Matthew perry 1853 biography for kids

American ships had sailed around the world, trading with European and Asian nations. However, America did not trade with Japan; more accurately, Japan did not trade with America, or with most other countries.

The U.S. Navy was particularly keen on buying coal from Japan; the demand for coal in Hawaii was already too great.

The U.S. sent 27 ships, including three warships, to Japan between 1790 and 1853, and all were turned away by Japanese leaders who were pursuing a policy of strict isolation, reintroduced by the Tokugawa Shogunate: Alone among other nations of the world, the Netherlands had permission to land one ship in Japanese ports every year.

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The Japanese refusals included ships containing shipwrecked Japanese sailors.

The American government wanted to extend its influence politically and economically, hoping that trade routes between America and Japan could be established.

The goal was a treaty to be signed by representatives of both countries, and the U.S. government was