America's initial Open Door Policy was essentially an argument to promote which of the following?

• A. Exclusive trading rights for American companies in Asia
• B. Free trade with China and equal commercial opportunities for all nations
• C. The restriction of foreign investment in the United States
• D. The establishment of protective tariffs on imported goods

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the historical context of America's Open Door Policy, which was introduced around the late 19th and early 20th centuries concerning trade with China.
2. Recognize that the Open Door Policy aimed to ensure that all foreign nations could have equal access to trade with China, preventing any single country from monopolizing Chinese markets.
3. Identify that the policy promoted the principle of free trade and equal commercial opportunities rather than exclusive trading rights or protectionist measures.
4. Eliminate options that suggest exclusivity, restrictions on foreign investment in the U.S., or protective tariffs, as these contradict the policy's goal of open and equal access.
5. Conclude that the Open Door Policy was essentially an argument to promote free trade with China and equal commercial opportunities for all nations.