Treaty of Kanagawa
Also called: Treaty of Peace 1854 · Topic: Paths to Modernisation: Japan, China, Korea · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 7 "Paths to Modernisation"
Meaning
The Treaty of Kanagawa was signed by Japan and the USA in 1854. It came after Commodore Matthew Perry arrived with his "black ships" in 1853 and demanded relations. Japan opened two ports where American ships could get fuel and supplies, and it promised help to shipwrecked sailors. The USA wanted a stop on the route to the China market and refuelling for its whaling ships. Before this, Holland was the only Western country that traded with Japan. The treaty is seen as Japan's "opening", but scholars point out that Japan had never been fully closed.
Example
Perry came back to Japan in 1854 with a larger fleet. The shogun's government then signed the treaty at Kanagawa, near Edo, and opened the ports of Shimoda and Hakodate to American ships.
Don't confuse with
- Harris Treaty (1858): The Kanagawa treaty opened ports only for supplies and refuelling. The 1858 treaty opened Japan to real trade, which began in 1859.
Related concepts
- Commodore Perry
- Unequal treaties
- Meiji restoration
- Charter Oath 1868
- Fukoku kyohei
- Emperor system
- Meiji education system
- Imperial Rescript on Education
- Hiragana and katakana
- Satsuma Rebellion 1877