Causes of Boxer Rising

Natural Disasters

• Series of natural disasters in the years immediately preceding the Rising

  • crop failures and food shortages

  • SOCIAL

Christian Missionaries

• Their presence was encouraged by foreign powers in China

  • Showed little respect for traditional beliefs and suggested Christianity was superior

  • SOCIAL

Formation of Boxers

• The Righteous and Harmonious Fists (boxers) were formed

  • aimed to defend traditional Chinese culture and religious beliefs against foreigners

  • SOCIAL

Empress Dowager Cixi’s initial support

• Cixi initially supported the Boxer rising because she hoped it would:

  • Encourage people to blame foreigners, rather than the Qing Dynasty

  • Weaken powers of foreigners and encourage them to leave

  • POLITICAL

Foreign powers in control in China

• Made Chinese people resentful of the Qing dynasty which was failing to defend and strengthen China

  • POLITICAL

Foreign powers exploitation

• Exploited economic resources for their own gain

  • not benefit of Chinese people

  • ECONOMIC

Foreigners exempt from laws

• Led to a feeling that it was impossibly to hold foreigners to account and created a sense of injustice

  • POLITICAL

Hundred Days’ Reform

• Seen as a threat by the Mandarins as some of their power was removed

• Cixi ended reforms

  • Appeased Mandarins

  • Left lower classes feeling she had no interest in improving their lives

• POLITICAL

Losing Wars

• Losses against countries such as France and Japan made the Qing dynasty look weak

  • undermined imperial authority

  • POLITICAL

Foreign powers having upper hand in agreements

• Negotiated treaties benefitted foreigners but caused economic hardship amongst peasants in China

  • ECONOMICAL