The primary reason the United States advocated the Open Door policy in 1899 was to
Select an Answer
consolidate good relations between the United States and European countries holding leases in China
encourage Asian nations to protect Chinese interests
expand the effort of European nations to Westernize China
protect United States missionaries in China
protect United States trading opportunities in China
View Correct Answer
The Open Door policy, enunciated in a series of diplomatic notes to various European countries, was an effort to maintain equal trading access to Chinese markets for all nations, but was promoted by the United States primarily to secure its own trading rights against those of other powers that were trying to divide China into separate spheres of influence. The policy was an appeal to European countries that were occupying China to refrain from interfering with United States trade access, but it was not primarily focused on maintaining good relations with those countries. The other answer choices were not primary reasons for the Open Door policy.