Final answer:
The United States demanded Japan open to trade and diplomacy primarily to expand American economic interests in Asia and to preemptively engage with an industrializing nation. These demands were realized through Commodore Perry's show of force. Over time, as Japan's own imperial ambitions grew, diplomatic tensions increased, culminating in the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Step-by-step explanation:
The approach of the United States towards Japan for opening trade and diplomatic relations was influenced by multiple factors. During the 19th century, America witnessed industrialized nations overpowering non-industrialized countries, and thus, it recognized the advantages of initiating trade with Japan, which was industrially advancing during the Meiji Restoration. Commodore Matthew Perry employed gunboat diplomacy in 1853, compelling Japan to engage in trade and open its ports, a move starkly against its isolationist policy. This step was driven by America's desire for new markets and strategic ports in Asia, a region where European powers were establishing their dominance.
Japan had isolated itself to avoid Western colonization and maintain cultural integrity. However, the threat of Western imperialism, embodied by Perry's naval display, revealed Japan's vulnerability to foreign intervention. Consequently, Japan had to reluctantly accept the demands due to their inability to militarily resist such pressures. Moreover, the Meiji government of Japan realized the necessity of adopting Western technology and knowledge to prevent colonization and secure political and economic sovereignty.
By the 20th century, as Japan pursued its expansionistic goals, it valued diplomacy and trade with the United States to further its ambitions in Asia. Nonetheless, tensions escalated between the countries with Japan's growing imperialism and the passing of exclusion laws by the U.S., diminishing the diplomatic relations that led to the eventual attack on Pearl Harbor. The U.S. initiatives, including the Open Door Policy, were maneuvers to secure its own economic interests in the face of a rapidly modernizing Japan and the competing European powers.