Guano February 9, 2018PermalinkNancy WaldoToday's AMITAmerican History, Farming, International Commerce Lead: As world population grew in the years before and after 1800 so did the demand for food. At the same time, much farm acreage was depleted, tired, unproductive. This problem was solved in part with guano. Intro.: A Moment in Time with Dan Roberts. Content: Guano is bird excrement. Grouped with the droppings of bats and seals, it is perhaps the most potent natural fertilizer, and bird guano is the primo variety containing up to 16% nitrogen, 12% phosphorus, and 3% potassium. In the mid-19th century, guano was treated as if it were gold, provoked at least one fighting war, and made enormous fortunes for growers and suppliers alike. Download [70.02 KB]
Japan Opens to the West III January 26, 2018PermalinkNancy WaldoToday's AMITAmerican History, International Commerce, Japanese History Lead: In the summer of 1853, a reluctant Japan opened its doors to trade with the rest of the world. Intro.: A Moment in Time with Dan Roberts. Content: Matthew Calbraith Perry was 59 years of age in the year he led the expedition to Japan. He suffered from arthritis and spent much of the voyage in his cabin. He was the brother of Oliver Hazard Perry whose defeat of the British fleet secured Lake Erie for the United States in the War of 1812. Matthew's career included transportation of freed slaves to Africa after the founding of Liberia and combat command during the Mexican War. He had a regal bearing and was a very serious person. This formality stood him well in dealing with the traditionalist Japanese who were reluctant to give up their policy of non-involvement with the outside world. Download [7.33 KB]
Japan Opens to the West II January 25, 2018PermalinkNancy WaldoToday's AMITAmerican History, International Commerce, Japanese History Lead: For centuries Japan had kept itself isolated from the rest of the world. That changed on a summer day in 1853. Intro.: A Moment in Time with Dan Roberts. Content: For nearly half a century American clipper ships had dominated the oceans of the world. These fast, sleek, and graceful vessels had helped U.S. shippers maintain their lead in transport, but a clipper ship was merely the perfection of a very ancient technology and the Industrial Revolution had created a new source of power and made possible a more efficient way of shipping goods. By the 1840s British-built coal fired steamships were taking the lead from the American clipper ships on the Atlantic ferry. Download [7.22 KB]
Japan Opens to the West I January 24, 2018PermalinkNancy WaldoToday's AMITAmerican History, International Commerce, Japanese History Lead: On July 14, 1853, Commodore Matthew Perry landed at Kirihama new Edo Wan, now known as Tokyo Bay. The Tokugawa Shogunate had taken the fateful step of opening Japan to the West. Intro.: A Moment in Time with Dan Roberts. Content: In its long history one of the major themes of Japanese life has been the interaction between native and foreign influence. In Japan's early history, the dominance of Chinese language, culture, religion and government was undeniable, but as the centuries passed Japan adapted, modified or discarded many aspects of Chinese civilization. However, it retained a lingering suspicion of foreigners. By 1200 Japan's emperor was a highly revered, near-religious figure, with little practical power. That was held by shogun, the emperor's supreme military commander. He received his title from the emperor, but in reality, for the most part, the shogun controlled the monarch. One of the primary goals of the shogunate was to suppress regional warfare and achieve political stability. Foreign influence was seen by many Japanese as a threat to the stability of the nation. Download [7.87 KB]
