| In the late nineteenth century, China was decaying. Unable to defend itself against the Western powers, she turned to a rag-tag band of anti-dynastic turned anti-foreign force from her peasant class. The Boxers or "Fists of Righteous Harmony" struck fear into the foreigners. China's ruler, the Empress Dowager Tzu Hsi (Cixi), manipulated the Boxers to destroy the invaders and destroyers of China and its culture. It is the Boxers' most dramatic stand that serves as the focal point of this study. The Boxer uprising and the siege on the foreign legations within the Chinese capital of Peking (Beijing) served as a vehicle for the United States to enter into international affairs, intrigue, and cooperation. Afterwards, American leaders brokered peace treaties, hosted summits, and took its place as a strong, if not inexperienced, world power. |
