The trajectory of U.S. foreign relations was well in place prior to the Mexican-American war, but was pushed further by the actions that took place therein. America was guided by a resurgence of the Monroe Doctrine under President Polk. This resurgence and in the spirit of Manifest Destiny, the American people, most notably expansionist democrats, pushed to expand the nation westward, and take control of the lands from coast to coast. This control was gained with a victory over Mexico in the aforementioned war, and with a peaceful resolution between President Polk and Britain, over the land in the Oregon Territory. Once both of these were completed, America stretched from “sea to shining sea”. From this point, foreign relations began to
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Japan was to be a vital stop en route to China, but when approached the first time, the Japanese were unsettled. This unsettling was due in part to the way they were approached. The Japanese were then bullied and threatened with the same fate of the Mexican people if they refused to meet with the American diplomat. Fearful of what was shown by America, and what had taken place in China with Britain, Japan agreed to deal with America first. This was done with the Treaty of Kanagawa, which gave the U.S. a “foot in the door” with Japan. With this foot in the door approach, America sent a diplomat, with whom the Japanese had ill regard for, and did not want to work with. The diplomat was treat harshly and was isolated for months due to Japanese obstructionism. The diplomat forged on and was able to convince the Japanese after 2 years to open trade with America. This did not last long though, and Japan like China proved that America was to be a junior to Britain in East Asia for the time being. Moving from the Pacific, America began to look more closely around “home” per se. One such place was Cuba. America attempted numerous time to acquire Cuba from Spain, but the efforts were for not. The premise behind the acquisition efforts was contributed to the southern slave owners trying to obtain a new slave state, or at least keep Britain from obtaining Cuba and abolishing slavery there. This never came to fruition, as Spain refused to
Japan was to be a vital stop en route to China, but when approached the first time, the Japanese were unsettled. This unsettling was due in part to the way they were approached. The Japanese were then bullied and threatened with the same fate of the Mexican people if they refused to meet with the American diplomat. Fearful of what was shown by America, and what had taken place in China with Britain, Japan agreed to deal with America first. This was done with the Treaty of Kanagawa, which gave the U.S. a “foot in the door” with Japan. With this foot in the door approach, America sent a diplomat, with whom the Japanese had ill regard for, and did not want to work with. The diplomat was treat harshly and was isolated for months due to Japanese obstructionism. The diplomat forged on and was able to convince the Japanese after 2 years to open trade with America. This did not last long though, and Japan like China proved that America was to be a junior to Britain in East Asia for the time being. Moving from the Pacific, America began to look more closely around “home” per se. One such place was Cuba. America attempted numerous time to acquire Cuba from Spain, but the efforts were for not. The premise behind the acquisition efforts was contributed to the southern slave owners trying to obtain a new slave state, or at least keep Britain from obtaining Cuba and abolishing slavery there. This never came to fruition, as Spain refused to