What Was The Significance Of The Boxer Rebellion

During the 19th century European countries and America learnt how unadvanced and weak China's military really was compared to them. They used this knowledge to gradually impose their ways and beliefs on China. Many of the Chinese commoners thought this to be intrusive and offensive to their cultural beliefs. As time went on other nations slowly gained more freedom in China as Westerners forced them into a series of unfair treaties. One example was the Conventions of Peking, which allowed European missionaries to move freely about in inland China. In response to the failures of the government, and the unfair ways of the Westerners - who treated locals as inferiors - uprisings began. One of these was the famous Boxer Rebellion, which officially
One of their beliefs being their claim on their supernatural invulnerability to weaponry."...if we have divine power at our disposal. To arouse our people and arouse them, to save the realm and to protect it from decay." This rhyme displays just how confident the Boxers were in their methods, that they were indeed stronger than any Western weapon. Boxers burned Christian churches, killed Chinese Christians and Christian missionaries, destroyed any sign of foreigners ripping up railways and telegraph poles, intimidating any official that stood in their way. They fought hard, killing a total of 2,500 foreign soldiers and 100,000 civilians. One of the rebels strongest advances being the Siege of Legations in Beijing, 1900. The siege was on the foreign legations district, and lasted 55 days. There was over 70 casualties. Yet, there was also the deaths of many rebels through the rebellion. The foreigners superior military and weaponry lead to quick defeats of the rebels. In the end not even all of the troops erect required to defeat the rebels. Treaties were forced upon China for the Imperial army had joined up with the Boxers, and the Qing's weaknesses were again put on display for the world to