| THE BOXER REBELLION |
| During the 19th century Chinese emperors watched as foreign powers encroached on their land, forcing the Chinese repeatedly to make humiliating concessions. Imperial armies were constantly defeated by foreign soldiers who had modern weapons. By the end of the century the Chinese had had enough, and when the American Secretary of State John Hay suggested an "Open Door" policy, the Empress Dowager of China Tsu Hsi issued an imperial message to all provinces, asking them to resist the aggressive powers. America was merely the latest in a long line of foreign powers, the others being Austria, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Japan and Russia. In northern Shandong province, a severe drought was pushing people towards starvation and few thought of peace. A secret society, called the Fists of Righteous Harmony, attracted thousands of followers. Because they practiced martial arts, foreigners gave them the name "Boxers". These Boxers believed they had a magical power and predicted that millions of spirit soldiers would join their cause. Their cause was intially to overthrow the imperial Ch'ing government and expel all foreign devils. Tsu Hsi however saw a way to use the Boxers and her slogan "Support the Ch'ing; destroy the foreigner!" appeared on the Boxers' banner. As 1900 came round, thousands of Boxers roamed the countryside, attacking Christian missions and slaughtering missionaries and Chinese converts. Following this they moved on the cities, their support growing. Foreign ministers insisted that the Imperial government stop the rebellion and the Empress promised that her troops would soon crush the Boxers. She sat inside the Forbidden City and did nothing. The area the foreign diplomats and their families lived in was just outside the Forbidden City's walls in the heart of Beijing and they threw up hasty defences, aided by a small number of military personnel. The Boxers attacked but were driven off by rifle fire, but they soon returned. Surrounded, the foreigners couldn't escape or send for help, and held out for almost two months. By now, 76 defenders were dead and many more were wounded, and ammunition, food and medicine were almost exhausted. Just before dawn loud explosions rocked the city and the weary defenders prepared to face another, probable final assault, but they were astonished to see a column of soldiers marching towards them. Help had arrived. The relieving soldiers looted the the capital and ransacked the Forbidden City. The empress dowager escaped in a cart. She returned to the City a year later but the power of the dynasty was broken. |