1. A Growing US Influence

2. Today’s Main Idea: As the 19 th century progressed America began to assert its political and economic force around the globe.

3. Japan, The US & Modernization

4. Japanese Hesitance: The Japanese leaders closely watched the political problems caused in China because of contact with the west. Japan wanted their fate to be different, they set out to have more control over their process of modernization. In the end Japan would emerge as the predominant military power in East Asia.

5. The US Renews Contact: The Tokugawa ruled Japan at the beginning of this time period. The family had long worked to limit Japan’s contact with the outside world. Japan was isolated from most of the world. President Fillmore (the US) set out to change that. The US sent Commander Perry to Edo Bay in Tokyo twice to try and open up Japan. In 1853 he arrived with four warships and returned home empty handed. In 1854 he returned to Japan with 9 warships, this time Japan agreed to open up to trade with the US.

6. The Treaty of Kanagawa: The Treaty of Kanagawa allowed the US to trade in two Japanese sea ports. By 1858 five more ports had been opened to the west. Westerners were also granted extraterritoriality. The Japanese were embarrassed and frustrated by these developments. This increased nationalism in Japan.

7. The Meiji Restoration: The Emperor during the Tokugawa period was largely a figure head. The Shogun was the real leader, he was resented by many because he increased the amount of western influence in Japan. Eventually he is forced to step down. A young emperor named Motusuhito took control over Japan. He took on the name Meiji, which means enlightened ruler. The Meiji would rule Japan until 1912.

8. Meiji Reforms: The emperor of Japan wanted to modernize on his own terms. The Emperor knew this was necessary for Japan’s success. In order to prepare for these modernizations a small group of Japanese men made the Iwakura Journey. This group of individuals traveled the US and Europe to learn about society, government and the economy.

9. The Meiji Reforms: The Meiji was only interested in instituting reforms that benefited Japan. Students began to attend school and higher level students studied abroad. The government ended feudalism and enacted a European style constitution. The government began to invest in transportation and industrialization. The military began to modernize and structured itself similar to that of Britain and Prussia. They required military service of three years from all men.

10. Power and Respect Japan worked to strengthen its power and influence in the region. The Sino-Japanese war broke out when Japan sought to increase its influence in Korea. Korea had pledged its allegiance to China, so when a rebellion broke out in Korea both the Japanese and Chinese sent troops to Korea. This turned out to be a miserable defeat for the Chinese. In the end Korea gained its independence from China and Japan emerged the most important power in the region.

11. The US and Latin America

12. An Uprising in Cuba: Cuba had long been a colony of Spain, but by the 1860’s Cuban nationalist began to push for independence from Spain. Spain would often exile these leaders, one of these leaders was Josie Marti. Josie Marti was exiled to New York City, but continued to communicate with people in Cuba via his writings. He continued to encourage a revolution and rebellion in Cuba. He founded the Cuban Revolutionary Party. In 1865 he left the US to join the rebellion in Cuba. This rebellion went disastrously for the Cubans. The Spanish stomped the rebellion and forced the Cubans to live in camps.

13. The Spanish American War: US newspapers and their readers became very concerned with the conditions in Cuba. Yellow journalism was in its heyday and this helped garner lots of sympathy for the Cubans. In February of 1888 the USS Maine exploded in the Havana Harbor, the US government immediately assumed it was blown up by Spain. The US and Spain engage in a war the turns out to be disastrous for the Spanish. The war lasted three months.

14. The Emergence of the US As a result of the Spanish American war the US received Puerto Rico and Guam. The US was also able to buy the Philippines for 20 million dollars. Cuba was forced to accept the Platt Amendment, this made them a protectorate of the United States. The US was able to intervene in Cuban national affairs and leased the navy base at Guantonimo Bay. There were numerous insurrections in the Philippines during the US occupation. Filipinos felt they had earned their independence in the Spanish American War.

15. The Panama Canal: The French first tried to build the canal, but they failed. The US bought the equipment and the land, but the Columbian government did not want the building to continue. Panama at the time belonged to Columbia, but a sense of nationalism had been growing in the region. The US sent several war ships down to Panama and helped them gain their independence. In the end the Panama Canal was built and owned by the US. The US controlled the area around the Panama, known as the Panama Canal Zone.

16. The Monroe Doctrine and Roosevelt Corollary: The Monroe Doctrine stated that Europeans were to stay out of political affairs in the US, except for the already acquired colonies. This was largely seen as an idle threat until the Spanish American War. The Roosevelt Corollary stated that the US would use the military if the European countries violated the Monroe Doctrine.

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