jan 1, 1868 - Burlingame Treaty with China

Description:

Before:
-William Seward (Lincoln+Johnson's Secretary of State) wanted teh U.S. to buy sites in teh Pacific and the Caribbean for naval bases and refueling stations so they could trade with Asia. When Japan went isolationist, Seward send naval vessels (with Britain, France and Netherlands) to force them to trade. He wanted to annex hawaii and predicted the U.S> would one day claim the Philippines and build a Panama Canal.
-americans were tired of military exploits

During:
-An 1868 treaty that guaranteed the rights of U. S. missionaries in China and set official terms for the emigration of Chinese laborers to work in the United States (some of whom were already clearing farmland and building railroads in the West).

Later: Seward buys alaska from russia, ppl laugh, but he maps out a plan for it that would help them gain global power 30 years later

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