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Matthew Marshall
Ms. Hermes
AP US History
13 November 2015
Commodore Matthew Perry and the Opening of Japan
In the early 17 century, Japan locked itself away and removed all contact with society.
Their isolation continued for over two hundred years with the exception of an annual visit from
the Dutch. Today to the Japanese people, Commodore Matthew Perry is a national hero.
Although his actions could be viewed as hostile; but it was a necessary show of power to
intimidate the shoguns showing the shoguns. Commodore Matthew Perry explored the reclusive
Japanese country, while encountering the shogun society creating an exchange in goods, ports
and ideas.
April 10, 1794, in Newport, Rhode Island, Matthew Calbraith Perry was born of Sarah
Wallace and Captain Christopher R. Perry. Although little is known about Matthew Perry’s
childhood, what is known is that his mother informally educated him in reading and writing.
However most of his time spent was on chores and learning about the sea. He lived in Newport
until he was fifteen years old in 1809 when he joined the Navy. His first ship was the USS
Revenge under the command of his older brother, Oliver Hazard Perry(Jefferys 2-3) He served
under his brother until he was transferred to the USS President under Commodore John Rodgers.
In 1811, many Americans thought the sixteen-ship navy was useless and not needed. Ironically,
this was the beginning of the English threat on American boats and trade. English ships would
attack the merchants and use the boat to attack the French. Matthew Perry first saw action
because of the threat the English caused. The President attacked to H.M.S. Little Belt near the
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mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. This was in May 1811; a year later the war of 1812 would start
(Whittner) .although he did not have a specific role during this war, he was involved with in a
battle. At the end of the war Matthew Perry married Jane Slidell. Seven years later after, fighting
pirates and freeing illegal slave ships, Matthew Perry was granted his first command, the USS
Shark. This command lead to command led to long separations from his family and ten children.
In this time, he advanced the United States Navy by changing the boats from sail power to steam
power, created a curriculum for the Naval Academy and established the Naval Museum in New
York. Then in 1852, President Millard Fillmore asked Commodore Perry to lead a fleet of ships
to open trade with Japan.
In 1844, two years after the First Opium War, the United States and China signed their
first treaty, the Treaty of Wangxia (Wang - hsia). The goals of the United States, like most of the
other European powers, want to have free mobility and choice in Chinese goods, such as silks,
furniture, and tea. This treaty and trade caused an increase in merchant, whaling and naval ships
in the Pacific Ocean(The opening of China). The increase in ships and traffic in the Pacific, also
led to an increase in accidents and shipwrecks. However there are hundreds of miles between
ports that Americans can use. This sparked the need for a rest stop between China and California.
Japan was considered the ideal port because of its location and rumors of massive coal deposits.
However any non-Japanese person could have been subjugated to torture, or death because the
Japanese wanted to preserve their culture from outside influence. In June 1848, 15 whalers from
the Lagoda,a ship, went ashore of Japan. The sailors were captured and held in a house for
months being tortured. Eventually word spread of the abuse of the U.S. Sailors via the Dutch, the
only country allowed to have legal contact with Japan. With the Dutch’s help, the United States
rescued the sailors after months of torture. Commander James Glenn, the lead negotiator, after
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saving the sailors reported: “Japan was ready for an American diplomatic mission, but that is
should be carried out by a powerful naval fleet”(Jefferys). Both the need for safe travels and the
want for trade affected Fillmore’s choice in forcing Japan to open.
President Millard Fillmore understood the importance for an American presence in Japan
and commissioned a commander who has “courage, independence, self-reliance, diplomatic
experience, and patience,” Commodore Matthew Perry (Whittner). Matthew Perry’s Black Fleet
arrived in port in July 1853. Later His ships were named "Black Ships" because of the amount of
black smoke coming from the ships. Although neither side could speak both English and
Japanese, a common language was established in Dutch. The United States clearly were breaking
multiple Japanese laws, they ignored any commands and demanded to give a letter from the
President to the emperor. This act clearly shown the lack of understanding of the Japanese
culture by the Americans. The emperor at this point in Japanese history was merely a figurehead
with no political power. The power belongs to the samaris’ and the Shogun, Tokugawa. In
normal situations, the Japanese would shoot cannonballs at the ships but their cannons were
outdated compared to the Black Ships cannons. The Black Ships destroyed the Japanese attempt,
granting the letter to be delivered. As a response to the letter, the shogun asked for more time to
answer. Commodore Perry left saying that he returns in spring (The United States). Arriving a
month early and doubling the size of his fleet, Perry intimidated his Japanese soon to be allies.
After a month of negotiations, the treaty of Kanagawa was signed allowing safe rest stops in
Shimoda and Hakodate and a most-favored-nation clause. The most-favored-nation clause states
that any treaty applied to any other country automatically applies to the United States. This
sparked the Japanese reconstruction (Matthew Perry). Without that the one of the worlds leading
manufacturers wouldn’t be around today.
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Perry’s actions lead to the ending of the Samurai and the shogun. Within ten years the
shogun lost all power, and the emperor became more than an empty figurehead. To Americans
today, Perry is the “Father of the modern Navy”, and the person who opened Japan.However to
the Japanese, he is a hero to society.
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Works Cited
Jefferys, C. P. B., and C. P. B. Jefferys. Newport: A Short History. Newport, RI: Society, 1992.
Print.
"Matthew Perry." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2015.
"The Opening to China." The Opening to China Part I: The First Opium War, the United States,
and the Treaty of Wangxia, 1839?1844 - 1830?1860 - Milestones - Office of the
Historian. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2015.
"The United States and the Opening to Japan, 1853 - 1830?1860 - Milestones - Office of the
Historian." The United States and the Opening to Japan, 1853 - 1830?1860 - Milestones Office of the Historian. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2015.
Wittner, David G. Commodore Matthew Perry and the Perry Expedition to Japan. New York:
Rosen Pub. Group, 2005. Print.