NEWYORKSTATESOCIALSTUDIESRESOURCETOOLKIT
10thGradeImperialismInquiry
DotheBoxersDeserve
aBadRap?
DepartmentoftheArmy,OfficeoftheChiefSignalOfficer.“AChineseBoxer,1900.”Publicdomain.
https://research.archives.gov/id/530870.
SupportingQuestions
1. HowdidtheOpiumWarscreateforeigninfluenceinChinaandhowdidtheChinese
react?
2. WhatwerethegoalsandconsequencesofChristianmissionsinChinaandwhydidthe
Boxersobjecttothese?
3. WhathappenedduringtheBoxerRebellion?
4. TowhatextentweretheBoxersmisunderstood?
THISWORKISLICENSEDUNDERACREATIVECOMMONSATTRIBUTION-NONCOMMERCIAL-SHAREALIKE4.0
INTERNATIONALLICENSE.
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NEWYORKSTATESOCIALSTUDIESRESOURCETOOLKIT
10thGradeImperialismInquiry
DotheBoxersDeserveaBadRap?
NewYorkStateSocial
StudiesFramework
KeyIdea&Practices
10.4IMPERIALISM:WesternEuropeaninteractionswithAfricaandAsiashiftedfromlimitedregional
contactsalongthecoasttogreaterinfluenceandconnectionsthroughouttheseregions.Competing
industrializedstatessoughttocontrolandtransportrawmaterialsandcreatenewmarketsacrossthe
world.
Gathering,Using,andInterpretingEvidence
StagingtheQuestion
ChronologicalReasoningandCausation
AnalyzeaHarper’sWeeklypoliticalcartoonanddiscusswhostudentsthinktheBoxerswereandhow
peopleintheUnitedStatesviewedthem.
SupportingQuestion1
SupportingQuestion2
SupportingQuestion3
HowdidtheOpiumWars
createforeigninfluencein
Chinaandhowdidthe
Chinesereact?
Whatwerethegoalsand
consequencesofChristian
missionsinChinaandwhy
didtheBoxersobject?
Whathappenedduringthe
BoxerRebellion?
Formative
PerformanceTask
Formative
PerformanceTask
Write2–3sentences
describinghowtheOpium
Warscreatedforeign
influencesinChinaandthe
Chinesereactions.
FeaturedSources
SourceA:Excerptfrom
“TheOpiumWarand
ForeignEncroachment”
Formative
PerformanceTask
Writeaparagraph
explainingthegoalsof
Christianmissionariesin
Chinaanddescribingthe
Boxers’perspectiveon
thesemissions.
FeaturedSources
SourceA:“American
MissionariesinChina”
SourceB:LetterfromHuaChengKweitotheHoly
UnionMissioninSweden.
Createatwo-columnchart thatexplainstheeventsof
theBoxerRebellionthrough
theperspectivesdescribed
inthefeaturedsources.
FeaturedSources
SourceA:ExcerptfromFei
Ch'i-hao’saccountofthe
BoxerRebellion
SourceB:Excerptfrom
LuellaMinor’saccountof
theBoxerRebellion
SupportingQuestion4
Towhatextentwerethe
Boxersmisunderstood?
Formative
PerformanceTask
Developaclaimsupported
byevidencethatexplainsto
whatextenttheBoxers
weremisunderstood.
FeaturedSources
SourceA:Excerptfrom
“RememberingtheBoxer
Uprising:ARighteousFist”
SourceB:Excerptfrom“The
OpenDoorPolicyandthe
BoxerWar:TheUSand
China”
SourceC:Excerptfrom“The
BoxerRebellion”
Summative
Performance
Task
Taking
Informed
Action
ARGUMENTDotheBoxersdeserveabadrap?Constructanargument(e.g.,detailedoutline,poster,essay)that
addressesthecompellingquestionusingspecificclaimsandrelevantevidencefromhistoricalsourceswhile
acknowledgingcompetingperspectives.
EXTENSIONCreatetextbookentriesthatexpresshowtheBoxerRebellionshouldberepresentedintextbooks.
UNDERSTANDResearchChina’srecentventureswithimperialisminAfrica.
ASSESSWeighthebenefitsandconsequencesoftheseactionsforChina,Africa,andtheUnitedStates.
ACTWriteanop-edpiecethatbringsawarenesstotheissueanduseevidencetomakeclaimsthatsupportor
criticizeChina’sactions.
THISWORKISLICENSEDUNDERACREATIVECOMMONSATTRIBUTION-NONCOMMERCIAL-SHAREALIKE4.0
INTERNATIONALLICENSE.
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NEWYORKSTATESOCIALSTUDIESRESOURCETOOLKIT
Overview
InquiryDescription
Between1899and1901,inwhatbecameknownastheBoxerRebellion,aChinesesecretorganizationcalledthe
SocietyoftheRighteousandHarmoniousFistsledanuprisinginnorthernChinaagainstforeignimperialismand
associatedChristianmissionaryactivity.Westernpowers,includingtheUnitedStates,intervenedanddefeated
Chineseforces.ThisinquiryinvestigatesthemultifacetedviewsofimperialisminChinaduringthelate19thand
early20thcenturiesbyinvestigatingthecompellingquestion“DotheBoxersdeserveabadrap?”Students
considernotonlythebrutaleventsoftheBoxerRebellioninChina,butalsothereasonswhytheBoxersrebelled
againstforeignpowersinthefirstplace.Whileprogressingthroughtheinquiry,studentsconsiderthepolitical,
economic,andreligiousreasonsforbothimperialismandtheBoxerRebellion.Studentsthenconsidertheactions
oftheBoxersandwhetherornotthoseactionsmightbemisunderstood.
InadditiontotheKeyIdealistedearlier,thisinquiryhighlightsthefollowingConceptualUnderstanding:
•
(10.4b)Thosewhofacedbeingcolonizedengagedinvaryingformsofresistanceandadaptationtocolonial
rulewithvaryingdegreesofsuccess.
NOTE:Thisinquiryisexpectedtotakefourtosix40-minuteclassperiods.Theinquirytimeframecouldexpandif
teachersthinktheirstudentsneedadditionalinstructionalexperiences(i.e.,supportingquestions,formative
performancetasks,andfeaturedsources).Inquiriesarenotscripts,soteachersareencouragedtomodifyand
adaptthemtomeettheneedsandinterestsoftheirparticularstudents.Resourcescanalsobemodifiedas
necessarytomeetindividualizededucationprograms(IEPs)orSection504Plansforstudentswithdisabilities.
StructureoftheInquiry
Inaddressingthecompellingquestion“DotheBoxersdeserveabadrap?”studentsworkthroughaseriesof
supportingquestions,formativeperformancetasks,andfeaturedsourcesinordertoconstructanargumentwith
evidencewhileacknowledgingcompetingperspectives.
StagingtheCompellingQuestion
TeacherscouldstagethecompellingquestionbyusingthepoliticalcartoonTheBoxers,printedinHarper’sWeekly
in1900.ThepoliticalcartooncouldbeusedtosparkdiscussionaboutwhostudentsthinktheBoxerswereand
howtheythinkpeopleintheUnitedStatesviewedthem.StudentsmightalsoconsidersymbolssuchasUncleSam’s
boxingglovesaswellasexaggerationssuchasthedepictionoftheChineserebel.Teachersshouldpointoutthe
stereotypesandexaggerationsdrawninthecartoonandmayask,“Whodoyouthinkdrewthiscartoonandwhy?”
or“WhatdoesthiscartoontellyouaboutWesternperceptionsoftheChinese?”Aresourceguidehelpfulto
studentsastheyanalyzepoliticalcartoonscanbefoundattheLibraryofCongress:
http://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/presentationsandactivities/activities/politicalcartoon/cag.html
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NEWYORKSTATESOCIALSTUDIESRESOURCETOOLKIT
SupportingQuestion1
Thefirstsupportingquestion—“HowdidtheOpiumWarscreateforeigninfluenceinChinaandhowdidthe
Chinesereact?”—focusesonthepoliticalandeconomicbenefitswesternersachievedthroughimperialisminChina.
ThefeaturedsourceisanexcerptabouttheOpiumWarsandhowtheycontributedtoforeigninfluenceinChina
Theformativeperformancetaskcallsonstudentstowritea2-to3-sentencesummaryofthesourcedescribing
howtheOpiumWarscreatedforeigninfluencesandhowtheChinesereactedtotheseevents.
SupportingQuestion2
Inthesecondsupportingquestion—“WhatwerethegoalsandconsequencesofChristianmissionsinChinaand
whydidtheBoxersobjecttothese?”—studentsturntheirattentiontoreligionanditsroleinimperialism.Forthe
formativeperformancetask,studentswriteaparagraphexplainingthegoalsofChristianmissionariesinChinaand
describingtheBoxers’perspectiveontheseefforts.ThefirstfeaturedsourceisanoverviewbyhistorianWalter
LaFeberofthemissionariesandtheirreceptioninChina.ThesecondfeaturedsourceisalettersentbyaChinese
ChristiantothemissioncenterinSwedenduringtheBoxerRebellion.
SupportingQuestion3
Thethirdsupportingquestion—“WhathappenedduringtheBoxerRebellion?”—allowsstudentstoinvestigatethe
difficultandsometimesbrutaldetailsoftheBoxerRebellionthroughfirst-personaccountsoftheevents.Forthis
formativeperformancetask,studentscreateatwo-columnchartthatexplainstheeventsoftheBoxerRebellion
througheachofthefirst-personperspectivesprovidedinthefeaturedsources.Thefirstfeaturedsourceisan
accountbyFeiCh'i-hao,aChineseChristianduringtherebellion.Thesecondfeaturedsourceistheperspectiveof
LuellaMinor,aprofessorattheAmericanCollegeatTungchau.Asstudentscompletetheircharts,teachersshould
guidethemtoincludenotonlythedetailsofwhathappened,butalso,whenappropriate,theemotionalreactionsof
theparticipants.
SupportingQuestion4
Thefinalsupportingquestion—“TowhatextentweretheBoxersmisunderstood?”—callsonstudentstoconsider
howtheChineseviewedtheBoxersandwhetherornottheirrebellionhasbeenmisunderstoodbywesterners.For
thisformativeperformancetask,studentsdevelopaclaimusingevidencethatanswersthesupportingquestion.
ThefirstfeaturedsourceisanexcerptfromTheEconomistthatdetailswhytheBoxersmightbeconsidered
“misguidedpatriots.”ThesecondandthirdfeaturedsourcesareexcerptsfromhistoriansWalterLaFeberand
WarrenCohenthathighlightthecomplexhistoryoftheBoxers,includingtheirvenerationinChinaandthe
developmentofmythsbytheWest.
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NEWYORKSTATESOCIALSTUDIESRESOURCETOOLKIT
SummativePerformanceTask
AtthispointintheinquirystudentshaveconsideredtheWesternpolitical,economic,andreligiousgoalsof
imperialismandtheBoxers’actionsinresponse.StudentshavealsoexaminedthebrutaleventsoftheBoxer
RebellionandconsideredwhetherornottheBoxersmightbemisunderstood.Studentsshouldbeexpectedto
demonstratethebreadthoftheirunderstandingsandtheirabilitiestouseevidencefrommultiplesourcesto
supporttheirdistinctclaims.Inthistask,studentsconstructanevidence-basedargumentrespondingtothe
compellingquestion“DotheBoxersdeserveabadrap?”Itisimportanttonotethatstudents’argumentscouldtake
avarietyofforms,includingadetailedoutline,poster,oressay.
Students’argumentslikelywillvary,butcouldincludeanyofthefollowing:
•
•
•
TheBoxersdeserveabadrapbecauseoftheirbrutalityandintoleranceagainstforeignpowers,
missionaries,andChinesecitizens.
TheBoxersdonotdeserveabadrapbecausetheirrebellionwasareactiontotheexploitationofthe
country,botheconomicallyandculturally,byforeignpowers.
TheBoxersmightdeserveabadrapbecause,althoughbrutalattimes,theirrebellionwasalsoadefensive
responsetoforeignmissionariesandWesterncultureovertakingtheirwayoflife.
Studentscouldextendtheirargumentsbycreatingtextbookentries(i.e.,textandpictures)thatrepresentstheir
viewsonhowtheBoxerRebellionshouldberepresentedinhistorybooks.
StudentshavetheopportunitytoTakeInformedActionbydrawingontheirknowledgeofthecostsandbenefitsof
imperialism.TheydemonstratethattheyunderstandbyresearchinghowChinamaybeconsiderednew
imperialistsinAfrica.StudentscouldbeginbyreadingtheNewYorkerarticle“ChinainAfrica:TheNew
Imperialists?”(http://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/china-in-africa-the-new-imperialists)and
supplementtheirfindingswithotherresearch.Studentsshowtheirabilitytoassessbyexaminingthebenefitsand
consequencesoftheseactionsforChina,Africa,andothernationssuchastheUnitedStates.Andtheyactby
writinganop-edthatbringsawarenesstotheissueandusesevidencetomakeclaimsthatsupportorcriticize
China’sactions.
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NEWYORKSTATESOCIALSTUDIESRESOURCETOOLKIT
StagingtheCompellingQuestion
WilliamAllenRogers,politicalcartoonabouttherelationshipbetweentheUnitedStatesandtheBoxers,
“TheBoxers,”HarpersWeekly,June9,1900
FeaturedSource
UncleSam(totheobstreperousBoxer)."Ioccasionallydoalittleboxingmyself."Publicdomain.
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NEWYORKSTATESOCIALSTUDIESRESOURCETOOLKIT
SupportingQuestion1
SourceA:SueGronewold,articledescribingthecausesoftheOpiumWar,“TheOpiumWarandForeign
Encroachment”(excerpt),AsiaforEducators,2009
FeaturedSource
TwothingshappenedintheeighteenthcenturythatmadeitdifficultforEnglandtobalanceitstradewiththeEast.
First,theBritishbecameanationofteadrinkersandthedemandforChinesetearoseastronomically.Itis
estimatedthattheaverageLondonworkerspentfivepercentofhisorhertotalhouseholdbudgetontea.Second,
northernChinesemerchantsbegantoshipChinesecottonfromtheinteriortothesouthtocompetewiththe
IndiancottonthatBritainhadusedtohelppayforitsteaconsumptionhabits.Topreventatradeimbalance,the
BritishtriedtosellmoreoftheirownproductstoChina,buttherewasnotmuchdemandforheavywoolenfabrics
inacountryaccustomedtoeithercottonpaddingorsilk.
TheonlysolutionwastoincreasetheamountofIndiangoodstopayfortheseChineseluxuries,andincreasinglyin
theseventeenthandeighteenthcenturiestheitemprovidedtoChinawasBengalopium.Withgreateropium
supplieshadnaturallycomeanincreaseindemandandusagethroughoutthecountry,inspiteofrepeated
prohibitionsbytheChinesegovernmentandofficials.TheBritishdidalltheycouldtoincreasethetrade:They
bribedofficials,helpedtheChineseworkoutelaboratesmugglingschemestogettheopiumintoChina'sinterior,
anddistributedfreesamplesofthedrugtoinnocentvictims.
ThecosttoChinawasenormous.Thedrugweakenedalargepercentageofthepopulation(someestimatethat10
percentofthepopulationregularlyusedopiumbythelatenineteenthcentury),andsilverbegantoflowoutofthe
countrytopayfortheopium.ManyoftheeconomicproblemsChinafacedlaterwereeitherdirectlyorindirectly
tracedtotheopiumtrade.Thegovernmentdebatedaboutwhethertolegalizethedrugthroughagovernment
monopolylikethatonsalt,hopingtobarterChinesegoodsinreturnforopium.ButsincetheChinesewerefully
awareoftheharmsofaddiction,in1838theemperordecidedtosendoneofhismostableofficials,LinTse-hsu
(LinZexu,1785-1850),toCanton(Guangzhou)todowhatevernecessarytoendthetrafficforever.
Linwasabletoputhisfirsttwoproposalsintoeffecteasily.Addictswereroundedup,forciblytreated,andtaken
offthehabit,anddomesticdrugdealerswereharshlypunished.Histhirdobjective—toconfiscateforeignstores
andforceforeignmerchantstosignpledgesofgoodconduct,agreeingnevertotradeinopiumandtobepunished
byChineselawifeverfoundinviolation—eventuallybroughtwar.OpinioninEnglandwasdivided:SomeBritish
didindeedfeelmorallyuneasyaboutthetrade,buttheywereoverruledbythosewhowantedtoincrease
England'sChinatradeandteachthearrogantChineseagoodlesson.Westernmilitaryweapons,including
percussionlockmuskets,heavyartillery,andpaddlewheelgunboats,werefarsuperiortoChina's.Britain'stroops
hadrecentlybeentoughenedintheNapoleonicwars,andBritaincouldmustergarrisons,warships,andprovisions
fromitsnearbycoloniesinSoutheastAsiaandIndia.TheresultwasadisasterfortheChinese.Bythesummerof
1842Britishshipswerevictoriousandwereevenpreparingtoshelltheoldcapital,Nanking(Nanjing),incentral
China.TheemperorthereforehadnochoicebuttoaccepttheBritishdemandsandsignapeaceagreement.This
agreement,thefirstofthe"unequaltreaties,"openedChinatotheWestandmarkedthebeginningofWestern
exploitationofthenation.
ReprintedcourtesyofAsiaforEducators,WeatherheadEastAsianInstitute,ColumbiaUniversity.
http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/special/china_1750_opium.htm#letter
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NEWYORKSTATESOCIALSTUDIESRESOURCETOOLKIT
SupportingQuestion2
SourceA:WalterLefeber,interviewtranscriptdescribingperceptionsofMissionariesinChina,“American
MissionariesinChina,”PublicBroadcastingSystem,2006
FeaturedSource
USofficialsthoughtthatAmericanmissionarieswereveryimportantforAmericaninterests,notjustformissionary
interest,butoverallAmericaninterestinChina.Andthereasonwasthat,forexample,onceAmericanmissionaries
wereabletogetintointeriorprovincesofChina,itopenedtheseprovincesuptoAmericanbusinesspeople,and
consequentlyAmericandiplomaticofficialsonthescenenicelycalltheAmericanmissionariesthepioneersfor
Americantradeandbusiness,becauseoncetheyopenedupanarea,thentheotherAmericanscouldcomealong
behindandsellgoods.TheAmericanmissionariesdidsomethingelse.TheyessentiallyexemplifiedanAmerican
lifestyle.TheyusedAmericanproducts.TheywerepeoplewhobelievedthatAmericanproductswerethebest
products.Andsoalongwiththeirfaith,theybroughtinAmericanindustrialgoodsandfarmproducts.And,asa
resulttheAmericanmissionariesbecamereallyfrontpeopleforAmericanexportersandAmericanbusinessmen.
TheChinesedidnotmissthis.WhentheChineselookedatAmericanmissionaries,orotherforeignmissionaries,
theyessentiallysawthemnotjustaspeoplewhowerecrusadingwithafaith,butwhoweretryingtosellgoodsand
toWesternizetheirparticularsociety.And,asaconsequenceitisnot,Ithink,surprisingthattheChinese
revolutionaries,particularlytheBoxers,wouldtargetthemissionariesbecausetheysawinmissionariesnotonly
Christians,whichtheyhaddoubtsabout,butalsotheysawinthemissionariesthewholecuttingedgeforan
AmericanlifestyleandanAmericanproductthattheybelievedwasessentiallyunderminingtheChinesevillage,the
Chinesetraditions,andChinesecontrolovertheirownterritory.
Ontheonehand,astheAmericanministertoChinasays,"They'rethepioneersforAmericantradeandcommerce."
Ontheother,theyarethemoralcuttingedgeof--oftheAmericanmissioninChina.TheyaretheAmerican--the
sideofAmericandiplomacythatismoral,thatisuplifting,thatwantstoChristianizeChinaandmakeitabetter
nation.McKinleyisveryclosetothemissionaries.Heisgreatlyconcernedaboutthemissionaries.He'sadevout
ChristianhimselfandhebelievesthatthemissionarieshavealegitimateroleinChinaanditgoesbeyondsimply
actingascommercialagents.ItisreallytopropagatethefaithinChinaandtomaketheChineseabetterpeopleby
convertingthem.
FromAmericanExperience,America1900,©1996-2015WGBHEducationalFoundation.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/1900/filmmore/reference/interview/lafeber_americanmissionar.html
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NEWYORKSTATESOCIALSTUDIESRESOURCETOOLKIT
SupportingQuestion2
FeaturedSource
SourceB:Hua-ChengKwei,lettertotheHolyUnionMissioninSweden,1900
NOTE:C&MAisanacronymforChristianandMissionaryAlliance;C.I.MisanacronymforChinaInlandMission.
DearPastorKilstet,
HowwonderfulistheLordinallHisdoings!WhoisabletounderstandHisways?DearMissionFriends,youhave
probablyheardhowthestormsofpersecutionhavebrokenoutinChina,andhavealsoreacheduptoShansito
yourfieldoflaborandoursoftheC&MA,andtheC.I.M.havealsogottentheirshareofit.AfterMr.Lundebergtold
howthetenmissionariesoftheHolyUnionMissionwerekilled,andamongstthemMr.andMrs.Forsberg,ofour
mission,andtheirchild—themissionarieswerestonedandthechildtorninpieces.TheriotbeganinKwei-HuaChengwherewewere,sowelefttheplaceandthoughttogotoUrza,andovertoRussia,butwhenweweretwo
daysjourneyfromKweiThea,allofourthingswerestolenfromus,therobbersattackinguseighttimes.Theytook
someofourclothingfromourbodiessowehadtosufferbothhungerandcold.FourCatholicmissionariesatthat
placeheardaboutusandsentmessengersafterustobringushere.Thelastmessengerfoundusandwehavebeen
hereeightdays,butherealsothereisgreatdanger.TheBoxersarecomingtodestroytheplace.ManyCatholic
settlementswerespoiledandthousandsofChinesewerekilledandourstationweknowwasdestroyed.
Wedonotknowanythingabouttheothermissionaries,butwithushereoftheC&MAMr.andMrs.EmilOlsonand
theirthreechildren,Mr.andMrs.EdvinAndersson,andtheirtwochildren,MissEmilieErickson,andMrs.Carl
Lundbergandtheirchildren.Ifweshouldnotcomeoutwithourlivesthenpleasesendourlastmessagetoall
missionfriends.WeliveanddiefortheLordandChina.Thewaytothecoastisnotopen.Wehavenotheard
anythingfromPekingfornearlytwomonths,butthewaytotheLordisopen,thanksbetoHim.Letnotyourhands
failanddonotloseyourcourage.Whatwesowshallbearfruitinitstime.Whenthestormisoversendoutother
witnessestoChinatoproclaimthegreatactoftheLord.IdonotregretthatIcametoChina.IknowtheLordcalled
mehere,andhisgraceisenoughforme.Thewayheleadethisthebest,Hiswillbedone.Weshallmeetathisright
hand.
TheChristianandMissionaryAlliance.Usedwithpermission.https://www.cmalliance.org/about/history/in-the-line-of-fire/boxerrebellion
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NEWYORKSTATESOCIALSTUDIESRESOURCETOOLKIT
SupportingQuestion3
FeaturedSource
SourceA:FeiCh'i-hao,accountoftheBoxerRebellion,“TheBoxerRebellion,1900.”
ThepeopleofShansiarenaturallytimidandgentle,notgiventomakingdisturbances,beingthemostpeaceable
peopleinChina.SoourShansiChristianswerehopefulforthemselves,evenwhenthereportsfromthecoastgrew
morealarming.Buttherewasonethingwhichcausedusdeepapprehension,andthatwasthefactthatthewicked,
cruelYUHsien,thehaterofforeigners,wasthenewlyappointedGovernorofShansi.Hehadpreviouslypromoted
theBoxermovementinShantung,andhadpersuadedtheEmpressDowagerthattheBoxershadsupernatural
powersandweretruepatriots.
EarlyinJunemycollegefriendK'ungHsiangHsicamebackfromT'ungchouforhisvacation,reportingthatthe
stateofaffairsthereandatPekingwasgrowingworse,thatthelocalofficialswerepowerlessagainsttheBoxers,
andthattheBoxers,armedwithswords,wereconstantlythreateningChristiansscatteredinthecountry.
FromthistimewehadnocommunicationwithTientsinorPeking.Alltravellersweresearched,andifdiscovered
bearingforeignletterstheywerekilled.Sothoughseveraltimesmessengerswerestartedouttocarryourletters
tothecoast,theywereturnedbackbytheBoxersbeforetheyhadgonefar.ItwasnotlongbeforetheBoxers,likea
pestilence,hadspreadalloverShansi.SchoolhadnotclosedyetinFenChouFu,butasthefeelingofalarm
deepened,fatherscametotaketheirboyshome,andschoolwasdismissedbeforetheendofJune….
ThewickedGovernor,YüHsien,scatteredproclamationsbroadcast.Thesestatedthattheforeignreligions
overthrewmoralityandinflamedmentodoevil,sonowgodsandmenwerestirredupagainstthem,andHeaven's
legionshadbeensenttoexterminatetheforeigndevils.MoreoverthereweretheBoxers,faithfultotheir
sovereign,loyaltotheircountry,determinedtouniteinwipingouttheforeignreligion.Healsoofferedarewardto
allwhokilledforeigners,eithertitlesorofficeormoney.Whenthehighestofficialintheprovincetooksuchastand
infavoroftheBoxers,whatcouldinferiorofficialsdo?Peopleandofficialsbowedtohiswill,andallwhoenlisted
asBoxerswereinhighfavor.Itwasatimeoflicenseandanarchy,whennotonlyChristianswerekilled,but
hundredsofothersagainstwhomindividualBoxershadagrudge.
Crowdsofpeoplekeptpassingourmissiongatetoseewhatmightbehappening,forthecitywasfullofrumors.
"Theforeignershaveallfled."
"Manyforeignersfromotherplaceshavegatheredhere."
"Agreatcannonhasbeenmountedatthemissiongate."
"Theforeignershavehiredmentopoisonwells,andtosmeargateswithblood."
IwasstayinginthecompoundwiththePrices,insidethewestgateofthecity,andMr.andMrs.Atwater,withtheir
children,BerthaandCelia,livedneartheeastgate.Onthe28thofJunealldaylongamobofoneortwohundred
roughs,withcrowdsofboys,stoodatthegateoftheAtwaterplace,shouting:
"Killtheforeigners,lootthehouses."
Publicdomain.Miner, Luella, Two Heroes of Cathay, (N.Y.: Fleming H. Revell, 1907), pp. 63-128. Text appears as part of the Internet
Modern History Sourcebook, Fordham University.http://legacy.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1900Fei-boxers.asp
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NEWYORKSTATESOCIALSTUDIESRESOURCETOOLKIT
SupportingQuestion3
SourceB:LuellaMiner,accountoftheBoxerRebellion,“MinerLuella,APrisonerinPeking”(excerpts),
Outlook,1900
FeaturedSource
June15:Aboutteno'clockthemosthorriblenoisebeganinthesoutherncity,justontheoppositesideofthecity
wall.ItwasahordeofBoxersgoingthroughtheirrites,burningincense,crying,"Killtheforeigndevils!Killthe
secondaryforeigndevils!(Christians).Kill!Kill!Kill!"Theycalledotherthings,butIcouldonlydistinguishthe
"kill!"Theremayhavebeenfromtwentytofiftythousandvoices,notallBoxers,swellingthatmadtumult.After
twoorthreehoursthenoisesuddenlyceased.TheBoxersintheirindiscriminatepillaginghadlooteda
Mohammedanbank.TheMohammedansgatheredabandofthreehundred,pursuedthem,andgotbacktheir
money,afterwhichthemobdispersed.
Ourlinesofdefensehavebeenextendedtoincludeallthestreetsborderingonthismissionproperty-threeorfour
streetsandalleysbeingundermartiallaw-andallpassers-byarechallenged.Thesameconditionsprevailon
LegationStreet-strayBoxersarecapturedandpassers-byarechallenged.ThemissionariesandChinesewhohave
weaponsallhelpinguardduty.Therearebarbed-wirebarricadesattheendofeachstreet….
Now,inthecompoundandadjoiningstreetswehavebarricadewithinbarricadeofbarbedwireorbrick,allthe
wallsandsomeofthesmallbuildingshavingbeentornuptogetbrick.Thisissaidtobethebestfortifiedplacein
thecitynow,thankstothefreelaborofournumerousrefugees,andifwehadaGatlingormachinegunwewould
feelquitesafe….
June18:Wehavenowspenttenfulldaysinthisplace,andmaybeobligedtospendmanymore,forwecangetno
wordfromourforeigntroopswholeftTientsinaweekagoyesterday….
Wearemoreeffectivelycutofffromtheworldthanever,fornocourierscannowbefoundtocarrymailtoTientsin
fortheImperialpost-office...Wehavebeensurprisedthattheyhavesucceededinkeepinguptheservicesolong.
Wehopethatintwoorthreedayscommunicationwillbeopenagain.WehearthatvastnumbersofBoxers
attackedtherailroadstationinTientsinandwererepulsedwithgreatslaughter.Itisrumoredthatthereliefarmy
isnowonlytenorfifteenmilesfromus,butwecannotbesure.
PlacardsarebeingdistributedeverywhereinthecitycommandingthatthisplaceandLegationStreetbedestroyed
today….
OverseventyofusAmericanmissionarieslive,eat,andsleepinthelittlechurchattheBritishLegation,thougha
fewoftheladiessleepinLadyMacdonald'sballroom,twoorthreeinthebilliard-room,andsomeofthemen
outdoors.Inthechurchweallsleeponthefloororonthechurchseats.Therearethirty-fiveinourCongregational
crowd,abouttwentyMethodists,andsixteenPresbyterians.Weeatbydenominations,butthereisonlyonetiny
stovetocookover,sowecannotcookmuch.Ifwearebesiegedlong,weshallhavetogoonshortrations.Infact,
wearenowleavingmostofthecannedmeatsforthemen,whoaredoinghardworkoutside,watchingand
fortifying….
August14:Atlastourearshaveheardthesweetmusicforwhichwehavebeenlisteningfortwomonths-the
cannonadingofthereliefarmy-soplainlythatweknowthatintensedesireandimaginationarenotdeceivingus,
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NEWYORKSTATESOCIALSTUDIESRESOURCETOOLKIT
assomanytimesbefore.Ourdeliveranceisathand.Lastnightwasafearfulone.Therewereatleastsixdistinct
attacks,thefirstbeginningabouteightintheevening,andtherewasalmostincessantfiringbetweentheseattacks.
Ourimplacablefoesseemeddeterminedtousetotheutmostthislastchancetowipeusout.Ourgarrisonreturned
firemorethanatanyothertime,fornowtheyarenotafraidofexhaustingtheirammunition….
Itwasalittleaftertwointheafternoon,asIwassittingwritingunderthetreesinthetennis-court,whereIhave
spentsomanyhoursduringthesepastweeks,whenanAmericanmarinefromthecitywallranintotheyard
shouting,"Thetroopsareinsidethecity-almosthere!"Therewasawildrushforthesouthendofthecompound,
andthere,shelteredbythebarricades,westoodandsawthefirstofthereliefarmystragglingupthestreets.And
whodoyouthinktheywere?Black-faced,high-turbanedtroops,RajpuntsfromIndia-great,fierce-lookingfellows,
buttheirfaceswerebeamingwithjoy,andtheyhurrahedlouderthanwedid.TherewereBritishofficerswith
them,andoneofthemstoopedinpassingandkissedapale-facedgirliewholookedasifsheneededtoberescued
byareliefarmy.Allthatafternoonthetroopscamestreamingin,Sihks,BengalLancers;Englishsoldiers,and,most
welcomeofall,ourAmericanboys."
Publicdomain.MinerLuella,“APrisonerinPeking,1900.”http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/boxer.htm
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SupportingQuestion4
SourceA:Economiststaff,ChineseaccountoftheBoxerRebellion,“RememberingtheBoxerUprising:
RighteousFist”(excerpts),TheEconomist,2010
FeaturedSource
TheBoxerUprising,11yearsbeforethecollapseofChina'slastimperialdynasty,wasportrayedinWestern
accountsasasavageoutburstofprimitivexenophobiadirectedattheWestanditscivilisingreligion,Christianity.
ThenorthernChinesepeasantswiththeirredheadscarves,whobelievedinamagicthatprotectedthemfrom
foreignbulletsandinthepowerofancientmartialartsthatcoulddefeattheindustrialworld'smostpowerful
armies,weredescribedwithamixtureoffearandracistscorn.ButinChinatheBoxersareofficiallyremembered
assomewhatmisguidedpatriots.InthecountrysidesouthofBeijingwheretheyburnedchurches,killedforeign
missionariesandslaughteredtensofthousandsof“secondaryhairyones”,asChineseconvertstoChristianitywere
known,somecallthemheroes.Themissionariestheyattackedhaditcoming,havingtrampledonChina's
sovereignty.Theirconvertswerenomorethanlocalruffianswhoexploitedforeignprotectiontorideroughshod
overtheircountrymen….
Eversincetheuprising,memoriesofithavetroubledtherelationshipbetweenChinaandtheWest.FortheWest,
“Boxerism”becamesynonymouswitharabid,anti-foreigndemonthatwasthoughttolurkinChina,readyto
wreakbloodyhavocifgivenachance.AsTheEconomistadviseditsreadersin1905:“ThehistoryoftheBoxer
movementcontainsabundantwarningsastothenecessityofanattitudeofconstantvigilanceonthepartofthe
EuropeanPowerswhenthereareanysymptomsthatawaveofnationalismisabouttosweepovertheCelestial
Empire.”
©TheEconomistNewspaperLimited,LondonDecember16,2010.http://www.economist.com/node/17723014
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SupportingQuestion4
FeaturedSource
SourceB:WarrenI.Cohen,descriptionofthecomplexnatureoftheBoxer’sRebellion,“TheOpenDoor
PolicyandtheBoxerWar:TheUSandChina,”GilderLehrman,nodate
ThemonthsthatfollowedHay’snoteswerenotmarkedbyreformsleadingtothemodernizationofChina’s
governmentorsociety.AtthetimeoftheAmericaninitiativein1899,opponentsofreform,ledbyCixi,theempress
dowager,wereincontrolinBeijing.SheandhersupporterswerechannelingunrestinNorthChinaintoan
antiforeignmovementledbymenknownastheBoxers—alooseamalgamofmartialartsandinvulnerabilityritual
societies.ThedestructionofmissionarypropertiesandmurderofChineseChristiansintensifiedandcouldnotbe
ignored.
TheUnitedStatesjoinedseveralEuropeannationsindemandingthattheChinesegovernmentputanendtothe
outrages,buttonoavail.TothemagicpowersallegedlypossessedbytheBoxers,Cixiaddedthemodernweapons
oftheimperialarmy.ShecalledtheBoxerstoBeijingandorderedthemassacreofallforeigners,includingthe
diplomaticcommunity.Thelegationquarterbecameanembattledfortress,subjecttoincessantattack,cutofffrom
outsidecontacts.
ThewarwithSpainhadbroughtAmericantroopstothePhilippinesandsuppressionofaFilipinoinsurrectionhad
requiredtheircontinuedpresenceinEastAsia.WiththelivesofAmericandiplomats,businessmen,and
missionariesendangeredinChina,theMcKinleyadministrationhadboththeresourcesandthewilltoprotectits
peopleandtheirinterestsagainsttheChinese.SeveralthousandAmericanswereamongthetroopsthatultimately
defeatedtheBoxersandliftedthesiegeofthelegation.LongbeforetheyreachedBeijing,however,Hayhadsentoff
asecondroundofOpenDoornotes.
AstheBoxerWarbegan,HayfearedthecollapseanddismembermentofChina.Itseemedlikelythatthepowers
generallyandtheRussiansinparticularwouldfindChineseprovocationssufficienttojustifyfurther
encroachmentsonChinesesovereignty.OncetheforeignarmiesfoughttheirwaytoBeijing,theywouldnotbe
removedeasily—anditmightproveverydifficulttoprotectAmericaninterests.
InJuly1900,HaysentoffacircularmessageexpressingconcernforthepreservationofChinesesovereignty,the
“territorialandadministrativeentity”ofChina.HopingtocontainthewartoNorthChina,Haydefinedthesituation
asastateofvirtualanarchyinwhichpowerandresponsibilityrestedwithlocalauthorities.TheMcKinley
administrationworkedwithhigh-rankingChineseofficialswhocontrolledsouthernandcentralprovinces,
suppressedtheBoxersandprotectedforeignersandtheirproperty.Togethertheyestablishedthemyththatthe
Boxerswereactingspontaneously,rebellingagainsttheChinesegovernmentaswellasattackingforeigners.Thus
thewarcouldbelimitedinareaandintensityandthepossiblepartitionofChinaforestalled.
TheGilderLehrmanInstituteofAmericanHistory.http://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-by-era/empire-building/essays/open-doorpolicy-and-boxer-war-us-and-china
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SupportingQuestion4
SourceC:WalterLefeber,interviewtranscriptdescribingtheBoxerRebellion,“TheBoxerRebellion,”
PublicBroadcastingSystem(excerpts),2006
FeaturedSource
Toaccessthissource,pleaseclickonthefollowinglink:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/1900/filmmore/reference/interview/lafeber_boxerrebellion.html
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