WHAT CAUSED THE BOXER REBELLION?

After China's defeat by Britain in the First Opium War In 1839, Britain and other nations such as France, Russia, and Japan started to interfere with Chinese government. Due to their inferior military, the Qing Dynasty could not oppose the force of the foreign powers. They were forced to sign many agreements. The agreements became known as the "Unequal Treaties” due to its excessive unfairness to the Chinese. The treaties include the Treaty of Nanking (1842), the Treaty of Aigun (1858), the Treaty of Tientsin (1858), the Convention of Peking (now called Beijing) (1860), the Treaty of Shimonoseki (1895), and the Second Convention of Peking (Beijing) (1898). China had strong anti-foreign traditions. The presence of foreigners enraged the Chinese citizens. In the eyes of the scholar-gentry, the teachings of the Christian missionaries undermined China's tradition and culture. Commoners rumored that the missionaries raped Chinese women and took out children's hearts and eyes in the church. In 1897, the Germans occupied Shantung, which aroused fear among the locals. Western missionaries interfered in local Chinese politics. Natural and economic disasters occurred concurrently with the incoming of foreigners. Unemployment was heavy in China. Tax increases made it harder on the people. In 1898, the Yellow River flooded . There was a serious drought in most of North China in 1900.

WHAT HAPPENED DURING THE BOXER REBELLION?

During the Boxer Rebellion, many things happened. There were countless murders in Beijing (at that time known as Peking) China. There was also pillage and many rapes. Conditions of the people were not good in the society and many suffered during the whole rebellion. Many countries also tried to assist in helping with the rebellion. On the first time of trying to help the Peking, Great Britain, Germany, Russia, France, the United States, Japan, Italy, and Austria had a group of 2,100 sailors and marines to fight major battles against the Chinese forces. There were 20,840 Japanese troops, 13,150 Russian, 12,012 British, 3,520 French, 3,420 America, 900 German and 80 Italian forces. The United States was a great deal of help because they already had ships in the Philippines to help fight. In the end, on September 7, 1901, the “Peace Protocol of Peking” was signed to end the Boxer Rebellion.

WHO WERE THE BOXERS?

The Boxers were originally organized in 1898. The slogan for their movement at the beginning was “overthrow the Ch’ing and exterminate the foreigners.” They called themselves “I-ho ch’uan” which meant “righteous and harmonious fists.” They got the name “Boxers” because they practiced forms of martial arts. Their martial arts style was thought to be a subdivision of the Eight Trigrams Society. They thought of themselves as having a magical power. The boxers also believed that bullets from foreign attackers could not hurt them, and that “spirit soldiers” (those who would come back from the dead) would help them fight against the foreign peoples. They strongly disliked foreigners and were actually supported by the Imperial Court. Their eventual goal was get foreign merchants out of China, along with the Christian missionaries. During their attacks the boxers burnt down churches and houses of the Western people and killed Chinese missionaries.

WHAT WERE REASONS FOR THE FAILURE OF THE BOXER REBELLION? 

The Boxer Rebellion gradually failed. It had many reasons in why it failed. First, the military forces of the other empires compared to the Boxers and Qing troops were far greater. They tried to organize armies, but they were never greatly successful. The Boxers could not withstand the numerous foreign powers simultaneously. Many people joined the Boxers for different reasons. The boxers were usually poor and hungry, and were not very educated. Boxers were actually bandits and we very disorganized. Members were not necessarily patriotic, they just came for the free food and money. They also held a belief system of deep meditation and diet which, in their theory, could make them invulnerable to swords and bullets and could make them fly.

What was the Eight-Nation Alliance?

The Eight-Nation Alliance was the opposing force to the Chinese. It included Austria- Hungary, France, Germany, Italy, The U.S., Brittain, Japan, Russia.

GOVERNMENT AND EMPERORS DURING THE BOXER REBELLION 

During the time of the Boxer Rebellion, China had an imperial government. There were emperors and empresses’. They had to watch for constant foreigners invading their empires. The Boxer Rebellion occurred when Empress Dowager Tsu His was in rule in the Ch’ing Dynasty. Treaties, policies, and agreements were signed during this time period from 1750-1914.

WHAT WERE THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC EFFECTS ON CHINA AFTER THE BOXER REBELLION?

After the Boxer Rebellion, China had social and economic effects. Taxes had to be raised in order to help with compensation fees to other civilizations at the time. There was humiliation between differing peoples of the societies and with foreign neighbors. Peoples self respect was lowered toward one another and many were afraid of each other. The Ch’ing dynasty had financial problems after the boxer rebellion. They owed in their currency over 900 million taels. A tael is equal to a weight of a standard piece of silver. This took 39 years to pay back to differing areas. This money could have been used for a reform in the society, but dues had to be paid back. Education values changed after the Boxer Rebellion. Many went to school which created a class of highly knowledgeable people that helped aide in the 1911 revolution.

WHAT WERE THE POLITICAL EFFECTS ON CHINA AFTER THE BOXER REBELLION?

After the Boxer Rebellion, China still had political problems with its internal defense systems. The treaty that was signed to end the rebellion caused major conflict with China’s administration. The most major areas of China did not have to deal with the afterwards effects of the rebellion or invasions. In China, the Qing dynasty was still in rule with Empress Dowager. She knew that China could not avoid not fighting with foreign invaders. She was forced to create a necessary reform. This reform eventually happened as the Manchu Reform in the time period of 1901-1911 by the Qing government.

TIMELINE

Nov. 1899- Boxer riots against Chinese Christians began

Jan. 1900- Dowager Empress Tsu Hsi issued Imperial Edict condoning secret societies

May 1900- Foreign legations in Beijing asked for Chinese suppression of riots; Allied troops began arriving in Beijing

June 1900- Last Allied troops arrived in Beijing; Seymour column departed Taku for Beijing; Chinese ultimatum for all foreigners to leave Beijing; German minister murdered; Chinese begin siege of foreigners in Beijing; China declared war on Allies 

Aug. 1900- Second Allied relief column departed Tientsin for Beijing; Allied column relieved siege of foreigners in Beijing; Dowager Empress fled; Allied victory parade in Forbidden City 

Dec. 1900- Allied peace proposals 

Feb. 1901- Boxer society abolished 

Sept. 1901- Peace Protocol of Beijing officially ended Boxer Rebellion 

Jan. 1902- Dowager Empress returned to Beijing

What were the casualties of the Boxer Rebellion?