Question

. . . Japan’s self-imposed isolation was breached by the very real Commodore Matthew Perry of the US Navy, who sailed into Tokyo Bay uninvited and demanded that the Japanese begin to trade with the US. Here’s a snatch of the letter from the president of the United States that Perry delivered to the Japanese emperor:

Many of the large ships-of-war destined to visit Japan have not yet arrived in these seas, and the undersigned, as an evidence of his friendly intentions, has brought but four of the smaller ones, designing, should it become necessary, to return to Edo in the ensuing spring with a much larger force.

–A History of the World in 100 Objects,
Neil MacGregor

How does the letter support MacGregor’s point?

It demonstrates how willingly Japan agreed to trade with the United States.
It gives an example of a different interpretation of the wave in the artwork.
It provides an illustration of how the US Navy threatened to use force to open Japanese ports.
It describes Japan’s reaction to the United States’ forceful letter.

Answer 1

It provides an illustration of how the US Navy threatened to use force to open Japanese ports.