Boxer Rebellions

Imperialism does not always come as an easy solution. Many people are unwilling to accept the ambush of foreign people and ideals into their lives. They see the outside interference as something to be feared and be hated; imposing a change they feel is neither welcomed nor needed. The Boxer Rebellion is a textbook example of how a group of natives can take up in arms against an invading culture and push. While there are few civilized people who would argue that bloodshed and murder, especially to the degree that the Boxer's had shown, have no place in society and should be seen as a barbaric act, however it is impossible to deny the level of dedication to the cause these men have had.

"Disturbances are to be dreaded from the foreign devils; everywhere they are starting mission, erecting telegraphs, and building railways; they do not believe in the sacred doctrine, and they speak evil of the gods. Their sins are numberless as the hairs of the head" This statement sums up the Boxer Rebellion perhaps better than any other. The Boxer Rebellion at its core was an anti-imperialist, and an anti foreign, movement by the peasants in China. The boxers saw this as the only possible answer to retaliate to the imperialism of other foreign powers that were set on taking the land for their own use. While it could be argued that the westerners may not have had intentions of conquering the land, it is understandable why the Boxer's were resistant to any outside interference.

It would be possible to argue that the BoxerÐ''s could be considered terrorists. They carefully planned attacks against both foreigners, and native Christians whom they believed were aiding the foreigners in their invasion. The boxer's tore up railway lines, burnt railroad stations to the ground, and cut telegraph lines, effectively severing a group of foreigners from any hope of rescue. They even resorted to assassinations, such as with the German envoy Klemens von Kettler, in order to send to foreign powers. These tactics are very similar to tactics seen used by modern day terrorist. By attacking