Boxer Rebellion

Boxer Rebellion: Chinese Troops and Boxers
The Picture shows Chinese Troops and the Boxers in 1899. The Boxers are the men on the right of the picture. The dominant figure in the front of the picture is a drum major of the regular army of China. The other men in the picture are  infantrymen of the New Imperial Army. 

Why was it called the Boxer Rebellion?
The uprising was called the Boxer Rebellion because the revolt was begun by a secret Chinese religious society called "I Ho Ch’uan"  which translated into English means "Righteous Harmony Fists". Because the original name of the secret society included the word "ch ‘uan", meaning fist, the rebels were called boxers by foreigners - hence  the name of the Boxer Rebellion. The name was further emphasized by the Chinese rebels who performed rituals and exercises in martial arts 'Magical Kung-Fu' that they believed would give them the ability to withstand bullets. Westerners referred to these ceremonies as shadow boxing, underlining the Boxers nickname.

Summary of the Boxer Rebellion for kids: Origins of the Boxer Rebellion
The Boxer Rebellion originated in Northern China in the Shantung Province. Shantung was a hotbed of discontent. Ex-Soldiers, disbanded from the government army, flocked to the area turning to crime when they were unable to find work. Shantung had a history and tradition of rebellions led by secret societies. Boxing and martial arts were practiced by thousands of men in province, sponsored by the secret societies. The "Righteous Harmony Fists" emerged in 1898, attacked Chinese Christians and organized anti-foreign uprisings and protests against the Qing dynasty and government.

Boxer Rebellion for kids: Causes of the Boxer Rebellion
What were the Causes of the Boxer Rebellion? The Boxer Rebellion was caused by the following factors:

Causes of the Boxer Rebellion for kids

Boxer Rebellion Causes: Western Powers: The Opium War (1839-1842) forced China to grant commercial concessions at first to Great Britain and then to other countries opening China to foreign trade. The industries and commerce in China were destroyed by the inflow of cheap foreign goods. The Opium War also resulted in widespread opium addiction in China.

Boxer Rebellion Causes: Gunboat Policy: Between 1870 to 1894, the Western powers adopted a "gunboat" policy in dealing with China using force to get what they wanted. The Chinese viewed foreigners as barbarians.

Boxer Rebellion Causes: Weak government in China: The ruling Qing dynasty (aka Ching dynasty) in China had been weakened by European encroachments and influence in China and further damaged by Japan's success in the First Sino-Japanese 1894-1895 War. Conflicting factions in the Qing dynasty reduced their power even further and exploitation by the westerners resulted in a rise in taxes.

Boxer Rebellion Causes: Anti-Christian Feelings: Chinese peasants resented the number of Christian missionaries and Chinese converts to the new Western religion which led to the emergence of the secret religious society called the "I Ho Ch’uan"  (Righteous Harmony Fists), nicknamed the Boxers. The Boxers soon extended their goal to eradicate all foreign presence and influence in China and the rebellion started to spread.

Boxer Rebellion Causes: Natural disasters: Natural disasters were blamed on the Christians and fuelled anti-foreign feelings. These included the flooding of the Yellow River in 1898 followed by the terrible drought of 1900.

Boxer Rebellion Causes: Economic hardship: Economic hardship, poverty, unemployment and high taxes stirred the rebels into action resulting in the eruption of the Boxer Rebellion.

Causes of the Boxer Rebellion for kids

Effects of the Boxer Rebellion
The effects the Boxer Rebellion were as follows:

Effects of the Boxer Rebellion for kids

Effects of Boxer Rebellion: President McKinley tried to safeguard free trade between the United States through the Open Door policy, announced in 1899.

Effects of Boxer Rebellion: The Qing government gave their support to the rebels which stopped their protests against the government. The Qing dynasty believed that the rebels could be used against the hated foreigners.

Effects of Boxer Rebellion: The Boxer uprising increased and Chinese Christians and foreigners were killed in the violence.

Effects of Boxer Rebellion: President McKinley and Secretary of State John Hay tried to safeguard Chinese territorial integrity and free trade through the Open Door policy, announced in 1899.

Effects of Boxer Rebellion: Technological advances introduced by the Westerners such as the railroad and telegraph lines were destroyed, and foreigners were murdered.

Effects of Boxer Rebellion: The Boxers moved from Shantung to Peking (Beijing), where the western foreigners and legations from United States, Great Britain, Germany, Austria-Hungary, France, Japan, Russia, and Italy had set up their base. Starting on 20 June 1900, Boxer forces and Imperial Chinese troops besieged the foreign diplomats

Effects of Boxer Rebellion: In June 1890, an international military force of 2000 sailed from Tientsin to Peking

Effects of Boxer Rebellion: The United States had favored independent action but the uprising reached such high levels of violence and destruction that President McKinley to ordered Rear Admiral Louis Kempff (United States military commander in China) to "act in concurrence with other powers so as to protect all American interests.". President McKinley then ordered the transfer of 2500 American soldiers from the Philippines to China

Effects of Boxer Rebellion: The Battle of Peking: The joint forces of the eight nations ended the Boxer’s siege of Peking on August 14, 1900. The emperor, the Dowager Empress and members of the Qing court fled Peking in the early morning of 15 August

Effects of the Boxer Rebellion for kids

Significance of the Boxer Rebellion
The significance of the Boxer Rebellion was as follows:

Significance of the Boxer Rebellion for kids

Significance of Boxer Rebellion: The combined military forces of the Allied Expedition were far superior to the Boxers and the Qing troops. The Boxer Rebellion had raged from Autumn 1899 - 7 September 1901. Peace was finally established in China and the Boxer protocol was signed in September 1901.

Significance of Boxer Rebellion: Chinese resentment to the Qing dynasty became widespread and within ten years the Chinese imperial system was overthrown and the Chinese Republic was established

Significance of Boxer Rebellion: President McKinley was criticized by Democratic politicians and newspapers who accused the president with imperialism and exceeding his constitutional authority. President McKinley argued that a president’s constitutional war powers granted him such authority.

Significance of Boxer Rebellion: The prestige of the United States as a world power  increased as a result of their actions and involvement during the Boxer Rebellion.

Effects of the Boxer Rebellion for kids

Boxer Rebellion - President William McKinley Video
The article on the Boxer Rebellion provides detailed facts and a summary of one of the important events during his presidential term in office. The following William McKinley video will give you additional important facts and dates about the political events experienced by the 25th American President whose presidency spanned from March 4, 1897 to September 14, 1901.

Boxer Rebellion: Siege of Peking

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● William McKinley from March 4, 1897 to September 14, 1901
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● William McKinley Presidency and the Boxer Rebellion for schools, homework, kids and children