United States signs the Treaty of Wanghia with the Qing Empire

Background. Caleb Cushing, a Massachusetts lawyer, was appointed by President John Tyler in 1843 as commissioner and United States Minister to China. His arrival at Macau in February 1844 created a local sensation, but the Chinese government was reluctant to designate another most favored nation. The treaty that followed gave American merchants trading rights in five Chinese ports.

Negotiation and Signing. After initial delays by the Emperor, an envoy was sent to negotiate with Cushing. The treaty was signed on July 3, 1844, in the village of Wanghia, at a stone table in the gardens of the Kun Iam Temple. The signatories were the Viceroy of Liangguang, Keying, and U.S. Minister Plenipotentiary Caleb Cushing.

Treaty Terms. The treaty granted the United States most favored nation status, ensuring equal treatment with other Western powers. It included rights to cabotage, expanded extraterritoriality, and the ability to modify the treaty after 12 years. The U.S. also agreed to allow Chinese confiscation of ships operating outside treaty ports and withdrew protection for opium traders.