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How and why did the United States "open up" Japan in the 1850s?

User Leora
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Answer:

Mainly for opening trade with the Japanese. At that time, Japan was a closed nation which had imposed isolation on itself fearing influence of outsiders especially Westerners.

The then US President, Fillmore sent four warships under the command of Commodore Matthew Perry into Tokyo Bay in 1853. They were not welcome and asked to leave. Perry returned a year later with seven warships and the Emperor of Japan was so impressed he signed the Treaty of Kanagawa opening the door to trade with Japan and also rescuing shipwrecked sailors off the coast of Japan

Step-by-step explanation:

User Bensson
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