Effects+of+Imperialism+on+China

China's response to Imperialism:

Due to the increase in the amount of foreign influence and rebellions such as the Taiping Rebellion, a lot of pressure was being put on the Chinese government. At the Qing court many debates and discussions raged about how to deal with many of the new issues and problems. From 1862 until 1908 the Dowager Empress Cixi held the most power in the Qing imperial palace. She was committed to the traditional values of the Chinese but at the same time she was supporting certain reforms. She supported the self-strengthening movement, which led to China setting up factories to manufacture such goods as rifles and ammunition.

Other reforms were made by China's young emperor, Guangxu. He thought it was necessary to reorganize the education system, make the economy stronger, modernize the military, and streamline the government. Many of the Qing officials thought that these changes threatened their power, and called back the Dowager Empress who quickly arrested Guangxu and undid his reforms. The Chinese citizens were angrier than ever that the government was not making changes to benefit their country.  Guangxu Google Images

Poor peasants and other worker were frustrated that foreigners had special rights in their country, and also that some Chinese people converted to Christianity. These people joined together to form a secret society called the "boxers," who lead the Boxer Rebellion in 1900. The rebellion consisted of the group surrounding European sections of cities for several months. In August, troops from Beijing quickly defeated the boxers and ended their rebellion. This rebellion made Chinese people realize that they should resist foreign influence and also that their government need reforms. It increased nationalism, or pride in one's country.

Boxer Rebellion Google Images

Imperialism in China led to three conclusions among the Chinese about how they should deal with foreign pressure. One conclusion made was that China should become anti-traditionalism and reject claims such as cultural superiority and have complete Westernization take place throughout the country. Another conclusion made was that China should become pro-traditionalism, this sought to reject the importation of any Western culture and to strengthen China on the inside by having cultural and traditional revival take place. A final conclusion made was the idea of adopting Western technology in order to preserve Chinese culture. As China was not as technologically advanced as the rest of the world, the Dowager Empress came to the conclusion that China needed to make reforms to survive. She sent a group of officials to Japan, the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and Italy to see how their governments were run. The Empress then began making reforms in an attempt to reconstruct their government in the image of Japan's constitutional monarchy. Dowager Empress Cixi Google Images