The Treaty of Amity and Commerce between the United States and Japan was an unequal treaty including unfavourable conditions against Japan such as extraterritoriality, resignation of tariff autonomy (tariff agreement system) and unilateral MFN (most favoured nation) status, therefore when the Japanese market was opened to the world, domestic industries were defenceless against the impact of price increases and the draining of gold reserves which gave rise to the Sonno Joi Movement (a movement advocating reverence to the Emperor and expulsion of foreigners), uprising, and destructive urban riots.
日米修好通商条約は「治外法権」、関税自主権の放棄（協定関税率制）、片務的最恵国待遇など、日本にとって不利な内容を含む不平等条約であり、無防備なままの日本市場が世界市場に対して開かれると、入過により国内産業への影響、金の流出が物価高騰、尊王攘夷運動の激化や一揆、打ちこわし等を招いた。