Harris Treaty - Definition and Overview

The Treaty of Peace and Commerce between the United States and Japan was signed July 29, 1858. It was negotiated for the U.S. by Townsend Harris and is often called the Harris Treaty after him.

The U.S. forced Japan to leave its isolationist policy toward foreigners when Commodore Perry concluded the Treaty of Kanagawa with the Tokugawa government in 1854. However, while Perry secured fuel and necessities for U.S. ships and protection, he left the important matter of trading rights to Harris, another U.S. envoy. It took two years of constant work to break down Japanese resistance to trade with the United States. But with the threat of looming British demands for similar privileges, the Tokugawa government gave in and signed.

External link

• Selected articles from the treaty (http://web.jjay.cuny.edu/~jobrien/reference/ob58.html)