Military of the Powers during the Boxer Rebellion, with their naval flags, from left to right: Italy, United States, France, Austria-Hungary, Japan, Germany, United Kingdom, Russia. Japanese print, 1900.

The Eight-Nation Alliance (Chinese: 八國聯軍) was an alliance of 8 nations (Austria-Hungary, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States) which put down the Boxer Rebellion in China in 1900. The military contingent from the United States was called the China Relief Expedition. ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (1160x795, 255 KB) Summary Western and Japanese Navy troops during the Boxer Rebellion. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (1160x795, 255 KB) Summary Western and Japanese Navy troops during the Boxer Rebellion. ... Boxer forces, 1900 photograph The Boxer Uprising (Traditional Chinese: 義和團起義; Simplified Chinese: 义和团起义; Pinyin: Yìhétuán Qǐyì; The Righteous and Harmonious Fists) or Boxer Rebellion (義和團之亂 or 義和團匪亂) was a Chinese rebellion against foreign influence in areas such as trade, politics, religion and technology that occurred in China during the final... Austria-Hungary, also known as the Dual monarchy (or: the k. ... Austria-Hungary, also known as the Dual monarchy (or: the k. ... Boxer forces, 1900 photograph The Boxer Uprising (Traditional Chinese: 義和團起義; Simplified Chinese: 义和团起义; Pinyin: Yìhétuán Qǐyì; The Righteous and Harmonious Fists) or Boxer Rebellion (義和團之亂 or 義和團匪亂) was a Chinese rebellion against foreign influence in areas such as trade, politics, religion and technology that occurred in China during the final... The China Relief Expedition was the United States military term for the rescue of diplomatic personnel, and other U.S. citizens, in the wake of the Boxer Rebellion. ...

At the end of the campaign, the imperial government was forced to sign the humiliating Boxer Protocol of 1901. The Treaty of 1901, more commonly known as Boxer Protocol or Peace Agreement between the Great Powers and China, is a peace treaty signed in 1901 between the Qing Empire of China and the eight nation alliance: the United Kingdom, the USA, Japan, Russia, France, Germany, Italy, Austro-Hungary, Belgium...

Leading Factors

At the end of the 1800's due to foreign involvement within China, and the Empress Cixi's passive approval, resentment towards the foreign troop augmented. Social differences and the technology gap encouraged these sentiments. These resentments grew to the extent that action against foreign companies, personnel, and even items such as violins, automobiles, phone lines etc. to be carried out. Diplomats were assasinated, businesses vandalized and items were set on fire on the open streets.

Although the Chinese government formally condemned these violent actions, they failed to prosecute the people that carried out the crimes, it is thought that the government encouraged them from behind the doors.

Thus, to protect their citizens, the foreign countries sent troops to quell the rebels. Other informal motives also included was the gain of further access to the Chinese market and further exploitation of the Chinese.

Events

Troops of the eight countries arrived, entered and occupied Beijing August 14th, 1900. the Empress, Emperor and the higher officials left the Fobidden Palace for Xian, and sent Li Hongzhang for peace talks. Li Hongzhang (February 15, 1823 – November 7, 1901) was a Chinese general who ended several major rebellions, and a leading statesman of the late Qing Empire. ...