Legacy of Matthew C. Perry
In1890 Alfred Thayer Mahan urged the United States to “look outward not inward. The production of the country demands it” (4). As senior enlisted leaders, it is of the upmost importance to keep the history, heritage, and traditions of all branches of service alive, because defining the past provides the model for the future of military service. This paper will outline the history of Matthew C. Perry’s exploits in Japan, and discuss the impact of those exploits.
History
Commodore Matthew C. Perry attained much renown and distinction throughout his 50 years of service to the United States Navy. He fought in multiple campaigns against the Barbary Pirates off the coast of Algeria, commanded squadrons in attempts to end the African slave trade, and during the Mexican War with Veracruz(8). He was the loudest voice and the driving force behind the Navy’s shift from vessels powered by wind to vessels powered by steam, earning him the nickname “the father of the steam Navy”(10). Throughout the fleet his reputation as a stern disciplinarian with a genuine concern for the welfare of all those under his command was well received. His greatest accomplishment, however, would not come from innovations in naval technology, from leading men and commanding ships, or from great battles won.
In 1635, Tokugawa edicts isolated Japan from the rest of the world fearing foreign influence would lead to foreign nation’s attempts to invade and conquer Japan (1). In the late 1800s, the United States attempted to secure diplomatic relations with Japan. All attempts miserably failed. In 1852, President Millard Fillmore recruited Perry to secure a diplomatic partnership with Japan, and gave him command of the East India Squa...
... middle of paper ...
...he United States and Japan is, without question, the cornerstone of peace, stability, and prosperity across the Asia Pacific.” Secretary Of State John Kerry.
Works Cited
1 http://users.wfu.edu/watts/w03_Japancl.html
2 http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/events/wwii-pac/japansur/js-8.htm
3 http://www.biography.com/people/matthew-c-perry-40184
4 http://amhistory.si.edu/militaryhistory/printable/section.asp?id=7
5 http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/timelines/japan_modern_timeline.htm
6 http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq66-1.htm
7 http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Matthew_C._Perry
8 http://www.history.navy.mil/branches/teach/pearl/kanagawa/friends4.htm
9 http://www.history.navy.mil/bios/perry_mc.htm
10 http://www.history.navy.mil/branches/teach/ends/perrybio.htm
11 http://www.history.navy.mil/branches/teach/ends/opening.htm
12 http://www.c7f.navy.mil/about.htm
Stewart R. W. (2005). American Military History (Vol. 1). The United States Army and the
Weigley, Russel F. History of the United States Army. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1st Edition, 1984.
Sanderson, Jefferey. "GENERAL GEORGE S. PATTON, JR.” Last modified may 22, 1997. Accessed January 4, 2014. http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CCwQFjAA&url=http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a331356.pdf&ei=tYbHUtv3HcGs2gX2u4HAAQ&usg=AFQjCNFU5EzdWjKlt81w8gh_Bj2UEttaZw&sig2=aAz3jIZg7U6peDzL_i8w9w.
starts out with Marine Lieutenant General Holland M. Smith on the bridge of the command ship Mt. Olympus, off Iwo Jima on the morning of 23 February 1945 with Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal who said that the raising of our flag atop Mt. Suribachi means there will be an Marine Corps for the next five hundred years. Smith commented “When the war is over and money is short they will be after the Marines again”, and a dozen Iwo Jimas would make no difference. The resolute general was voicing the frustrations of the many generations of Marines before him who had learned through hard experience that fighting for the right to fight often presented greater challenges than fighting their country’s enemies.
In the early 1800’s, Japan had blocked off all trade from other countries. Foreign whaling ships could not even reload or repair their ships in Japan territory. This offended many other countries. In 1852, Matthew Perry was sent to Japan to negotiate open trade. Japan felt threatened by the United States, and gave in to their demands. Japan was frightened by their stipulations, and immediately began to reform. They developed a new education system that was similar to America and Europe’s. They also developed a Western style judiciary system.
From the years of 1853 to 1868, the people of Japan experienced major changes in all aspects of their lives. This era, known as the Bakumatsu signified Japan’s change from the traditional Edo period to a modernized Meiji dynasty. This change can be attributed to an American naval officer by the name Matthew Calbrath Perry whom ultimately changed the complexity of Japanese culture. In the eyes of an American, Commodore Perry is seen as one of the greatest influential figures in international history. However, what most people don’t understand is how the very own citizens of Japan perceived Commodore Perry. There are many ways in which, the Japanese may have perceived Perry. However, a fascinating aspect to think about is if he was perceived as a hero or a villain.
... in World War II. Regardless of how his individual decisions have been scrutinized by historians, Admiral William ‘Bull’ Halsey remains one of the greatest leaders in American Naval history. He was instrumental in the defeat of the Japanese in the South Pacific. When asked how his decisions and efforts affected the outcome of the war, he replied, “There are no great men, just great challenges which ordinary men, out of necessity, are forced by circumstances to meet.” Halsey was an outspoken, charismatic and aggressive leader that can be compared to other leaders like John Paul Jones and David Farragut. His ability to access risk and have no fear against the enemy earned him well deserved respect from his peers and subordinates. Halsey’s contributions to preserve the ideals of the American way have an overall positive and lasting impression on American Naval history.
The U.S. Navy nurtured into a challenging power in the years previous to World War II, with battleship construction being revived in 1937, commencing with the USS North Carolina . It was able to add to its fleets throughout the early years of the war when the US was still not involved, growing production of vessels both large and small. In a conflict that had a number of amphibious landings, naval superiority was important in both Europe and the Pacific. The mutual resource...
Blair Jr., Clay, (1975). Silent Victory: The U.S. Submarine War Against Japan. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott, p. 78. p. 1072. Buell, Thomas B. -. (1987)
Over the year and a half between Pearl Harbor and Midway the United States made headway with various technological and military advantages. One of the most important of which was the code breaking efforts of Commander Joseph J. Rochefort Jr. “Most of the U.S’s information [on Japan] came from Rochefort. R...
- - -, ed. "The Anti-War Movement in the United States." English.Illnois.edu. Ed. Oxford Companion to American Military History. 1st ed. Vers. 1. Rev. 1. Oxford Companion to American Military History, 1999. Web. 24 Feb. 2014. .
Many of the world powers of the 20th century were searching for or ensuring their continued possession of power. For Japan, their power fluctuated, depending on whether they were in times of war or peace, riches or poverty, and their allegiances. After having fought with the Allies during World War I, Japan prospered but was then discriminated against leading to Japan switching sides and fighting alongside the Axis powers in World War II. Japan’s entered World War II seeking power by means of land, natural resources, and military dominance.
Lieutenant General Lewis B. “Chesty” Puller, through dedication to his mission and the welfare of his marines, was a visionary leader even by today’s standards. In his youth, Chesty attempted to join World War I before he had reached the required age. He attended Virginia Military Institute, but dropped out after one year to satisfy his urge to experience combat. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps as a private and remained enlisted for only a year before his commissioning as a lieutenant. Unfortunately, the war ended before he was able to experience combat. When a force reduction ensued after the end of the war, Lt Puller was sent to the reserves and given the ...
...high power status, Japan had to have a self-reliant industrial common ground and be able to move all human and material resources (S,195). Through the Shogun Revolution of 1868, the abolition of Feudalism in 1871, the activation of the national army in 1873, and the assembly of parliament in 1889, the political system of Japan became westernized (Q,3). Local Labor and commercial assistance from the United States and Europe allowed Japan’s industry to bloom into a developed, modern, industrial nation (Q,3). As a consequence production surplus, and food shortage followed (Q,3). Because of how much it relied on aid of western powers, Japan’s strategic position became especially weak. In an attempt to break off slightly from the aid of the west Japanese leaders believed that it would be essential for Japan to expand beyond its borders to obtain necessary raw materials.
Our preliminary class gave a brief, yet detailed outline of major events affecting the East Asian region. Within that class, prompted by our limited geographical knowledge of Asia, we were given a fundamental explanation of the geographical locations of the various events taking place in the region. In subsequent classes, we were introduced to the major wars, political shifts, and economic interests which shaped Japan, China and Korea to what they are today. We examined the paradigm of pre-modern Japanese governance, the Shogunate, and the trained warriors which defended lord and land, Samurai. In addition, we examined the socio-economic classes of Medieval Japan, which included the Samurai, peasants, craftsmen, and the merchants. We also examined pre-1945 Japan’s policies toward foreign entities, notably the Sakoku Policy, which sought to expunge all foreign presence and commerce in an effort to protect its borders and culture. 1945, however, saw ...