This study seeks to clarify the impact of the stories of the Lawrence and Lagoda on the decision to send the U.S. mission to Japan. After examining the actual narratives of the sailors and comparing them with Japanese reports in order to ascertain a factual baseline, the study examines the reaction to the Lawrence and Lagoda by prominent businessmen, naval officers, and politicians. Then, the reaction to the Lawrence and Lagoda is placed in the contextual framework of prevailing mid-nineteenth century American social, cultural, and legal attitudes in order to show that humanitarian concerns were, indeed, a prime consideration for sending the Perry mission to Japan.
Pages
106
Format
Paperback
Release
December 27, 2013
ISBN 13
9781304734365
Diplomacy Far Removed: A Reinterpretation of the U.S. Decision to Open Diplomatic Relations with Japan
This study seeks to clarify the impact of the stories of the Lawrence and Lagoda on the decision to send the U.S. mission to Japan. After examining the actual narratives of the sailors and comparing them with Japanese reports in order to ascertain a factual baseline, the study examines the reaction to the Lawrence and Lagoda by prominent businessmen, naval officers, and politicians. Then, the reaction to the Lawrence and Lagoda is placed in the contextual framework of prevailing mid-nineteenth century American social, cultural, and legal attitudes in order to show that humanitarian concerns were, indeed, a prime consideration for sending the Perry mission to Japan.