US Events

The arrival of Matthew Perry in Japan

"Opening" of Japan --> In the early 19th century, when British and European ships came too close to Japanese shores, Japan clearly reinforced their isolationist policy, thwarting the hope of trade and profit from Japan. Americans believed it was their duty to force Japan to act "civilized" and trade with the rest of the world. So, in 1853, Matthew Perry used gunboat diplomacy to demand diplomatic negotiations with the emperor, Komei. Japan was forced to open two ports and allow trade. In the next years, more and more treaties gave Europeans more rights and privileges for trading in Japan. Along with China, these instances gave Europeans more and more inspiration to continue on their, so far successful, imperialistic path.

First transatlantic telegraph cable --> In 1858, the laying of the first transatlantic telegraph cable was completed. Cyrus West Field, an American businessman, was the mastermind behind the cable. Using the invention of another American, Samuel B. Morse, he succeeded on his fifth try to successfully lay an insulated telegraph cable across the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. The first transatlantic telegraph was sent from Queen Victoria to President James Buchanan. Although the cable was weak and only worked for a month, it still revolutionized communication. It reduced the time of communication between the two continents from ten days to a matter of minutes. It brought the two continents closer together, as they were formerly divided by the long wait for communication.