John Hay was the secretary of state to President McKinley, and was best remembered for his Open Door Policy in China. His policy demanded that European nations would not interfere with the United State’s access to China’s market. His proposal allowed all nations to have equal access to trade in China instead of having only the powers that have established spheres of influence in China to have access. This changed history as it helped open up the international market, and it was one of the cornerstones of foreign policies in America.

Hay probably announced the Open Door Policy due to the European powers control over China. China was divided into spheres of influence by the Europeans, which allowed them to have control China’s trade and ports. United States probably felt threatened by European influence, and felt that they should be able to access China’s market too, which led to John Hay proposing the Open Door Policy.

1. Why should China open its ports to the US, while the US banned Chinese immigration?

2. Why didn’t the US establish a sphere of influence in China even though they already maintained a long active trade there?