sep 6, 1899 - Open Door Note

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In the summer of 1899, U.S. Secretary of State, John Hay sent a note to several of the world power nations requesting to change the rules of trade in China. Instead of separate spheres of influence for each, he wanted open competition in all of the existing spheres of influence with some Chinese rights. Cleverly, he was able to get the Europeans and Japanese to agree but it set off a firestorm of protest among the Chinese known as the Boxer Rebellion (Society of Harmonious Fists). These nationalist Chinese shouted "Death to foreign devil's" as an expression of their hatred of imperialist forces in China. After the imperialist world powers put down the rebellion, John Hay crated a 2nd note, suggesting that world powers not carve up China the way they had Africa. After Hay's 2 note, China's territorial and commercial integrity were agreed upon.

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