America and the Far East 1890-1912

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  • Created by: Pip Dan
  • Created on: 20-09-17 14:26

The USA had become interested in China and Japan in the second half of the nineteenth century for economic reasons - they were anxious to develop the vast potential of the markets of these countries.

China

The USA, unlike Britain, Russia and Germany, had no desire to expand territorially into China. US Secretary of State John Hay realised that many Americans would oppose any acquisition of territory and, instead, in 1899 he introduced the Open Door policy with the first Open Door note asking states to respect each other's trading rights in China, even in each other's spheres of interest.

In 1900, an uprising known as the Boxer Rebellion, directed largely against foreigners, broke out in China. The USA sent a small number of troops to assist other countries in the rescue of foreign embassies in Peking. At the same time Hay announced an extension of the Open Door policy with a second of Open Door note, asserting the principle of equal and impartial trade in all parts of China, not just in the existing foreign spheres of interest. It also asserted that in future the US government would protect…

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