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The Opium Wars/The Yihetuan Forming
From 1839-1860, the Opium Wars was a protest against the rising international powers that had been forced upon China’s economy, but the Chinese’s lack of advanced military technologies gave into an increase of foreign influences on the government and citizens of China. Many of the lower class citizens of the North accused the new foreign rule for the famines and other economical disasters occurring in their provinces, and the Yihetuan group formed to oppress the foreign powers. -
The First Outbreak of the Yihetuan
By 1899, the Yihetuan rebels were openly opposing foreign diplomats and Chinese Christians through violence and oppression. These movements were primarily provoked by the recent developments of Christian influences in government, home and family life, and in local law and property disputes. Foreign powers in China were also controlling major trade ports and taxation, motivating the Yihetuan to take action. -
The Boxer Campaign
The Yihetuan (distinguished as the ‘Boxers’ by foreigners because of their martial art practices) gradually began campaigning around Northern China, and by May of 1900, Boxer forces had surrounded the capital, where the Roman Catholic Cathedral of Beijing was located. -
Foreign Troops in Tianjin
During early June of 1900, foreign troops had been dispatched from Tianjin, a city just north of Beijing. 2,100 men of the international relief force were sent to aid those Chinese Christians and foreign ambassadors that were trapped in Beijing. -
The Empresses Orders
On June 13, the empress dowager Cixi ordered Imperial forces to cease the advance of the foreign militia, and the small international band was forced to retreat. -
Foreign Powers Taking Control Again
On June 14, the foreign powers were able to once again take control of the Dagu forts and stations along the coast, allowing further access to Beijing. -
Killing the Foreigners
The rising threats motivated the empress dowager to take action, and on June 15, direct instruction form the Imperial Palace ordered all foreigners to be killed, and many important diplomats were slaughtered in their districts in Beijing, including the German minister, and many more were forced to take refuge in the Cathedral of Beijing. -
The Final Battle
On August 14, 1900, an assembly of 19,000 troops, the majority of which was provided from Japan and Russia but also consisting of support from the U.S., Austria-Hungary, Britain, France and Italy, were able to successfully relieve those Christians Christians and foreigners residing in Beijing. While the international force plundered the capital, the empress dowager Cixi and her court fled the capital, leaving behind minor imperials to execute the negotiations and terms of surrender. -
Peace Terms
On September 7, 1901, Cixi, the empress dowager was forced to come back to China and had to accept humiliating peace terms. Some of these terms included that the forts protecting Beijing were to be destroyed, the Boxers and Chinese officials that were taking part in the Rebellion on the China side were to be punished, the foreign powers were allowed to station troops in Beijing, China was prohibited from importing arms for the next 2 years, and many more. -
The Ending of the Qing
The Qing dynasty was weakened by the Boxer Rebellion. The ending of the Boxer Rebellion was followed up by an uprising in 1911 which led the dynasty to come to an end. -
Republic of China
By 1912, China had succeeded into officially becoming a republic.
