The U.S.-China relationship as imagined by many in the U.S. (and there only). Here Uncle Sam holds back the warlike countries of Europe, protecting China and saying "A fair field and no favor! I'm out for commerce, not conquest!"

Previously we saw an image of the U.S. civilizing China. These two images: the U.S. as civilizing missionary to China and the U.S. as civilizing provider of goods to China dominated the minds of most U.S. citizens during the early twentieth century. Neither had any basis in reality if by "reality" we mean government policy and deeds. But these images exerted tremendous influence on how Americans tended to see the U.S.-China relationship. In this way, they were terribly influential in the formation of foreign policy during the 1940s, 50s, and, though watered down, even to this day.


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