The Manchu dynasty survived its defeat in the Boxer Uprising

Last updated: 9/21/2023

The Manchu dynasty survived its defeat in the Boxer Uprising but only just After 60 years of failure in the face of Western demands it had alienated many of its own people and was now living on borrowed time In a desperate attempt to sustain the dynasty s flagging fortunes Cixi was prepared to countenance the reintroduction of the reforms which she had previously so vehemently opposed Constitutional and administrative changes were introduced among the most striking were the creation of provincial assemblies and the ending of the traditional Confucian examination for civil service entrants The intention behind the reforms was clear to rally support for the imperial government but the results were not always as intended The belated attempt of the Manchu to present themselves as reformers was unconvincing Chinese progressives saw the reforms as concessions grudgingly granted by a reactionary government For them the idea of the Manchu dynasty turning itself into a modern constitutional monarchy was too great a stretch of the imagination Moreover the far from negligible cost of the reforms had to be met by increases in taxation which further alienated the commercial and financial interests on whom they were imposed The dissatisfaction of ordinary Chinese in the face of Manchu impotence expressed itself in 1905 when workers engaged in a widespread boycott of American goods The protest was directed primarily against US immigration laws but it was also intended to embarrass the Manchu government over its failure to take the lead in condemning American policy The incident was one of a rash of uncoordinated anti foreigner reactions The frustrated anger of many of China s Nationalists was strongly expressed in the following appeal Source A in which Zou Rong a young revolutionary activist called on his compatriots to assert their independence of both the Manchu regime and the foreigners in China