its ports.
D
It agreed to allow English
translations of its laws.
Following the Boxer Rebellion, the
United States pledged to
Which country benefited most from
the Open Door policy?
A
pull back on its involvement in China.
A
France
B
B
Great Britain
aggressively safeguard open trade
with China.
C
Russia
C
make China a more active participant
in international diplomacy.
D
United States
D
hold China financially responsible for
U.S. casualties in the Boxer Rebellion.
56 CSS Specific Objective: 11.4.1: Practice
Copyright © McDougal Littell/Houghton Mifflin Company
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