Boxer Rebellion (1898 – 1901)
The last event before the end of the chinese Empire is marked by the Boxer Rebellion. In 1898 groups of peasants in northern China began banding together into a secret society and called themselves "Boxers" or Yi He Quan 义和拳, which means "Righteous and Harmonious Fists". Reasons for the formation include economic impoverishment, many unfortunate natural calamities and especially growing anti-foreign sentiment. Thus, the main aim of the "Boxers" was to destruct the Qing dynasty and to combat foreign imperialism and Christianality. The strength of the Boxers increased fast and spread from the norther provinces in China to the entire Empire. When Western tried to negotiate with Cixi 慈禧, the Empress Dowager to suppress the society, Cixi showed support for the Boxers, since they represented a segment of Chinese society.
In 1900 Boxers were roaming the countryside around the capital, Beijing and attacked Christian missionaries and Chinese converts, foreign ministers as well as their families. Growing violence such as these by the boxers were virtually unchecked by Chinese authorities due to Empress Dowager's support.
On August 14, 1900 an International force of 2100 soldiers subdued the rebellion in Beijing. While foreign troops looted the capital, the Empress Dowager and her court fled to Xi'an. All in all, the Boxer's Rebellion weakened the Qing dynasty's power and hastened the Republican Revolution of 1911 that overthrew the empire and made China a republic.
In 1900 Boxers were roaming the countryside around the capital, Beijing and attacked Christian missionaries and Chinese converts, foreign ministers as well as their families. Growing violence such as these by the boxers were virtually unchecked by Chinese authorities due to Empress Dowager's support.
On August 14, 1900 an International force of 2100 soldiers subdued the rebellion in Beijing. While foreign troops looted the capital, the Empress Dowager and her court fled to Xi'an. All in all, the Boxer's Rebellion weakened the Qing dynasty's power and hastened the Republican Revolution of 1911 that overthrew the empire and made China a republic.