The Boxer Rebellion

1898-1900AD

In 1899 a secret society of Chinese, known by westerners as Boxers, began a campaign of terror against Christian missionaries in the northeastern provinces. Although the Boxers were officially denounced, they were secretly supported by many in the royal court. Economic and political exploitation of China by various Western powers and Japan and humiliating military defeats inflicted by Great Britain in the Opium Wars (1839-1842, 1856-1860) and by Japan in the Sino-Japanese War (1894-1895) were the main causes of Chinese resentment.

A Boxer

When Boxers entered the Chinese capital, Beijing, a general uprising ensued on June 18, 1900. The foreign quarter of the city was besieged by the rebels. A large foreign expedition relieved the beleaguered quarter and occupied Beijing on August 14, 1900. A peace treaty was signed on September 7, 1901. Despite efforts by the United States to stop further territorial encroachment (Open Door Policy), Russia extended its sphere of influence in Manchuria during the rebellion, a policy that culminated in the Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905). In China the defeat further discredited the ruling Qing dynasty and accelerated political developments toward revolution.

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