Why did Dowager Empress Cixi support the Boxers in their rebellion?
1 Answer
They were willing to fight the foreigner and had some success.
Explanation:
China had a difficult problem in that the foreign superior weapons technology had made the Chinese Government unable to fight the Foreign governments. The Chinese were forced into unequal trade agreements and were inundated with foreign missionaries. Efforts were being made by the Foreign Government to actively dismember China into Spheres of influence. Manchuria could be taken over outright by the Russians or the Japanese. If the Boxers could break the hold of the foreigners then the Chinese Government had a chance to change things for the better.
The Boxers were a grassroots rebellion against Christian missionaries and corruption. The Boxers were a nationalist group and declared their support for the Government. The Government initially suppressed the Boxers. Seeing the as a useful tool, Cixi, the Empress Dowager, de facto head of the Government, began to send out decrees supporting them. Eventually Government troops actively joined in with the Boxer attacks.
Foreign relief forces eventually made it to Beijing, defeated all the forces arrayed against them and extensively looted the City. The Chinese had to pay reparations to the Foreign Governments for many years afterward.
