With the conclusion of the war, Perry returned to his work with steam power. While involved with the building of mail steamers he developed an interest in Japan. Relations with Japan served American interests since Japan could act as a station for Pacific mail runs and for American ships in need of supplies and thus help with the expansion whaling.
As early as , President Millard Fillmore's administration considered an official expedition to Japan. Perry was appointed to the East India Squadron in December and the following January started planning for the expedition.
He collected all the materials available to him about Japan so that he would be acquainted with the country and customs of the Japanese people. Navy sent several missions from its regional base in Guangzhou Canton , China, but in each case, the Japanese did not permit them to land, and they lacked the authority from the U. Government to force the issue. In , President Millard Fillmore authorized a formal naval expedition to Japan to return shipwrecked Japanese sailors and request that Americans stranded in Japan be returned to the United States.
He sent Commodore John Aulick to accomplish these tasks, but before Aulick left Guangzhou for Japan, he was relieved of his post and replaced by Commodore Matthew Perry. Perry first sailed to the Ryukyus and the Bonin Islands southwest and southeast of the main Japanese islands, claiming territory for the United States, and demanding that the people in both places assist him. He then sailed north to Edo Tokyo Bay, carrying a letter from the U. President addressed to the Emperor of Japan. By addressing the letter to the Emperor, the United States demonstrated its lack of knowledge about the Japanese government and society.
At that time, the Japanese emperor was little more than a figurehead, and the true leadership of Japan was in the hands of the Tokugawa Shogunate.
Perry arrived in Japanese waters with a small squadron of U. Navy ships, because he and others believed the only way to convince the Japanese to accept western trade was to display a willingness to use its advanced firepower. Given that his visit had set in motion an imperial rivalry in the Pacific that culminated in World War II, it is not surprising that it was torn down during the war.
President Millard Fillmore and U. Navy Commodore Matthew C. Perry to the Emperor of Japan Feifer, George. New York: Smithsonian Books, Herring, George C. From Colony to Superpower: U. Foreign Relations since Morison, Samuel Eliot. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, Schroeder, John H. Upcoming Events Explore our upcoming webinars, events and programs. View All Events. Invest In Our Future The most effective way to secure a freer America with more opportunity for all is through engaging, educating, and empowering our youth.
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