The Korean people and government
in the latter half of the 1800's
had reasons to view the West 
with distrust.  The "Hermit 
Kingdom" was determined to stay 
isolated in light of regional 
European activity.

European intervention into China
led to a string of humiliating 
defeats for the Chinese, leading
to isolationist policies in 
Japan and the Korean peninsula.
Seeing the Chinese imperial 
court flee from Peking during 
the Sino-British war of 1856 was
enough to convince the Koreans 
that nothing good would come 
from contact with the West.

During this time, the United 
States began to look to Asia for
trade and influence.  Seeing the
European powers actively 
expanding into the region, 
Congress decided to act.  A 
resolution was introduced in 
1845 to call for trade 
representatives to be sent to 
Korea to open trade with the 
closed nation - in spite of the 
fact that similar attempts from 
Britain, Russia, and France had 
all failed.  Sporadic attempts
at establishing a relationship 
would continue for almost the 
next 30 years.

In April 1871 the Americans sent
a fleet to Korea with trade 
Ambassador Low to accomplish 
several goals.  His mission 
included free trade between the 
two countries, a treaty for the 
protection of shipwrecked 
sailors, and an attempt to 
clear up the fate of a U.S. 
merchantman,  the General 
Sherman, that disappeared off
the Korean coast in 1866.  

Ambassador Low had no luck with 
any of the issues but he did 
feel that he had been given 
permission to make charts of 
the waters in the area.  On 
June 1st, one of the surveying 
parties was brought under fire 
by the Koreans.  Ambassador Low 
diplomatically presented the 
Koreans with a request for an 
explanation for their actions, 
requesting an answer by the 
10th.  Admiral Rodgers, the 
commander of the U.S. fleet, 
began drafting a military 
response.

On the morning of June 10th, 
having received no response, 
Admiral Rodgers put his military
response into action.  Advancing
throughout the day toward the 
fort that had fired on his men, 
at the mouth of the Kangwha 
Straight, they met little 
resistance.

On the following day they 
reached the fort which was 
commanded by O-Chae-yon and 
defended by 1,000 elite troops 
known as the Tiger Hunters.  
After a few volleys of fire the 
Marines and seamen charged up 
the hill to the fort, rushing 
in through holes caused by 
artillery and naval fire.  The 
Koreans fought heroically, but 
were overwhelmed in the end.

When the American forces 
attempted to return their 
prisoners to the Korean 
government, they were informed 
that if the prisoners were 
released, they would be dealt 
with harshly as they had 
dishonored themselves.  

Though the military action was 
a success, the overall United 
States mission in Korea was an 
absolute failure.  Korea, by 
this action, further hardened 
itself against foreign 
intervention.  It was not until 
a Japanese treaty in 1876 that 
Korea would be open to the 
outside world. 