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The Boxer Uprising (1899-1901) was a key event in the history of China, as it reflected the colonial powers increasing influence in Chinese affairs and the weakness of late 19th century China.<ref>For an overview of this period, see: Preston, Diana, and Diana Preston. 2001. <i>The Boxer Rebellion: The Dramatic Story of China’s War on Foreigners That Shook the World in the Summer of 1900</i>. New York: Berkley Books.</ref> The rebellion consisted of an uprising led by a group known as the Boxers, which culminated culminating in a siege of representatives of the eight colonial powers in Beijing. The rebellion began in the Shandong province of China before leading to Beijing and spreading throughout much of the northern countryside, with many foreigners and converted Chinese Christians attacked. The Boxers were mostly peasants who performed a type of shaman act that has come down through Western interpretation as a sort of boxing, giving rise to the term Boxers. <ref>For a discussion on shamanism and its role in the rebellion see: Esherick, Joseph W. 1987. <i>The Origins of the Boxer Uprising</i>. Berkeley: University of California Press, Pg. 5-7, 39.</ref> While it is often believed the Boxers were not supported by or were against the main Chinese court and government at the time, the fact is once the uprising was underway it was indeed supported by the Qing Dynasty and its army.

The origins of the conflict can be traced to increased foreign presence rebellion began in China, particularly by Great Britain, the United States, Russia, Germany, France, Italy, Austria-Hungary, and eventually Japan. <ref>For an overview of increased foreign presence in the 19th century see: Duara, Prasenjit. 1995. <i>Rescuing History from the Nation: Questioning Narratives Shandong province of Modern China</i>. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, Pg. 60.</ref> Mass conversion of locals before leading to Christianity Beijing and seizure spreading much of property and areas led to increase resentment, while the local population was very poor and the region densely populated. A drought and failed harvest in the great northern plain in Shandong then proved to be the final spark after a period of increased violence against countryside throughout, with many foreigners and converted Chinese Christians attacked. The Boxers were mostly peasants who performed a type of shaman act that then that led has come down through Western interpretation as a sort of boxing, giving rise to the outward expression of anger and mass mobilizationterm Boxers.<ref> For a discussion on shamanism and its role in the rebellion, see: Esherick, Joseph W. 1987. <i>The Origins of the Boxer Uprising</i>. Berkeley: University of California Press, Pg. 3005-7, 39.</ref> Just 14 years before While it is often believed the Boxers were not supported by or were against the main Chinese court and government at the Great Wartime, this event also proved to be one of the last instances that all of fact is once the great powers of uprising was underway, it was indeed supported by the day were unitedQing Dynasty and its army.

==Foreign Interests in China==Western foreigners The origins of the conflict can be traced to an increased foreign presence in China, after particularly by Great Britain, the arrival of Marco Polo in the 13th centuryUnited States, Russia, Germany, France, Italy, began to see China as a place for economic opportunity and for mass conversion to Christianity. In the 19th centuryAustria-Hungary, it was mainly Britain and its powerful navy that began to increase its presence in China and control of trade in the regioneventually Japan.<ref>For an overview of how trade and drugs in particular fueled British interaction and ultimately increased interest foreign presence in China see: Lovellthe 19th century, Duara, JuliaPrasenjit. 20111995. <i>Ya Pian Zhan Zheng = The Opium WarRescuing History from the Nation: Drugs, Dreams and the Making Questioning Narratives of Modern China</i>. LondonChicago: PicadorUniversity of Chicago Press, Pg. 60.</ref> One particular commodity Mass conversion of interest was opium, which became a product locals to Christianity and seizure of increased demand in the West in the early to mid 19th century. Two main wars were fought over access to opium, which China had fought to restrict in trade, with the British, assisted by the French property and United States in the second war, successfully defeating the Chinese in both wars. The Second Opium War (1856-1860), as it was called, was the most critical, as it was the key war that areas led to the opening of China to many countries, traders, and missionaries. The presence became affiliated with legations and it allowed the British, Frenchincreasing resentment, while the United States, and Russia bases of operations and great access to China, including in Beijing and key port cities. This began a period of rapid increase in Western influence in China, which local population was increasingly seen by many Chinese as largely favoring Western interests impoverished and against their own.<ref>See Chow, Gregory C. 2007. <i>Knowing China</i>. New Jersey ;London: World Scientificdensely populated.</ref>

==Competition Among Major Powers==Foreign Interests in China====The late 19th century was also a period After the arrival of intense industrialization and competition among Marco Polo in the 13th century, Western powers. Initially it was Germany, France, Britain, and Russia, but soon the United States, that foreigners in China began to play an increasing role in foreign affairs.<ref>or a discussion on 19th century political competition see: Held, David, Anthony McGrew, David Goldblatt, and Jonathan Perraton, eds. 2002. <i>Global Transformations: Politics, Economics and Culture</i>. Stanford, Calif: Stanford Univ. Press, Pg. 43.</ref> Throughout much of the late 1800s, a weak Qing Dynasty that technically ruled China characterized the political power in China, but foreigners consistently took possessions within China or did as they please when it came to building or seizing land needed a place for their trade economic opportunity and basesmass conversion to Christianity. While foreign powers competed with each other throughout much of the world in In the 19th century, it was mainly Britain and its powerful navy that began to increase its presence in China held mutual interests as the largely one-way and control of trade was benefiting all in the imperial powers collectivelyregion.<ref>See the discussion For an overview of how trade and drugs in Chapter 3 regarding the great powers particular fueled British interaction and ultimately increased interest in China before the Boxer Rebellionsee: Silbey Lovell, DavidJulia. 20122011. <i>Ya Pian Zhan Zheng = The Boxer Rebellion Opium War: Drugs, Dreams and the Great Game in Making of China</i>. New YorkLondon: Hill and WangPicador.</ref>

==Collaboration One particular commodity of interest was opium, which became a product of increased demand in the West in the Rebellion==[[File: 1200px-Beijing Castle Boxer Rebellion 1900 FINALearly to mid 19th century.jpg |thumbnail|Foreign Armies attack Beijing Palace during Boxer Rebellion]]Similar Two main wars were fought over access to opium, which China had fought to what happened restrict in trade, with the British, assisted by the French and United States in the second war, successfully defeating the Chinese in both wars. The Second Opium warWar (1856-1860), as it was called, was the Boxer Rebellion created a situation where a mass uprising forced all the great powers with concessions in China to collaboratemost critical, as each one it was the key war that led to limit in resources the opening of China to tackle many countries, traders, and missionaries. The presence became affiliated with allegations. It allowed the rebellion effectively. One great irony was by 1900 there was already great tension between British, French, the Western powers. GermanyUnited States, or more specifically Prussiaand Russia bases of operations and great access to China, including in Beijing and France had fought key port cities. This began a period of a bitter war rapid increase in Western influence in 1870-1871China, Germany which was increasingly seen by many Chinese as the rising rival to Great Britain, the Russo-Japanese War was only 4 years away at this point, although Great Britain began to draw more closely with the United Stateslargely favoring Western interests and against their own. <ref>For a discussion on Anglo-US relations in the late 19th century see: EllisSee Chow, SylviaGregory C. 20092007. <i>Historical Dictionary of Anglo-American Relations. Historical Dictionaries of U.S. Diplomacy 10Knowing China</i>. Lanham, MdNew Jersey ;London: Scarecrow PressWorld Scientific.</ref>

However, the mass uprising in the Box Rebellion ====Competition Among Major Powers====The late 19th century was swift also a period of intense industrialization and was very popular competition among the vast peasantry. This put immediate pressure on the Western powers to suppress the rebellion before all of them would lose their foothold in China. The rebellion forced Initially, it was Germany, France, Britain, and Russia. Still, soon the Qing Dynasty United States began to largely support the uprising, even if members of the Qing court held reservations given their bitter defeats play an increasing role in the Opium warsforeign affairs.<ref>Esherickor a discussion on the 19th-century political competition see: Held, Joseph WDavid, Anthony McGrew, David Goldblatt, and Jonathan Perraton, eds. 19872002. <i>The Origins of the Boxer UprisingGlobal Transformations: Politics, Economics and Culture</i>. BerkeleyStanford, Calif: University of California Stanford Univ. Press, pgPg. xiv43.</ref> With Throughout much of the arrival of foreign troops and reinforcementslate 1800s, with a large Japanese presence weak Qing Dynasty that technically ruled China characterized the political power in particularChina, but foreigners consistently took possessions within China or did as they pleased when it came to Beijing, the Boxers were ultimately defeated by 1901building or seizing land needed for their trade and bases. While foreign powers competed with each other throughout much of the unity caused by world in the rebellion proved to be short-lived19th century, China held mutual interests as the rivalries between largely one-way trade was benefiting all the imperial powers collectively.<ref>See the discussion in Chapter 3 regarding the great powers soon reemerged in China before the Boxer Rebellion: Silbey, David. 2012. <i>The Boxer Rebellion and ultimately led to World War I, for the Great Game in China there were long-term changes that have made these events of great interest to this day</i>. New York: Hill and Wang.</ref>

The Boxers remained controversial figures ====Collaboration in China. Some Chinese historians and individuals see the Boxers as largely ignorant peasants who were misguided and xenophobicRebellion====[[File: 1200px-Beijing Castle Boxer Rebellion 1900 FINAL. On jpg |left|thumbnail|Foreign Armies attack Beijing Palace during Boxer Rebellion]]Similar to what happened in the other handSecond Opium War, China experienced the Boxer Rebellion created a situation where a wave of nationalism mass uprising forced all the great powers with concessions in China to collaborate. Each one was to limit resources to tackle the early 20th century that paved the way for the transition rebellion effectively. One great irony was by 1900. There was already great tension between the last royal dynasty Western powers. Germany, or more specifically Prussia, and modern China. This nationalism France had fought a bitter war in 1870-1871; Germany was seen as the Boxers as being Chinese nationalists who were standing up rising rival to Great Britain, the Russo-Japanese War was only 4 years away at this point, although Great Britain began to for their cause and fighting an aggressive foreign occupationdraw more closely with the United States. <ref>PurcellFor a discussion on Anglo-US relations in the late 19th century see: Ellis, VictorSylvia. 20102009. <i>The Boxer Uprising: A Background StudyHistorical Dictionary of Anglo-American Relations. Historical Dictionaries of U.S. Diplomacy 10</i>. CambridgeLanham, Md: Cambridge University Scarecrow Press, pg. 271.</ref> In the decades that followed the Boxer Rebellion, Chinese anti-imperialists and nationals began to use the Boxer Rebellion as a rallying cry that helped to bring about political change within China.

The Boxer Rebellion also exposed divisions within ChinaHowever, namely those who looked to the West Box Rebellion's mass uprising was swift and those who aspired for nationalismwas very popular among the vast peasantry. China descended into a chaotic period after 1911-1912, when This put immediate pressure on the Western powers to suppress the last emperor of China abdicated, with warlords and factionalism replacing various parts rebellion before all of them would lose their foothold in China. SoonThe rebellion forced the Qing Dynasty to largely support the uprising, the influence even if members of Communism began to affect China and the Chinese Civil War (1927-1950) was Qing court held reservations given their bitter defeats in part shaped by the events of the Boxer RebellionOpium Wars. <ref>For an overview of key events that shaped China from 1911 to the Chinese Civil War see: ClubbEsherick, EdmundJoseph W. 19641987. <i>20th Century ChinaThe Origins of the Boxer Uprising</i>. New YorkBerkeley: University of California Press, N.Ypg.; Columbia University Pressxiv.</ref> Resentment to With the Westarrival of foreign troops and reinforcements, including what was seen as Western Capitalismwith a large Japanese presence in particular, to Beijing, lingered in many areas and many peasants and young intellectuals had joined the Communist party which was seen as a cure for China’s ills brought about Boxers were ultimately defeated by 1901. While the Western encroachment initially and then unity caused by the collapse of the state all together in 1911rebellion proved to be short-12.<ref>Sheellived, Kamal. 1989. <i>Peasant Society as the rivalries between the great powers soon reemerged and Marxist Intellectuals in ultimately led to World War I, there were long-term changes that have made these events for China: Fang Zhimin and the Origin of a Revolutionary Movement in the Xinjiang Region</i>great interest to this day. Princeton: Princeton University Press.</ref>

==Conclusion==Boxer Rebellion United Chinese Against the Imperial Powers====The Boxers remained controversial figures in China. Some Chinese historians and individuals see the Boxers as largely ignorant peasants who were misguided and xenophobic. On the other hand, China experienced a wave of nationalism in the early 20th century that paved the way for the transition between the last royal dynasty and modern China. This nationalism had seen the Boxers as Chinese nationalists standing up for their cause and fighting an aggressive foreign occupation. <ref>Purcell, Victor. 2010. <i>The Boxer Uprising: A Background Study</i>. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pg. 271.</ref> In the decades following the Boxer Rebellion, Chinese anti-imperialists and nationals began to use the Boxer Rebellion as a rallying cry that helped bring about political change within China.

The Boxer Rebellion also exposed divisions within China, namely those who looked to the West and aspired for nationalism. China descended into a chaotic period after 1911-1912, when China's last emperor abdicated, with warlords and factionalism replacing various parts of China. Soon, the influence of Communism began to affect China, and the events of the Boxer Rebellion shaped the Chinese Civil War (1927-1950). <ref>For an overview of key events that shaped China from 1911 to the Chinese Civil War see: Clubb, Edmund. 1964. <i>20th Century China</i>. New York, N.Y.; Columbia University Press.</ref> Resentment to the West, including what was seen as Western Capitalism, lingered in many areas, and many peasants and young intellectuals had joined the Communist party, which was seen as a cure for China’s ills brought about by the Western encroachment initially and then the collapse of the state altogether in 1911-12.<ref>Sheel, Kamal. 1989. <i>Peasant Society and Marxist Intellectuals in China: Fang Zhimin and the Origin of a Revolutionary Movement in the Xinjiang Region</i>. Princeton: Princeton University Press.</ref> ====Conclusion====We can conclude that in many ways , the Boxer Rebellion was seen as a Western victory that allowed the great powers to continue their trade and political policies in China; however, as is often the case, the events had more of an impact on local populations. Resentment to the West continued for decades and may have ultimately pushed a large number of many peasants and some urban intellectuals to take up the Communist cause in the Chinese Civil War.<div class="portal">====Related DailyHistory.org Articles====*[[What Was the Fate of Women During the Bangladesh Liberation War?]]*[[How did the Silk Road develop?]]*[[Practical Pursuits by Ellen Gardner Nakamura]]*[[How did Mussolini become Prime Minister of Italy?]]*[[What Were the Beliefs of the Samurai?]]*[[Why was France defeated in 1940?]]</div>

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[[Category:Chinese History]] [[Category:19th Century History]] [[Category:Imperialism]] [[Category:European History]] [[Category:Asian History]]