THE OPEN DOOR THE OPEN DOOR POLICYPOLICY

Objective: Define Open Door policy and

its role in US Imperialism

APK

Importance

The Open Door policy of 1899 was originally adopted so that the United States could – 1. restrict Chinese immigration.– 2. stop Japan from attacking China.– 3. gain equal trading rights in China.– 4. encourage the development of democracy in

China.

CHINA & THE OPEN DOOR POLICY.

U.S. INVOLVEMENT STARTS IN 1830’S THE CHINESE EMPIRE IS IN DECLINE.

– Foreign powers in China were lured by huge Chinese market and missionary zeal

EUROPEAN “SPHERES OF INFLUENCE”– By late 19th c., Japan and western European powers had

carved much of China into separate spheres of influence.– Within each sphere, a nation held economic dominance

1899 BRITISH WANT A JOINT US /BRITISH DECLARATION– American manufactures feared Chinese markets would be

monopolized by Europeans while American missionaries had a number of groups in China.

MCKINLEY REFUSES

SEC OF STATE JOHN HAY CIRCULATES AN OPEN DOOR NOTE UNILATERALLY.(Summer of

1899)– Issued by Secretary of State John Hay

• (US at a disadvantage geographically compared to Russia and Japan, and American feared they might get frozen out if they didn’t act quickly.

DECLARES CHINESE TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY SHOULD BE RESPECTED.– Urged all the Great Powers to announce that in their leaseholds or SO they

would respect certain Chinese rights and ideal of fair competition – In effect, when any GP dealt with a foreign trader, it would observe Open Door.

CHINA SHOULD BE OPEN TO ALL.– Open Door gained wide acceptance in US– Policy did not gain international acceptance as it was weak and relatively

short-lived

THE “BOXER REBELLION.” 1900 THE UNIVERSAL FIST OF HARMONY= THE BOXERS. DEMAND CHINA FOR THE CHINESE. WANT TO EXPEL THE “FOREIGN DEVILS.” 55 DAY AT PEKING. ALLIED ARMY BREAK THE SIEGE.

– Millions of Chinese enraged over Open Door Policy– Super Patriotic Boxers killed over 200 missionaries and other whites; a number of

foreign diplomats besieged in Beijing– Multinational force of 18,000 arrived to put down rebellion

• Included Japan, Russia, Britain, France, Germany and US troops (2.5K)

– Victorious they assessed an indemnity of $333 million (US got $24.5 mil), when Washington found sum excessive, remitted $18 million

• Appreciative of US, Chinese gov set aside money to educate a select group of Chinese students in the US as a gesture of good will

– Hay announced in 1900 that henceforth the Open Door would embrace territorial integrity of China in addition to its commercial treaty.

HAY ISSUES A 2ND OPEN DOOR NOTE.

U.S. IS TOO WEAK TO UNILATERALLY ENFORCE THE DEMAND.

BUT CLEVER DIPLOMACY WORKS.– Sought to eliminate carving up China with Boxer outrages

as a pretext– Hay did not ask for formal acceptances– China thus spared partition during these years.

Outcomes– US maintained a lasting influence in Asia– Created a market for American goods to be sold

Importance

The Open Door policy of 1899 was originally adopted so that the United States could – 1. restrict Chinese immigration.– 2. stop Japan from attacking China.– 3. gain equal trading rights in China.– 4. encourage the development of democracy in

China.

Closure

One lasting effect of the U.S. Open Door policy in China was that– 1. it set the stage for continuing U.S. influence in Asia.– 2. China and the United States always have enjoyed a

history of good relations.– 3. Asian countries were forced to allow U.S. military

bases there.– 4. the United States became reluctant to trade with other

Asian countries.

 

Closure

In the early 1900s, China was important to the United States because– 1. the United States needed an ally in the fight against

Japan.– 2. China had become a strong military power and

could pose a threat.– 3. businesses wanted to export goods to China, a

huge market.– 4. China was an important source of raw materials for

U.S. factories.

Closure

What caused the United States to adopt the Open Door Policy?– 1. European powers threatened to invade the U.S.– 2. European powers were about to monopolize

trade in China.– 3. European powers approached the U.S. about

sharing China.– 4. China wanted the U.S. to come and rescue them

from the European powers.

Closure The rapid growth of industry in the United States

helped fuel the U.S. Open Door Policy because– 1. America needed unspoiled places for its workers to

vacation.– 2. Americans had more time to read about foreign places.– 3. the United States was producing more goods than its

own people could buy.– 4. Americans wanted to take over foreign factories and

learn their secrets.