Unstoppable Rebellion Stopped!
September 9, 1901
20,000 fists of righteous harmony, otherwise known as Boxers, because of their large knowledge of the physical aspects of the martial arts, are taking over countryside, were finally stopped. Their attacks were frequent and brutal. Just 3 weeks ago, many of these so-called boxers stormed small villages throughout the north chanting, “ Support the Ching, and destroy the foreigner” as they slaughtered their so-called enemy. (1) The armies of 8 international countries including the United States sent troops in to save their diplomats who were battling the boxers outside the forbidden city of Beijing.
According to recent
findings the Boxers wanted to rid the country of the imperial government and
“ expel all foreign devils from china”(2). However our
empress
was able to control these people and instead encourage the boxers to protect
our empire and turn the rage onto others. Many of the foreign ministers realized
what was going on and pleaded with the empress to help them. She told the
diplomats that her troops would, “ Soon crush the rebellion” and
there was nothing to worry about (3). Unfortunately she was wrong and the
boxers grew closer and closer to the walls of the Forbidden City where
all the international diplomats and their families were living.
On the day of the attack one member of the diplomatic group described as the 20,000 boxers attacked their small complex. Unfortunately only a few military personnel were there but they did what they could. Small children of the diplomats were sent to were deafening while the roar of gongs, drums and horns sounded like thunder…they waved their swords and stamped on the ground with their feet”(4) said a diplomat at the scene.
After few days the boxers grew weak but then suddenly brought reinforcements,
as the foreigners grew weaker and weaker. The countries where the diplomats
were from began to worry that their people were in danger since no one had
been heard from in many days.
Among others the United States sent in 2,500 troops to aid their ministers.
After the salvation of their people, the international troops looted our Forbidden
City and left our city in ruins. The ch’ing wanted peace and it was
finally allowed and signed by the boxers just 2 days ago on the of september(
5).
Due to this enormous take over there is much question of what our country will become. There is much talk of a new policy with the countries that originally took over our ports such as France, Austria, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, Russia and Germany that would keep our government and allow other countries to trade outside of the spheres of influence. However our economy has been left in shambles and allowing others to come in and trade with us may or may not be for the good of our country. But for now the future is unknown.
Work Cited
1. Preston, Diana. The Boxer Rebellion. United States : Walker Publishing Company, 2000.
22.
2. “ Boxer Rebellion.” Britannica Student Encyclopedia 2003 Encyclopedia Britannica Online. 31 Jan, 2003 http://search.eb.com/article?eu=295103
3. ibid.
4. ibid.
5. Jihen, Hokushin. " Boxer Rebellion." China: An illustrated encylopedia. Vol. 1. New York: Kodansha Europe Ltd., 1993. 118 .
Images
- “Empress Dowager Tsu H’si”. http://www.smplanet.com/imperialism/fists.html Jan 31,2003.
- “A Boxer in 1900. ibid.
- “boxers_in_tientsin”.http://mebn.org/bxr.html&h=278&w=374&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dboxer%2Brebellion%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8 Feb 3,2003