What was the primary goal of the Open Door Policy?

The primary goal of the Open Door Policy was to ensure equal trade opportunities in China for all countries. This policy, articulated in the late 19th century, was driven by the United States' desire to prevent any single European power from monopolizing trade with China. It aimed to maintain China's territorial integrity and sovereignty while promoting free and open trade for all nations, ensuring that American businesses had the same access to Chinese markets as other nations.

The context of this policy reflects the period of imperialism, where numerous Western powers were vying for influence in China, often through territorial leases and spheres of influence. The Open Door Policy was significant in that it sought to mitigate these divisions and promote a multilateral trading system, aligning with the U.S. interests who were concerned about being left out of the lucrative Chinese markets.