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The Boxer Rebellio Ans

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39 views3 pages

The Boxer Rebellio Ans

Uploaded by

adilaaisha1013
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© © All Rights Reserved
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The Boxer Rebellion (1899–1901), also known as the Yihetuan Movement, was a violent anti-

foreign, anti-Christian uprising in China towards the end of the Qing Dynasty. It was initiated by a
secret society known as the Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists (Yihequan), whose members
were referred to as "Boxers" due to their practice of martial arts.

Key Causes of the Boxer Rebellion

1. Anti-Foreign Sentiment:

o The rebellion was driven by widespread resentment against the increasing influence
of foreign powers in China, particularly after the humiliating defeats in the Opium
Wars and the imposition of unequal treaties.

o The foreign concessions, spheres of influence, and the presence of missionaries were
seen as threats to Chinese sovereignty and traditional culture.

2. Economic Hardship:

o Natural disasters, such as droughts and floods, compounded by the economic


exploitation by foreign powers, created widespread poverty and unrest among the
rural population.

o Foreign economic dominance, particularly in trade and industry, marginalized local


Chinese businesses and workers.

3. Anti-Christian Sentiment:

o The growing number of Christian missionaries and converts disrupted traditional


social structures and beliefs, leading to tensions between Christians and non-
Christians.

o Missionaries were often seen as agents of foreign imperialism, and their protection
by foreign powers further inflamed local resentment.

Course of the Boxer Rebellion

1. Initial Uprising:

o The movement began in northern China, with the Boxers targeting foreign
missionaries, Chinese Christians, and foreign-owned properties.

o The Boxers believed in mystical practices, claiming that their rituals could make them
invulnerable to bullets and other weapons.

2. Spread of Violence:

o The rebellion spread to Beijing and other regions, with widespread attacks on
foreigners and Chinese Christians.

o The Qing government, initially ambivalent, eventually supported the Boxers under
the influence of the conservative faction led by Empress Dowager Cixi.

3. Siege of the Legation Quarter:


o One of the most significant events was the siege of the foreign legation quarter in
Beijing, where diplomats, missionaries, and civilians from various countries were
besieged by Boxers and Qing troops for 55 days.

o The siege attracted international attention and led to coordinated intervention by


foreign powers.

4. International Intervention:

o In response, an Eight-Nation Alliance (comprising Japan, Russia, Britain, France, the


United States, Germany, Italy, and Austria-Hungary) launched a military campaign to
suppress the rebellion.

o The alliance's forces captured Beijing in August 1900, effectively ending the
rebellion.

Aftermath and Consequences

1. Boxer Protocol (1901):

o The Qing government was forced to sign the Boxer Protocol, which imposed severe
penalties, including a large indemnity, execution of Boxer leaders, and military
occupation of parts of China by foreign powers.

o The protocol further weakened the Qing Dynasty, undermining its legitimacy and
control.

2. Political and Social Impact:

o The rebellion exposed the fragility of the Qing Dynasty and intensified internal calls
for reform and modernization.

o It led to increased foreign intervention and control over Chinese affairs, contributing
to the growing nationalist sentiment and eventual revolutionary movements.

3. Legacy:

o The Boxer Rebellion is remembered as a symbol of resistance against foreign


imperialism, despite its ultimate failure.

o It played a significant role in the downfall of the Qing Dynasty and the rise of modern
Chinese nationalism, influencing the 1911 Xinhai Revolution and the eventual
establishment of the Republic of China.

Historiographical Perspectives

1. Traditional View:

o Early Western accounts often depicted the Boxers as superstitious and barbaric,
focusing on the atrocities committed against foreigners and Christians.

o This view emphasized the civilizing mission of the Western powers in China.

2. Revisionist View:
o Modern Chinese historians often view the Boxers as patriots who fought against
foreign exploitation and imperialism.

o The rebellion is seen as a precursor to the broader nationalist movements that


sought to end foreign domination and reform China.

The Boxer Rebellion remains a pivotal event in Chinese history, symbolizing the complex interplay of
nationalism, imperialism, and the struggle for sovereignty at the turn of the 20th century.

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