Taiping+and+Boxer+Rebellions



We will be taking a quick look at the Taiping and Boxer Rebellions. Both are really evidence of the internal weakness of the Qing government. The latter of the two, though, was supported tacitly by particular members of the Qing Court, such as the Empress Dowager CiXi. Readings on China ([|Modern Era: II] & [|Modern Era: III )] Here's a scene from the film (1963) called //55 Days At Peking media type="youtube" key="ApkEdssdXLU" height="385" width="480"//


 * Homework**

Be sure to have read pp. 132-135 //"Li Hongzhang and the Taiping Rebellion"// and answer the following questions. Now read p. 140 //"The Boxer Rebellion"// to its end on p.143. Do the question which follows.
 * 1) Who was Hong Xiuquan? Why is he important to 19th century Chinese history?
 * 2) How does Li Hongzhang compare to Meiji reformers?
 * 3) Does the Empress Dowager appear to be a character with progressive change in mind for China? How does she see herself in terms of her relationship with China?
 * 1) Why do you suppose the Manchu Court covertly supported the Boxers?

Now read pp. 141 to 143 //" Russo-Japanese Tensions",// and pp. 143-145 //"Meiji Japan and the Roots of Revolution in Asia".// Do the questions which follow.


 * 1) How did the Anglo-Japanese Alliance (1902) affect Russia during the Russo-Japanese War?
 * 2) Briefly explain how the Taft-Katsura Agreement paved the way for Japan's annexation of Korea.
 * 3) What did the Japanese victory over Russia offer to other people in East Asia?
 * 4) What nation's nationalist leaders were "not encouraged in Tokyo"? Why was this the case?
 * 5) Read the quote by Fukuzawa Yukichi on p. 145. What role do you think Japan saw for itself in East Asia at this time?