What was the Boxer Rebellion?
The Boxer Rebellion (1899-1901) was an anti-western uprising by the Chinese populace and Qing Dynasty. The rebellion would be sparked mostly due to the Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists, also known as "Boxers" to the Europeans and later named the Militia United in Righteousness. This society delved in traditional Taoist and Buddhist beliefs as well as committing to training in martial arts. The society would be so superstitious to the point where they believed their fighters could become invincible to western firearms. These superstitious beliefs, the ease of joining the society, and its anti-western sentiment led to increased popularity and more members joining among the Chinese people. Tension began in 1898 when a group of Chinese citizens killed a German missionary in what was known as the Juye incident. Finally, ideas of western intervention began when the Qing Empress, against the Western reforms of the Emperor, seized control and placed the Emperor, her nephew, under house arrest. During 1900, the newly installed empress would allow laws supporting the Boxers, which contributed to their growth even further. Not being suppressed by the government anymore, the boxers influence rapidly spread, and Christian persecution increased heavily at the hands of the boxers. European intervention finally began when a small force of 435 European marines from 8 nations arrived in Beijing to defend key structures. Actual fighting would then begin several months later, when a group of German soldiers executed a Boxer, sparking all-out warfare. Fighting would be brutal on all sides but the Western alliance of 8 nations eventually won because of superior weaponry, logistics, command, and tactics with numerous expeditions inland from the coast as well as a Russian invasion of Manchuria. Having lost the war, China was forced into a very uneven treaty, paying a massive amount of silver to western powers in reparations, executing key members in the rebellion, and the exile of several members of the royal family. From this, there was an even greater hatred of the Qing dynasty for their loss in the Rebellion. The loss during the rebellion also caused a huge blow to national security and stability, eventually culminating in the 1911 revolution that would establish the Republic of China.