Proceedings of the 30th International Academic Conference, Venice

THE JAPANESE YELLOW PERIL

JASON BARROWS

Abstract:

The subject of this paper is how the Associated Press used propaganda in the United States in order to sway the public sentiment regarding Yellow Peril and the effects on public opinions when the popular media chose whether to follow or reject the popular prejudices of the time. During the years 1888 to 1905, the diplomatic relations between the Western powers and the Far East showed signs of increasing equality and interdependence between the East and West, which unsettled many Westerners. Since Westerners had limited access to knowledge about Asia, they created an image that Asia, with is vast population, would join together in making a powerful military unit, and this force would be a substantial threat to “Christian civilization.” These unrealistic fears caused the West to witness an outpouring of books, articles and editorial commentary concerning the impending danger to Western-white-Christian civilization from the growing power of the Oriental peoples. The slogan `Yellow Peril` not only expressed the Western fears of Asia initiating physical war against the US or Europe, but also fears that Asian immigrants to the United States were stealing American jobs.

Keywords: Japanese Yellow Peril

DOI: 10.20472/IAC.2017.030.004

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