The Boxers or the Boxer rebellion was an aggressive anti-foreign, anti-colonial, and anti-Christian rebellion that happened in China between 1899 and 1901, near the end of the Qing dynasty. The Boxers were a portion of the appearance of mass nationalism in China. Their long term goal was to encourage people to see themselves as a united country.
Additionally, Esherick does not think that the Boxers rebelled against the government. Instead, he says they aimed their anger at foreign influences.