the arrival of warships from this nation forced japan to give up its policy of seclusion.

They will pay for them in money, or anything else your imperial majesty's subjects may prefer. We wish that our steamships and other vessels should be allowed to stop in Japan and supply themselves with coal, provisions, and water. Commodore Perry is also directed by me to represent to your imperial majesty that we understand there is a great abundance of coal and provisions in the Empire of Japan. In all such cases we ask, and expect, that our unfortunate people should be treated with kindness, and that their property should be protected, till we can send a vessel and bring them away.

Across the nation, Americans were stunned, shocked, and angered. The surprise attack by some 350 Japanese aircraft sunk or badly damaged eighteen US naval vessels, including eight battleships, destroyed or damaged 300 US aircraft, and killed 2,403 men. Reaction against domestic reform was comparatively calm, however, and the major stumbling block facing the bakufu was the foreign problem. It sometimes happens, in stormy weather, that one of our ships is wrecked on your imperial majesty's shores. On the morning of December 7, 1941, Japan attacked the US naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Japan - Japan - Meiji Restoration, Isolationism, Trade: In 1845, when Abe Masahiro replaced Mizuno Tadakuni as head of the rj, there were various reactions against the Temp reforms.

Many of our ships pass every year from California to China and great numbers of our people pursue the whale fishery near the shores of Japan. I have directed Commodore Perry to mention another thing to your imperial majesty.

The arrival of warships from this nation forced japan to give up its policy of seclusion.