Boxer Rebellions - CAUSE

Xenophobia in causing Boxer Rebellion

‘yi’ - aliens, called foreign devils
Foreigner Sidney Brookes killed in the countryside
Attacks conducted on Christian/Chinese converts 
Blamed foreigners of feng shui
1897 - group of German missionaries attacked by boxers on the coast of Shadong

Cixi/Guangxu leadership in causing Boxer Rebellion

Cixi was only a regent - Guangxu was the political voice of the Qings
literacy allowed her to game intimate knowledge of political affairs
‘Ultra conservative’ - support military and technological reforms, oppose reform to the political system as it is a loss of power
Family affairs meant that she acted as a regent for 45 years
Guangxu wanted educational and administrative reform - power was limited as Cixi was calling the shots
Guangxu was conspired to be working with western powers, and wanted to imprison Cixi to prevent her from derailing reform: he was put under house arrest before he could. In reality, wanted reform to preserve imperial China

Superstition/Feng Shui/Propaganda in causing Boxer Rebellion

Believe that Christians performed rituals to keep rain away and cause droughts, myth that 8 million spirits descend from heaven to exterminate foreigners 
Mandate of heaven - would be lost if more western ideas were adopted
Christianity blamed for feng shui, why Chinese christians were also killed
Church towers + railroads + mines disrupt spiritual/natural balance
Freak weather conditions as the cause of floods/droughts 
Fistfighers of united righteousness - Boxers were impenetrable by bullets, red lanterns could fly

100 Days of Reform 1898

103 days of educational/economic reform: target the structure of the government
Guangxu’s failed attempt to reform and modernise China
Radical/liberal movement 
Western-styled university brought up in Beijing - reorganiation of all education in order to allow for more practical 
Try to allow for the freedom of the banks, publications and opening of a chamber of commerce
Modernise army/navy
Government departments encourage mining/agriculture/medicine/trade
Wish to set up national legislative assembly and constitution

Conservatism in causing Boxer Rebellion

Hardline General Don Fuangxen wanted to wipe out the diplomats in Beijing
Prince Dwan calls himself a western stooge
Progressive ideologies, ie Kang Youwei and acolyte Liang Qichao developed sweeping reforms following Japanese model
Boxers allowed to keep their temples

Short-term causes

1897 - group of German missionaries attacked by boxers - 2 killed on coast of Shadong - consequentially, Germany able to take over Shadong province
Marine demonstration
1898 - German military launches punitive expedition into Chinese territory - dozens killed
Groups of foreign engineers being attacked in interior

How many marines called to protect embassies

350

7th June 1900

7th June 1900: 1000s of Boxers storm Beijing - threaten Chinese Christians and burn clubhouse of European racecourse

Severity of Boxer Threat

Ambassador Baron Von Kettler killed by Boxers
1/3 of troops on the 4th week of siege killed
By second week, 80 Germans dead
British limited to 100 rounds each - China had endless supplies
Targeted western infrastructure - railroad delayed help
Dagu Forts and other military infrastructure
100 died in those 3 nights of massacre - 3,000 take refugee in embassies
3000-4000 chinese attack, both boxer and imperial troops

12th June 1900

2000 marines at the shore, board train to capital - boxers destroyed the railroad

Western ultimateum/response

After capturing Dagu forts, gave the cfhinese court an ultimateum to stop conflict
Causes a crisis meeting - foreigners given 24h to leave Beijing, 600 who are unable to are sheltered in British embassies

How many troops depart for Beijing

14,000 from 9 nations

13th-14th August

Chinese prepare for final assault - flops, next day reinforcements come: Empress and court flee forbidden city. Anyone suspected to be a boxer killed

Consequences

450 million in reparations to foreigners
Accept they started the war - humiliation
Foreign troops in Beijing permanently
Lack of faith in Qing government
Arsenals and forts destroyed