Post 3: Boxers vs. Foreign Powers

The conflict between the Boxers and the foreign powers during the Boxer Rebellion was marked by intense hostility and violence. The Boxers, also known as the Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists, targeted foreigners and Chinese Christians whom they believed to be collaborating with the foreign imperialists. Their attacks were primarily concentrated in northern China, particularly in the provinces of Shandong and Zhili, but the violence eventually spread to Beijing.

The Boxers saw the presence of foreigners as a threat to Chinese sovereignty and culture. They believed that their martial arts skills and spiritual rituals made them invincible against foreign weapons and convinced them that they were empowered by divine protection. Thousands of Boxers began to congregate in Beijing, gaining support from influential members of the Chinese government who saw them as a means to drive out the foreigners and restore China's national pride.

In June 1900, the Boxers launched a series of attacks on foreign legations in Beijing, leading to the siege of the legation quarter. The legation residents, consisting of diplomats, missionaries, and their families, faced a harrowing siege for 55 days. They endured intense artillery fire, food shortages, and constant fear for their lives. The foreign powers responded to the crisis by sending troops to Beijing to rescue the besieged legations.

The intervention of foreign powers marked a turning point in the conflict. The Eight-Nation Alliance, comprising troops from the United States, Japan, Russia, Britain, Germany, France, Italy, and Austria-Hungary, joined forces to crush the Boxer Rebellion. Their combined military might overwhelmed the Boxers and their supporters, leading to the defeat of the rebellion and the eventual capture of Beijing by the Alliance forces.

The conflict between the Boxers and the foreign powers during the Boxer Rebellion demonstrated the underlying tensions between China and Western powers, particularly in the era of imperial expansion. The rebellion also exposed the weaknesses within the Qing Dynasty, laying bare the inability of the Chinese government to effectively address the concerns of its people. The events of the Boxer Rebellion would have far-reaching consequences for China's domestic and foreign policies in the years to come.