July 8, 1853
US warships, commanded by Commodore Matthew Perry under orders from American President Millard Fillmore, arrived at Edo, capital of the closed country of Japan, to demand that it open for trade. This is an example of “gunboat diplomacy,” the pursuit of foreign policy objectives with the aid of conspicuous displays of naval power—implying or constituting a direct threat of warfare, should terms not be agreeable to the superior force.
