The Boxer Rebellion

By 1900

The terms of the Treaty of Nanjing (Nanking), imposed by England in 1842, the terms of the Convention of Peking, signed on 18 October 1860, most of the ports were opened fo foreign vessels, as were the waters of the Yangtze river, and foreign missionaries were free to proselyte, China had to pay gigantic reparations to England and other foreign powers. By 1900, the Great Powers had already been chipping away the China sovereignty for 60 years. They had widespread addiction of opium, accorded special privileges and immunities from chinese law.
A total of eight foreign powers were partitioning China among each other, while the Empress Dowager Ci Xi (1835 - 1908) ruled China. Tremendous protests kept growing among the peasantry. A major cause of Chinese of Chinese discontent was the Christian missionaries, both Protestant and Catholic, who were exempted from various laws, kept coming to China in ever increasing numbers. The Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists, known by foreigners as the Boxers, was a secrete society funded in the northern coastal province of Shandong consisting largely of people who had lost their livelihood due to imperialism and natural disasters. The boxers' primary feature was the good of their fists due to the martial arts and calisthenics they practiced. They practiced spiritual practices which involved violent prostrations, chanting incantations to Taost and Buddhist spirits. The Qing dynasty, which had ruled China for two centuries was falling. (The dynasty ended by the end of 1911). The chinese culture was under assault by powerful and unfamiliar religions and secular cultures.

In June 1900 in Beijing, Boxer fighters threatened foreigners and forced to seek refuge in the Foreign Lwgation Quarter. In response, the Empress Dowager Cixi supported the Boxers and declared war on foreign powers. The Imperial Army of China and the Boxers kept the foreigners in siege for 55 days. Clashes were reported between Chiinese factions favoring war and others, led by Prince Qing, favoring conciliation. The siege was ended when the Eight-Nation Alliance brought 20,000 armed troops to China, defeated the Imperial Army, and captured Beijing. The Protocol of 7 September of 1901 ended the uprising and provided for severe punishments including an indemnity of 67 million pounds, more that the government's annual tax revenue, to be paid over a course of 38 years to the eight nations involved. The human losses were over 50,000 among military and civilians.
http://www.wikipedia.or/wiki/boxer_Rebellion