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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Where was the Commodore and some staff invited to tour?

2. What enchanted Abigail about the Japanese?

3. What stuck the Americans about the Japanese?

4. What was one thing that was excellent about Shimoda?

5. What might the people resist upon Perry's next return?

Short Essay Questions

1. What did Perry's arrival precipitate?

2. Who was Sam Patch and why was he terrified? What happened?

3. On April 10th, 1854, where did the Commodore take one of his ships and what was the result?

4. What gifts most fascinated the Japanese?

5. What was Hokkaido like and how did the first contact with them go for the Americans?

6. What sort of gifts did the Americans give the higher ranked Japanese?

7. Where did the Commodore and staff go and what bothered the Commodore about the women there?

8. What Japanese awaited Perry and his staff?

9. When was the Treaty House completed and what did Commodore Perry demand that they change?

10. What were some of the squadron members permitted to do?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

When Shogun Ieyasu died in 1616, being a Christian became punishable by death and Christians were persecuted en masse. The cross was stamped annually and even in the nineteenth century, the Dutch and formerly Christian Japanese families were force to stamp Christian symbols. Discuss the following:

1. Research the persecution of Christians in Japan in under the Tokugawa Shoganate and write an informative essay about the topic. Include your thoughts on why the Shoganate was ohstile towards Christianity and whether you think the hostility had any justification.

2. How do you think Japanese Chrisitans could have impacted the status quo? Consider the idea that all are equal in God's eyes according to many Christian denominations.

3. What is an example of a nation in the 21st century who practices religious intolerance? Compare/contrast their manifestation of intolerance with that of Japan in earlier centuries.

4. What do you think is the reason some people/nations are intolerant of religions that are different from their own?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the following:

1. What do you think are the characteristics of a successful novel?

2. Analyze and discuss Commodore Perry in the Land of the Shogun based upon the criteria you decide upon in #1 and judge if it is a successful novel. Explain your rationale with specific examples.

3. Do you think the fact that Commodore Perry in the Land of the Shogun falls within the genre of historical fiction changes the criteria upon which its success should be judged? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

Despite being seen as a child of the sun goddess, Amaterasu, the Emperor only presided over religious ceremonies, and was otherwise a mere puppet. Discuss the following:

1. Who held the real power in Japan? Why? How did he/they hold on to their power?

2. How did those who held the reins of power gain that power?

3. Do you think the Emperor preferred to be a mere figurehead? Or do you think most Emperors of those times in Japan would prefer to have a voice in the decisions of the country in which he supposedly governs?

4. Research the reign of Emperor Meiji and compare/contrast his reign to that of the Emperor Komei, who held the position of Emperor when Commodore first arrived in Japan.

(see the answer keys)

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