| The
hatred of the foreigners erupted in the rebellion of the secret society Yihequa,
The Society of Harmonious Fists, called the Boxers
by the west because of their martial arts training. The
Dowager Empress sent in imperial troops to help the Boxers,
hoping to get rid of the foreigners. Western nations sent
in troops to suppress it in order to protect their trading
interests, and their nationals living there.
The
international troops looted the capital and ransacked the
Forbidden City. Disguised as a peasant, the empress dowager
fled the city. When she returned a year later her power
was broken, and the Ch'ing dynasty was on its deathbed.
The
United States, which had helped to suppress the Boxer Rebellion,
called for a new expanded Open Door policy as part of the
settlement which followed the rebellion. John Hay called
for the open door to extend all parts of China and Proposed
that China remain an independent state (nominally, at least).
Other powers agreed, and the Open Door policy allowed full
trade with all of China. China, which had lost control over
its trading policies, had no choice. |
