Progressive Movement: The Open Door Policy: Chris Honaker

The Open Door Policy

                In 1894, Japan defeated China’s giant army, which were thought at the time to be very strong force in the world, and established a peace treaty that gave Korea their independence and gave Japan control over the territory of Manchuria. Russian leaders didn’t like the idea of the rising Japanese power taking control of the territory and with support of France Germany, forced Japan to give the territory back to China. Shortly after in 1899, Russia forced China to lease the territory to them. This started a chain of “leaseholds” in China by other countries such as France, Britain, and Germany. They called their “leaseholds” their Sphere of Influence.

                Influential people in the United States began to worry about these events happening in China and started to support the Open Door policy. This would allow every country the right to trade with China. In 1899, Secretary of State John Hay, sent letters to all the countries that had these leaseholds, and asked them to let other countries trade within these leases. Every Nation replied by saying that they accepted the policy but wouldn’t enforce it unless all the other nations accepted the policy as well.