The Boxer Rebellion developed independently of the Chinese government - the Qing backed it later beacuse it looked as if it might be successful in kicking foreigners (and thus foreign influence) out of China.
Further,the Qing resisted modernization and industrialization tooth and nail - the major reason that China became progressively weaker throughout the second half of the 19th century.
The belief that the Qing government promoted was that ALL foreigners - and in particular Westerners - were ignorant barbarians that could not possibly have anything positive to offer China except subservience and tribute.Their refusal to do either meant that they,and their ideas,were a bad influence on China and the Chinese people,and it would be far better if these foreigners either accepted their position in the Chinese world view or were forced out altogether - through violence if necessary.
ammianus · 4 years ago
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Matt
The Boxer Rebellion....
The Boxer Rebellion, Boxer Uprising or Yihetuan Movement was a violent anti-foreign and anti-Christian movement which took place in China towards the end of the Qing dynasty between 1898 and 1900. It was initiated by the Militia United in Righteousness (Yihetuan), known in English as the "Boxers", and was motivated by proto-nationalist sentiments and opposition to foreign imperialism and Christianity. The Great Powers intervened and defeated Chinese forces.
In June 1900 Boxer fighters, convinced they were invulnerable to foreign weapons, converged on Beijing with the slogan "Support the Qing, exterminate the foreigners." Foreigners and Chinese Christians sought refuge in the Legation Quarter. In response to reports of an armed invasion to lift the siege, the initially hesitant Empress Dowager Cixi supported the Boxers and on June 21 authorized war on foreign powers. Diplomats, foreign civilians and soldiers as well as Chinese Christians in the Legation Quarter were placed under siege by the Imperial Army of China and the Boxers for 55 days. Chinese officialdom was split between those supporting the Boxers and those favoring conciliation, led by Prince Qing. The supreme commander of the Chinese forces, Ronglu, later claimed that he acted to protect the besieged foreigners. The Eight-Nation Alliance, after being initially turned back, brought 20,000 armed troops to China, defeated the Imperial Army, and captured Beijing on August 14, lifting the siege of the Legations.
