Open Door Policy
• 1899 – Foreign countries have increasing Spheres
of Influence in China
• U.S. Sec. of State John Hay proposes China have
an “Open Door Policy” to ensure equal access to
China by opening doors to all merchants
No foreign nation objects, thereby protecting U.S.
trade in China and reducing tension between
nations competing for spheres of influence
Empress Dowager Ci Xi
1835-1908
• Ci Xi opposes her nephew’s reforms
• has Emperor imprisoned
• Rules China 1861-1908
Boxers
100 Days of Reform 1898
• Young Emperor Guang Xi (Guan Chi)
launches new reforms:
• Modernize government based on West
• Adopt new education system (West)
• Free press
• Train military with modern weapons
The Boxer Rebellion 1898-1900
• Beginning in 1898, groups of peasants in
northern China began to band together into
a secret society known as I-ho ch'üan
("Righteous and Harmonious Fists")
• Members of the secret society practiced
boxing and shadow boxing rituals which
they believed would make them impervious
to bullets.
Slogan: “Destroy the Foreigner”
• Boxers resented the privileges of foreigners
and Chinese Christians
• Boxers rebel against the Dowager Empress
for granting foreigners privileges
• Roving bands slaughter missionaries,
converts, foreigners
• 1900 –20,000 Boxers march on Beijing
1
Allied Response to Rebellion
• 20,000 British, U.S., French, German,
Russian, & Japanese troops attack Beijing
in August 1900– crush Boxers and restore
order and demand concessions.
• Chinese government must pay heavy
indemnity – a payment for damages
• Imperial government a lowest point
Chinese Nationalism
The West Responds
• Foreign troops take Beijing – restore order
• China must pay an indemnity – payment for
damages
Dowager Empress Ci Xi
• In 1905, the Dowager Empress sent a select group of Chinese officials
on a world tour to study the operation of different governments.
• The group traveled to Japan, the United States, Britain, France,
Germany, Russia, and Italy.
• On their return in the spring of 1906, the officials recommended that
China restructure its government. They based their suggestions on the
constitutional monarchy of Japan. The empress accepted this
recommendation and began making reforms.
• Although she convened a national assembly within a year, change
was slow. In 1908, the court announced that it would establish a full
constitutional government by 1917.
2