Globalization

[Doug Millison]

Gabe Luci
Consider this, when Japan shut their doors to all foreign powers (excepting
the portugeuse and dutch) did America FORCE them to open up?

Yes. It's called "gunboat diplomacy."  See Puccini's Madama Butterfly for
heartbreaking details.

"In 1846 Commander James Biddle of the American East Indian fleet appeared
with two warships in Uraga Harbour (near Yokohama) and held consultations
with bakufu representatives on the question of opening commercial relations.
When refused by the bakufu, Biddle returned empty-handed. The United States,
however, eagerly desired ports for fuel and provisions for its Pacific
merchant and whaling ships and was not willing to give up attempts to open
Japan. But the bakufu had for two centuries retained its political dominance
through strict adherence to the policy of seclusion, and it could not muster
up the resolution necessary to open the country. Opinion among the daimyo
and samurai was split between seclusion and opening the country. The opening
of Japan was thus postponed until the last possible moment and had to be
effected unilaterally by foreign pressure, backed by massive naval strength.
This pressure was initiated by the squadron of U.S. warships commanded by
Commodore Matthew C. Perry that entered Uraga Bay in July 1853."

"Japan" Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 
<http://www.members.eb.com/bol/topic?eu=109546&sctn=19> 
[Accessed 26 April 2001].