Final answer:
The Boxer Rebellion in China was an anti-Western uprising driven by fears of cultural corruption and government inaction regarding foreign encroachment. It led to an international intervention and severe consequences for China, including a large indemnity, and solidified foreign powers' interests in the region by way of the Open-Door policy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Boxer Rebellion in China was a significant uprising that took place from 1899 to 1901. It was driven by nationalistic and anti-foreign sentiment primarily due to the influence of Western traders and cultural infiltration, in addition to economic issues and the government's failure to address foreign encroachments. The secret society known as the Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists, termed 'Boxers' by foreigners, initiated this rebellion. They feared that their society had been corrupted by the West and were especially hostile towards Christian missionaries and foreign trade. Despite initial resistance from the Chinese government, eventually Empress Dowager Cixi supported the Boxers and declared war on foreign powers within China.
The uprising had significant consequences. Foreign nations perceived the rebellion as a threat to their citizens and interests in China. As a result, an eight-nation alliance of Western powers and Japan sent troops to suppress the rebellion. This intervention led to severe punishments for China, including a large indemnity, and further weakened the already declining Qing Dynasty. It also established precedents for international interventions and the United States foreign policy in Asia through the Open-Door notes.