Imperialism in East Asia

Background of China

“Middle Kingdom”- Chinese believed their country was surrounded by inferior people; all foreigners were barbarians

In 1700’s, China isolated themselves from European ideas.

Result: Fell behind in technology

Devastating wars

Opium Wars (mid 1800’s)- lost to Great Britain; forced to give up Hong King and open treaty ports and compounds– treaty port– Compound

War with Japan (1895)- lost island of Formosa (Taiwan);

final blow for China

Boxer Rebellion-1898

Athletic group of men rebelled against foreign influences by burning houses, schools, and churches

8 European countries sent in an army to defeat the Boxers

Open Door Policy- 1900

United States set up this policy stating that every country had equal trade opportunity with China

Foreigners as a result retained control of China

Background of Japan

For 2 centuries, shoguns kept Japan closed to the world– shogun-

However, they started to worry they would end up like China

1853-U.S. Naval officer Matthew Perry sailed into Japanese harbor and demanded they open treaty ports

Emperor Meiji and Modernization

modernization- process of bringing present-day methods into a country

Meiji led Japan to study Western ways

Built up industry and modernized armed forces

Japan grew in power and was treated with respect after defeating Russia in 1905

Russo-Japanese War- 1904-1905

Japan and Russia went to war over control of Manchuria, a northeastern region of China

Japan shocked the world and quickly defeated Russia

Japan became known as a world power

1905- Japan and Russia signed a peace treaty that US President Teddy Roosevelt helped write

Gentleman’s Agreement of 1907

Informal agreement between US and Japan

US would not impose restriction on Japanese immigration and Japan wouldn’t allow further immigration into US

Goal was to reduce tension between the two