China, The U.S. Founders, and Early American-Chinese Trade: A Summer 2015 Leadership Program

Two-week Summer 2015 leadership programs are being offered by The Pacific Learning Consortium, Inc., in collaboration with History Education Hawaii, Inc.

INTRODUCTION

On the eve of the American Revolution and the War of Independence, Chinese products were in high demand. After the Treaty of Paris was signed in 1783, the newly-independent United States of America found itself isolated from European commerce and not yet a manufacturing nation able to compete on the world stage. At the time the Americans had been restricted to trade exclusively within the British Empire, and thus all Asian (Chinese) products had to be purchased through Great Britain per the Navigation Act of 1651. 

Yet within a year of independence the Empress of China embarked from New York City for a far-flung adventure to China, the new republic’s first trading partner. Colonial America’s forced submission to the domination/monopoly of the British East India Company had been removed, though obstacles remained. 

Centered in the USA in New York City, Philadelphia, Boston and Salem, Massachusetts,  and in Guangzhou (Canton), China, markets for Chinese products had already been developed. These products included  silk; porcelain (produced in bulk and special order); lacquer pieces and furniture; tea; ginseng; paper; printing; ivory carvings; medicines; gunpowder; amusements (cards, dominoes, kite flying), metalwork, wallpaper, and more. 

Why did Americans enter into the China trade? What challenges, triumphs and failures characterized the early years of mercantile transactions between Americans and Chinese? How did these developments influence the participants in trade relations? Who were the leaders of this relationship? What were the commonalities and differences of Chinese and American traders and their leaders in their respective nations? 

Sailing from New York City on February 22, 1784, the Empress of China arrived exactly six months and one day later on August 23. Upon its successful return to New York on May 11, 1785 the Empress signaled its arrival with a thirteen gun salute. When the Empress returned to China for the 1786-1787 trading season she was joined by four other ships. Among the passengers was Samuel Shaw as the first United States Consul at Guangzhou, who had been elected by Congress for the post. By this time interest in participation in the China trade had grown, and as such the seeds of a relationship between the world’s youngest civilization and the oldest had been planted. 

This unique program seeks to illuminate its participants with the intricacies and complexities of the influence of Chinese civilization on the Founders of the United States of America in 1776 and on the early development of the USA. In addition, the goals of the program seeks to facilitate exploration of the basis of the initial economic relationship between the USA and China through an overview of the history of trade and transactions between citizens of both nations. 

This independent program is offered and presented as a collaboration between The Pacific Learning Consortium, History Education Hawaii, Inc. -the Hawaii affiliate of The National Council for History Education- for secondary and college/university students nationwide. 

ENROLLMENT

Enrollment in the program is open to all interested middle school, high school and college/ university students regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, national origin. Three (tentative) cohorts of between 8 and 16 students each will be held in New York City. 

PROGRAM SCHEDULE (Tentative)

1) Middle School Group, New York City USA. Monday, June 29-July 10, 2015 (Note: No sessions Friday, July 3. Federal holiday) 

2) Senior High School Group, New York City USA. July 13-July 24, 2015. 

3) College/University Group, New York City USA. July 27-August 7, 2015.

MUSEUMS AND EXCURSIONS

This program includes field trips and excursions throughout New York City. These may include Fraunces Tavern, Federal Hall, Morris-Jumel Mansion, Fort Washington, the China Institute in America, St. Paul's Church, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. 

GRADUATION & CERTIFICATE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT

After the conclusion of the instructional phase of the program, a graduation ceremony will be held. Each graduate will be presented with an official signed Certificate of Accomplishment. 

To qualify for the Certificate, each student must participate in program activities and submit a researched presentation on a topic of of his or her choice subject to the approval of the instructor and program director. Students will be instructed in basic nuances of public speaking and presentation skills, and participate in organizing a day-long conference-like event. The presentations will be open to the public. 

PROGRAM DEPOSIT 

Nonrefundable $150 fee is required to secure a place in the program. Click this link to register and pay via Paypal. 

Printed checks will be accepted. Please make your program deposit check out to The Pacific Learning Consortium, Inc. Please mail it to P.O. Box 183, Honolulu HI 96810-0183. 

The total program fees, payment schedule and cancellation policies will be included in an admission packet along with a payment schedule. All tuition and fees must be paid prior to the commencement of the program. 

COSTS AND TUITION

Costs associated with this program are inclusive of the following:

• Instructional time.
• Cultural workshops and sessions, field trip site admission, program-related travel except commuting costs and airfare where applicable.
• Insurance.

Costs not associated with this program include outside meals, airfare, room and board, computer equipment and online access. 

Total tuition, including program deposit: US$850 per student plus applicable tax.  

INSTRUCTORS

Dr. Dave Wang and Mr. Jeffrey Bingham Mead 
in front of the China Institute in America, New York City.